Insiders : Jeroen van Gaalen
'‘When you get a chance, you have to follow through’'
Eleven years. That’s how long Jeroen van Gaalen has been with ALWECO. “I’ve been in the screening industry my entire life, thanks in part to my father,” says the resident of ‘s-Gravenzande. Three years ago, he joined the board of directors, overseeing operations across Europe.
“After primary school, I went to atheneum, but school wasn’t really for me,” he says with a smile. “After the third year, I tried a year of VBO care, but I preferred working with cacti in Honselersdijk. Thanks to my father, I started working in screening. I loved the freedom of being a screen installer. I started as an assistant installer and after two years moved up to team leader. At the end of 2009, I called Leo because I wanted to grow further, and within half an hour we had a deal. I became a sales representative at ALWECO. ‘Here’s a car, start driving around and try to sell.’ Isn’t that great?”
“For someone who initially couldn’t distinguish between a wrench and a spanner, it’s been quite a journey,” Jeroen reflects. “But I believe in learning by being thrown to the lions; that’s how you learn. If you get a chance, you have to seize it. Just go for it, hop!”
A crisis can bring you closer
“Recently, the Belgian market has proven to be very valuable to us,” Jeroen explains about 2020. “Not just because they kept investing, but also because they turned out to be more than just a client. One relationship even offered to let our staff pick tomatoes in their greenhouse if needed. Fortunately, we didn’t have to take up the offer, but it says a lot about the relationship you have. It proves that a crisis can also bring people closer together. Yes, and now you have a bond for life; I really see it that way.”
We fix it together
Speaking of excellent relationships, that’s also true for working at ALWECO. “I really enjoy it here, yes, really. The short lines, personal contacts, the fun. We manage the business together; all doors are always open, and everyone is hands-on. No hierarchies, no nine-to-five, we fix it together. I really like that.”
Found my calling
“You can feel the strong sense of camaraderie, because we really miss the staff parties, the Friday afternoon drinks. Business successes are great, of course, but you want to experience them together. I miss that,” Jeroen says, nodding. “But that says everything about the culture at ALWECO, the great team, all the different people working together towards a common goal. I’ve truly found my calling here.”