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On February 16th, 2024, Pella Windows and Doors of Omaha & Lincoln gathered at the Farnam Hotel downtown for our annual Chairman Awards. Here, we took a moment to stop and appreciate all the spectacular achievements—and more importantly, the amazing people—that made 2023 one for the books. It’s our way of saying, “Thank you,” for everything you do!
An Evening of Connection and Appreciation
Around 100 people showed up to the Chairman Awards this year. We kicked off the night with a bubbly happy hour, where everyone got a chance to mingle and catch up before we enjoyed a delicious dinner and the awards ceremony started.
Career Milestones
Career milestones are the result of some serious hard work, dedication, and forward-thinking. But milestones aren’t just about success as a business, even though they are impressive! The following seven people have grown in incredible ways, in and out of sales.
Jen Perez: $1M
Jen reached $1 million career sales, netting a colossal accomplishment in her career journey. Thanks to her “never give up” attitude and her commitment to being excellent, Jen was able to reach new levels of success this past year. And looking at all the possibilities ahead, we can’t wait to see what’s next in her new role as Trade Sales Manager!
Corey Kull: $5M
Corey is another person who made a giant impact on the career sales team this past year. With $5 million in sales to his credit, he’s not just great at sales but he’s also become an expert at connecting with his customers. To bring the highest quality of service to the table, it takes 110% each time—and with his work over the last year, Corey has not only shown growth within our company, but he’s been a special part of what drives Pella to be successful in our mission.
Geoff Tesmer: $5M
Over the past year, Geoff made a difference in helping take Pella a step forward in reaching our goals by hitting an impressive $5 million in career sales. We value the fact that he takes the time to have important conversations, plan out strategies, and play an active part in meetings. It’s had a positive effect and helped the entire team reach new heights!
Nick Wilson: $10M
Nick’s achievement of reaching $10 million is a tremendous part of why our sales team was successful this past year. By being rock solid as a teammate for the people he works alongside, not to mention being someone who drives tangible results in his own right, what Nick adds to the equation at our company continues to improve Pella from the sales department and beyond.
Brennan Klassen: $30M
Over the past year, Brennan reached the remarkable goal of $30 million in career sales—an extraordinary achievement by any standard. Brennan did it for more than just the sake of doing it; he did it by building quality relationships along the way, earning the trust of his clients, and making a true difference in the lives of his clients in providing solutions that truly work for them.
Brian Buda: $60M
We were able to celebrate another major milestone this year—thanks to Brian, who hit the ground running by reaching $60 million in career sales! It’s not just the result of his know-how, but also credited to his “in it to win it” energy. From every project Brian takes on to every client that he’s ever worked with, Brian’s growth has been a step forward for us all, thanks to his go-getter energy that doesn’t stop at his own achievements; his passion uplifts the whole team.
Steve Lanik: $70M
Steve’s $70 million in career sales is monumental for our company—full stop. The fact that Steve kept up such a high level of success over the last year speaks to the irreplaceable role that he plays on a daily basis in making Pella the special place that it is. From serving his customers to inspiring his teammates, he’s an invaluable part of our sales squad!
Leadership Award
Leadership helps move the whole team forward. So naturally, with the Leadership Award, we shine a light on the people who live and breathe the best qualities of someone who leads by example, shows the way to success, and motivates everyone around them to give their all.
Max Dwyer
The executive team awarded Max Dwyer for playing an integral role in evolving our estimating department over the past year. And beyond that, Max inspires people to work together and has helped create a culture of continuous improvement in our company. His stunning work in the estimating department paints a picture of how we can all take on new challenges with confidence.
Eagle Awards
The Eagle Awards recognize the people who show a level of teamwork that’s out of this world, and who go above and beyond in their roles at Pella. This year, our executive team chose two individuals for how they support their colleagues and elevate the team’s overall performance.
Mike Mancuso
We awarded Mike with the Eagle Award for all the outstanding teamwork and dedication he’s shown to the people around him in 2023—whether they were his teammates or his customers. Mike is a proactive person who is always willing to support his colleagues, which has made such a difference in making Pella the collaborative work environment that it is. Thanks to his leadership skills and always-positive attitude, we continue to strive for excellence in style!
TJ Badillo
From a leadership standpoint, TJ’s work last year stands out as extremely helpful in making Pella the wonderful place to work that it is, with a “can do” culture that shines through from inside the company and out. On top of his own personal teamwork skills and his willingness to lend a helping hand, TJ’s nature of going above and beyond inspires his team to do the same, which is why we were proud to honor him with the Eagle Award.
Retail Awards
Next up, we handed out the Retail Awards. For these special awards, we celebrated each winner with a one-of-a-kind award name, doing our best to sum up their superpowers in the world of retail (replacement) sales. This year, we honored four exceptional people in that category.
Corey Kull: The Honey Badger (Results & Determination)
Corey is able to score fantastic results on a regular basis, which is why we dubbed his award, “The Honey Badger,” to reflect his can-do spirit and unmatched ability to get things done. Corey oozes drive and determination, two qualities that have taken him to the top two spots in both retail bookings and sales growth. On top of that, he sets a mighty high standard with five consecutive President’s Club wins under his belt.
Don Fellows: The Closer (Strategic Salesmanship)
Don’s ability to close a sale makes him a superstar on our sales team and keeps Pella on a great track, making sure we continue to have solid opportunities to change the lives of our customers. With the average scope of Don’s job size being $15K and by winning four President’s Club awards in a row, Don has become a true trailblazer in the art of making a deal, which is why he will always be known as “The Closer” around these parts.
Nick Wilson: The Iron Man (Consistent Excellence)
Nick’s rock-solid dependability as a teammate on the retail sales team—on top of the consistency that he’s shown on his own as a salesman in his own right—inspired us to give him the nickname of “The Iron Man.” If you want to get a quick sense of Nick’s dedication, just take a look at his six consecutive President’s Club wins, or the fact that he ranked in the top three in retail bookings and self-generated opportunities last year.
Debbie Ruhlman: The Phoenix (Creating Raving Fans)
Debbie’s ability to create opportunities, help other people reach their goals, and make lasting impressions has earned her the title of “The Phoenix” at our branch. Her creativity and customer-first attitude have led to 40% of her opportunities being self-generated, the highest number of install visits, and, of course, the creation of numerous raving fans. Most of all, Debbie’s awesome work reminds us just how important it is to go above and beyond.
Commercial Awards
The Commercial Awards are our chance to shine a light on the people who make a splash in the commercial sector. This year, we honored two remarkable team members for adding to Pella’s success through their innovation, stellar leadership, and A+ strategies.
Hollie Schall: The Trailblazer (Pioneering a New Path)
We awarded Hollie with the nickname “The Trailblazer” for the way she forges new paths—one example of which is how she helped evolve our Architect Representative position last year. Hollie reached $1.3 million in overlay bookings, created 88 new opportunities, and was responsible for 56 Pella window specifications being used by architecture firms in their plans—spectacular examples of her spirit and drive.
Jennifer Perez: The Player Coach (Individual Contribution & Strong Leadership)
With $1.2 million in commercial bookings, Jennifer not only made awesome things happen for herself last year, but she also helped create a culture of everyone working together to succeed. That’s why we call her “The Player Coach”—as a leader, she asks, “Why not?” instead of settling on why things can’t be done. And by setting a shining example, she encourages other people to do the same thing.
Trade Awards
With the Trade (New Construction and Remodel & Replacement) Awards, we honor the people who accomplished amazing things in the world of trade sales at Pella. This year, we celebrated four team members for their outstanding work—from boosting major growth to building strong connections with their clients.
Brian Drobny: The Sniper (Strategic Growth & Prospect Conversion)
Brian has a one-of-a-kind way of making big things happen for Pella, with a specialty of turning potential customers into loyal clients; that’s why we call him “The Sniper.” With over $3.6 million in bookings, Brian has a real knack for spotting meaningful opportunities, thanks to his laser focus and ability to take action in the moment. But he’s not just great at landing business—he’s also one of the best at regaining sales with past clients. Nothing is beyond his reach!
Ryan Weller: The Gold Standard (Exceptional Salesmanship)
Ryan was a huge part of what made our trade sector achieve great things over the last year, thanks to his marvelous sense of the sales journey and his talent for providing high-quality service. After reaching over $3.9 million in bookings and earning fanfare from the builders that he works with, we gave Ryan the nickname of “The Gold Standard.” Not only does Ryan build strong relationships with his clients, but he also puts his heart into each project!
*Ryan wasn’t able to attend the ceremony.
Scott Dunfield: The Triple Crown (Selling the Circle: Product, Install, & Pre-Finish)
Scott’s work in sales covers the Product, Install, and Pre-Finish stages. Each of these three parts makes up the sales process at Pella, which isn’t just a lot to keep up with; it takes an expert to become great at each segment, and Scott is! That’s why we are giving him the title of “The Triple Crown.” In terms of his achievements, he reached over $3.7 million in bookings, including $2.4 million in product sales, $771K in installation, and $377K in pre-finish services.
Dave Sekera: The Rhino (Winning Through Adversity)
Dave overcomes challenges like no other, fueled by his go-getter attitude, earning him the title of “The Rhino.” On top of his own wins, Dave has been a positive influence when it comes to personal and external accountability at Pella, inspiring other people to be self-starters as well. With over $3.5 million in bookings, Dave has been a top performer year over year, no doubt a result of the fact that he stays inspired himself.
Voters’ Choice Awards
The Voters’ Choice Awards are based on feedback from the people working closest together. This year, we honored two deserving team members for their out-of-this-world ability to work with others and inspire everyone to come together and work toward a common goal.
TJ Badillo
TJ has been a beacon of light for Pella’s prosperity and culture, especially when it comes to bringing a feeling of confidence and unity to his team. Just take a look at any of the times his co-workers praised how he went above and beyond on the regular to help everyone succeed. One person said, “TJ is a workhorse and is always available if there is a question I can’t answer. If I am ever in need of something, he is my go-to for a solution.”
Austin Annan
Austin’s proven himself to be a standout personality on the Pella team, with the people he works with recognizing him for his passion in helping others succeed in their own ways. After all, it takes everyone on the team working together for Pella to reach new heights as a company, and Austin is a perfect example of how we get there. One person said “Austin is one of the hardest-working people I know and is always willing to help or answer my questions.”
Segment MVPs
Next we have the Segment MVPs, where we recognize the ‘Most Valuable Player’ in each sales segment of Pella. This year, we celebrated four people for their outstanding performance—not only in their own areas but also in terms of driving the overall success of Pella as a company.
Corey Kull: Retail MVP
Corey had a stellar run in the retail segment last year, securing the highest number of bookings. But on top of that, he gave the team guidance, not to mention a giant boost in morale for everyone involved during times of turnover and new representatives coming aboard. Corey earned the Retail MVP title for his ability to lead by example and inspire his colleagues, new or old, to do their best—no matter what.
Steve Lanik: Commercial MVP
With a total of $4.7 million in bookings and with a 16% book-to-quote rate to his credit, Steve not only closed some important deals last year, but he also did a lot to strengthen client relationships in the process. That’s why we awarded him with the Commercial MVP—not just for his own accomplishments, but also for keeping our whole commercial team on strong footing as we head into the next year!
Dave Sekera: New Construction MVP
Dave has done a tremendous job in keeping Pella’s new construction department on the right path, which is why we awarded him with the New Construction MVP. He reached $3.5 million in total bookings, with $2.3 million from new construction projects, blazing a new trail forward in a complicated market. His job-well-done shows us the power of sales in new construction—not to mention, his one-of-a-kind expertise in this segment.
Scott Dunfield: Remodel & Replacement MVP
When it comes to our remodel and replacement team, Scott thrives as an MVP in his own right. Last year, he reached $3.7 million in bookings and $3.1 million from remodel and replacement projects. Because he is such a driven and knowledgeable person, he helped transform our approach to these types of projects altogether, with the added bonus of always putting his clients first!
A Heartfelt Thank You from Pella!
At Pella, we know that our success is often boosted by the support we get at home. That’s why we awarded gifts to the wonderful spouses of our employees for playing just as crucial a role as their other halves.
We’re grateful to everyone for all their hard work and dedication in 2023. From our employees to their spouses, we couldn’t have done it without you! Thank you for being a part of our journey and for setting a shining example for us all, and here’s to reaching new heights next year!
