ERA celebrates its longest serving employees
Leading home security and fenestration component provider, ERA is closing 2024 with a celebration of some of its longest serving team members, demonstrating its commitment to fostering talent within the fenestration industry.
First to celebrate their significant milestone was Senior Category Manager Kerry Blackford, who has been working for the company for 35 years, having joined the business on her birthday, back in 1989.
Kerry, who started in a customer services role, is now a Senior Manager heading up Category Management working with the sales, product, technical and design teams. To identify new markets, trends and product opportunities to ensure a robust recurring product roadmap of new and enhanced high quality solutions that satisfy evolving customer demand.
Kerry said of her time at ERA:
“I enjoy the opportunities I get to experience, and no two days are ever the same. I still feel positively challenged and I love that. Of course, it wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t have the best team of people around us. At ERA, each individual really does matter; we are listened to and our opinion counts. Everyone engages with our values, one of which is ‘never stop growing’ and the business encourages the team to learn new things, evolve, and work together. It is a great environment to work in!”
Joining Kerry in marking an impressive anniversary is Sales Director - OEM, Mark Russell, who recently celebrated his 30th year at the company.
Mark is responsible for managing the OEM external sales team, which operates country-wide to deliver a seamless customer experience to ERA’s OEM partners. He joined the company in 1994, as Product Development Executive, and has enjoyed many promotions during this time – from Sales Manager to Sales Director OEM, a role he has been in since 2020.
Mark said of his proudest achievement with the company:
“I was instrumental in developing a range of Bi-Fold Door hardware with ERA, which was one of our greatest success stories in the last decade. It was the project that I am most proud of and is my most successful career achievement.”
This year has seen many other significant anniversaries across the ERA team, with General Operatives Angela Terry and Susan Nicholls marking 35 and 40 years with the company, respectively. Joining them is Lead Setter Jason Young, who is also celebrating his 35th year with the business, this year.
In addition, Quality Supervisor Lisa Llewellyn, MPL and Keeps Team Support Lindsey Hawkins, and SIOP Manager Neil Webb are all celebrating their 30th anniversaries with ERA during this bumper year of celebrations.
Helen Downer, President said:
“It is with immense pride that I congratulate our colleagues on their decades of service to ERA. Their commitment and dedication to developing their technical expertise over the years have been vital in creating a seamless experience for our valued customers.
“They are a glowing example to the young and talented team members we have starting out here at ERA, who, like their colleagues, are eager to learn and share innovative ideas. This blend of experience and fresh perspectives continues to propel us forward and promises ERA a bright future.”
