eKourier April 2017

FEATURES You’re Not Just The Star Of Your Own Story, You’re The Author

L ife is full of cultural choices. We make them every single time of the day or night in our lives. Some choices are quite evident, some are not so obvious. It’s those choices in life that makes a person or a Company… what we become. We can all have a say in our own destiny, the conductor of our lives, it is purely up to the individual as to where that destiny will lead you. Choices can be easy or difficult on the challenges we face every day. Having the FREEDOM to make decisions forms part of our ability to develop and grow in life. Our own Kennards values are recognised in our FREEDOM to make decisions and forms part of our company culture. Many of Kennards choices over the past 44 years has seen our company grow to 85 centre’s employing well over 250 Team Members. We owe our origins to a courageous individual in Neville Kennard, and as we all know with his own vision and choices, Neville commenced our self storage business in 1973. Our further business successes, now lead by his son Sam, has seen some significant and even more courageous choices being made, coinciding with Sam’s appointment as Managing Director in 1995.

and even 30 Years of Service, is evidence of great choices being made.

Manager in 2009.

- Millers Self Storage was acquired in 2004 for $220 million and was a BIG choice made by our Company Directors. - Our company horizons were expanded overseas in 2007 with the acquisition of storage sites in New Zealand. Having the FREEDOM to make decisions forms part of our ability to develop and grow in life. One of our many company strengths is of course our people and centre Teams, THQ and Company Directors. It’s those choices made to employ and develop our people that are important choices during the history of Kennards Self Storage. Choices which have had a significant impact on our business and the direction of our Company. Kennards is a company that places a high level of importance and effort into the development of our Teams on a daily basis. Commencing Skillbuilder, PEP, Wine Appreciation coaching, Mystery Shopper Programs, HUB Training Centre’s, and even the achievements of Team Members reaching 5, 10, 15, 25 ‘ ‘

Our company culture is significant to the journey we have made, and will make in the future. Recognising the need to address our culture in 1998 was a MONUMENTAL CHOICE. At the time, we were a company that oozed a high level of aggressive and passive defensive behaviours by our Teams. A choice was made to address our work environment and culture. It is those choices which have impacted our business the most.

We can all make choices about our lives on a daily basis:-

- Choose to be a successful person wanting to enjoy work and life.

- Choose to help others grow and develop. You will grow more yourself as you help others.

- Choose to be brave enough to speak your truth.

- Choose to act and be your very best at what you do all the time.

Making good cultural choices begins with taking charge of your own decision making process. Manage the big stuff, learn from the past, know what you know and what you don’t know, don’t procrastinate. More importantly once you make a choice, don’t look back – make it work. Wayne Birch Operations Manager VIC

So what significant choices have occurred at KSS since our storage inception?

- Sam Kennards first employment day with Kennards commenced on the 15th March, 1991.

- Darren Marshall became General

8 Kennards Kourier April 2017