Franco Zaccaria

Journal

Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision, the ability to direct individual accomplishments toward common objectives.

At Tonello we know it very well: great things are never done by one person but by a team of people that everyday share their enthusiasm, passion and skills for the successful outcome of a common goal.

In this episode of #MadebyPeople we leave the word to Franco Zaccaria, Tonello’s Area Sales Manager.

How long have you worked at Tonello and what role do you play there?

I’ve been working at Tonello since 1995. For the first 12 years I installed machines and rendered technical assistance, and since 2007 I’ve been part of the sales department covering the role of area sales manager.

My current position gives me a lot of satisfaction, I have more stimulation and I have goals I need to reach within a certain amount of time. On the commercial level I follow Asian countries as well as the United States, Canada, and Central America. I love the fact that I spend most of my time interfacing with customers, presenting our news to them, advising and guiding them in their choices.

In just a few words, tell us about your story in Tonello.

It’s been a varied and fascinating! In 25 years the company has changed a lot, and I’ve changed with it. I’ve had to adapt to all these transformations, putting myself back on the line, and connecting more with young people. I’ve learned a lot from them, even though they don’t have as much experience as I have: it’s a continuous give and take.

What does your work mean to you?

At this point, after all these years here, I can’t even call it “work” anymore. It’s part of my everyday life, like spending a day with family. It’s a place where you do your duty, but it’s also a pleasure!

What has changed over the years within the business environment?

When I first came to Tonello it was a smaller, family-run company of artisans. Over time the company has been restructured, new departments have been created, and we have grown rapidly and significantly. We employees who were used to a different type of organization have adapted to a new methods of working.

Is "teamwork" a dream or reality? Does it work?

Over the last few years teamwork has been getting stronger. There’s continuous interaction between people, also thanks to the inclusion of new, young and enthusiastic figures. Not to take anything away from those who have been here a long time, but everyone knows that new arrivals bring with them new points of view as well as excellent ideas.

What was the most exciting moment in your history at Tonello? What was the most difficult one?

On the level of personal satisfaction, the best and most exciting moment was in 2017. I reached a record in sales, also thanks to the great teamwork between me and my colleagues. I honestly don’t remember any particularly hard moments.

What should Tonello do to promote growth?

I think it is enough to continue as it has always done, investing in young people, innovation and always trying to stay one step ahead of others.

What do you think is the Tonello’s greatest strength? What about weakness?

Innovation is truly a double-edged sword. The customer is always ready to ask what’s new, he doesn’t expect the usual things or just some improvements, he wants to be amazed! But sometimes, doing something completely new also means accepting the possibility that the market might not respond.

What do the words sustainability and reliability mean to you?

These are words that we have always used, and values that represent us as a group, as a company. Our being reliable is a characteristic that even our customers recognize in us. Sustainability is our past, present, and future, and this is the reason that we are much more credible than many others, because we have always been vigilant when it comes to the environment!

Of these different values, which one do you relate to the most?

Passion. Without that, nothing good comes about!