In our column: 'Employee in the spotlight' we like to show the people behind our organisation. Every day, Archive-IT is committed to helping organisations transition from a paper to a digital working environment. We also develop software to ensure secure digital accessibility. But who does what? And what are the motivations of Archive-IT's employees? Time for a look behind the scenes.
In June 'Employee in the Spotlight', Paul de Meulemeester was nominated by Kelly Reijnders. We would like to introduce Paul to you!
How did you end up at Archive-IT?
"During my previous job, I was looking for something different due to circumstances. In a conversation with CEO Joan Westendorff, the topic of possibly joining Archive-IT (formerly I-FourC) came up. I then had the opportunity to meet the management team for a few days. As soon as we got the click, we signed a contract."
Can you tell us about your current position?
"My official job title is Chief Operational Officer (COO). In practice, this means that I take care of the day-to-day operations. I also advise the CEO on strategic decisions. In the past year, I have been mainly involved with repositioning the company under the Archive-IT name and with new solutions and services that we will now market under this name together with our existing solutions and services."
What satisfies you about your work?
"I enjoy working with a team and trying to inspire people. I also enjoy trying/introducing new things and then seeing how they are received in the market and how we can translate this into a good service for customers. Finally, it gives me extra energy when people get excited about such ideas and think along too."
Good to know: Paul is a real goalkeeper. In his youth he trained with VVV Venlo, played several years in the Limburg youth team and was one of the last 80 players of his age to be selected for the Dutch national team.
What makes Archive-IT the company you like to work for?
"I have seen a very motivated team here from the moment I moved in. At the beginning I did a survey asking people what direction they wanted to see Archive-IT go in terms of market and service. I got a lot of responses, which means people are engaged. These engaged colleagues who want to work with us and build a better organisation together make it a top organisation."
What is your average working day like?
"I'm an early riser, I'm usually in the office between 7:00 and 7:30, which is an hour before most other people show up at the office. During that hour I prepare for the day and try to get rid of some mails. My working day is usually quite busy with appointments and meetings. I always try to have lunch with the staff during the lunch break, also to hear what is going on in the organisation. I make it a point to eat with my family, so I usually try to get home between 5:30 and 6:00pm, but I'm also out regularly in the evenings."
For next month, you get to put someone in the spotlight. Who would you like to nominate and why?
"For next month, I would like to put Patrick Thijssen in the spotlight. Patrick is the quiet force in our organisation. Patrick does his work quietly, but he is indispensable within the organisation. Moreover, both clients and colleagues go away with him. That is because he is always there for everyone."