Cream of the Co-op: Our people celebrating 25+ years of service
Earlier this year, we celebrated our employees across the motu (country) who reached significant milestones in the industry and with the Co-op.
We spoke to some of our people, celebrating 25 years to almost half a century, about their favourite memories, proudest achievements, and what makes the Co-op special.
Gary Chitty, Process Operator, Kauri
Gary says his 35-year service milestone snuck up on him. “When I received the club invitation, I thought OMG has it been that long!”
“It’s fantastic the company recognises those of us in it for the long haul. I will wear my Pounamu gift with pride.”
Gary says the best part of his job is being on the front line. “The milk treatment process carries a huge responsibility as the efficient standardising of product goes a long way to determining bottom line productivity.”
Gary has held a range of roles across the Co-op’s history and was with Fonterra when it formed in 2001. After a six-year stint in Perth, Gary returned home to New Zealand in 2006 and joined our northernmost site, Kauri.
Gary has also had experience behind the farmgate at his parents’ farm in Kaiwaka. “I know no other industry, so you could say it’s ‘Dairy for Life’ for me.”
In his spare time Gary loves to fish, ride his old school thumper motorcycle, or hang out with his Pomeranian dog, Scoota.
It’s fantastic the company recognises those of us in it for the long haul. I will wear my Pounamu gift with pride.
Vanessa Guest, Food Safety and Quality Manager, Maungaturoto
Vanessa says it’s hard to believe her 40-year-milestone. “I enjoy what I do almost every day.”
Vanessa has spent time in food safety, security, and auditing roles across Northland, including working in the lab at our Maungaturoto site, Head Office at Northland Dairy Co-operative in Whangarei, our Kauri site, where she spent 20 years, and then back to Maungaturoto.
Vanessa says the Maungaturoto site is a close-knit group, who work to produce and deliver the right products to customers. “We know we are feeding people around the world.”
Aside from marrying her husband, Mike, and having her son, Connor, Vanessa says her proudest achievement is seeing her HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) cake-training game become a Fonterra wide resource.
In her spare time, Vanessa likes to garden, read and spend time with family and friends.
Charlie Nicholson, Senior Process Technologist, Edendale
If someone had told Charlie on his first day with Bay of Plenty Dairy Association that he’d still be in the industry 40 years later, he would’ve thought they were crazy. “I’ve had seven-plus careers during my time in this industry, so ‘Dairy for Life’ rings true."
Charlie started in the lab and then became a Quality Manager, before leading the milk and production scheduling for the site.
The best part of Edendale are the people, says Charlie. “It’s always been a very people-friendly site. I have been lucky enough to work here from when it was a little cheese plant on the corner of State Highway 1, to the large site it is today.”
During his role as a Milk Production Planner Charlie’s proudest achievement has been building a Milk/Production planning spreadsheet that is still in use 20 years later.
Charlie is passionate about motorcycling and says he and his partner enjoy getting out on their Harley Tourer.
Alan Maitland, Site Operations Manager, Studholme
Alan originally joined the dairy industry as a ‘fill-in’, while waiting to start his dream job as a Police Dog Handler. “History shows I did not join the force but chose to stay in the dairy industry. When I started in 1975, it was Westland Dairy Co, and most of my current team were not even born!"
He says it feels great to reach a career milestone of nearly half a century, which has included a variety of roles. “I know what I know today from the people I have had the privilege to meet, and the experiences I have been fortunate enough to have had.”
Along the way, Alan has built strong connections in the wider Waimate community, including schools, community service clubs and Te Waihao Marae.
His proudest achievement to date has been seeing Studholme become a protein hub for Fonterra. The team know their trade well and have pride in what they do, says Alan. “They want the site and their teammates to be successful.”
One of Alan’s fondest memories is when the Studholme team organized a 40-year industry birthday celebration for him in 2015. “The cake was amazing and was a copy of the site with silos, and a dryer tower, even the colours were spot on!”
Alan spends his free time distance cycling or managing the farmlet where he lives with his wife, Alanna, and two daughters Tayla and Perri.
Dean Kane, Technical Sales Representative, Farm Source Taranaki
With a whopping forty years of service under his belt, Dean says it feels good to be part of the ‘best Co-op’.
As a Technical Sales Representative for Farm Source Taranaki, Dean says the best part of his role is working with farmers and the wider Kaponga store team.
Dean followed in his father’s footsteps, joining him as a tanker operator at Kiwi Co-operative Dairies (which later merged with the New Zealand Dairy Group and Dairy Board to become Fonterra in 2001). Dean continued driving until 2012, when he took up a role with On-Farm Assets, looking after farm silos and tanker tracks, before moving to his current role in 2016.
Working with his dad for so many years and making good friends has been the biggest highlight for Dean.
Outside of work you can find Dean spending time with his grandchildren, working on his DIY projects, or travelling.