L to R. Bordertown Service Manager, Alex Toogood with Branch Manager David Rogerson and Sale Team Member Alan ‘Spike’ Milligan.
Relationships the focus for O’Connors’ new crop
O’Connors Bordertown has boosted its Parts and Service Team, with the recent appointment of Alex Toogood to the role of Service Manager. Just four months into the job, Alex has already made an impact on the department by focusing on parts availability, service times and customer relationships.
Alex grew up on a farm at Lameroo and has come to Bordertown from Pinnaroo, where he worked as a qualified Case IH technician.
“I was looking for the next challenge in my career and an opportunity to take on more responsibility. I’m still on the tools but I’m also overseeing the department and always looking for ways to improve our service offering,” said Alex, who has already recruited additional qualified technicians to the Bordertown Service Department.
“I want to build more of a personal relationship between O’Connors and our customers, and the company has been really open to all my ideas,” he said.
New O’Connors Bordertown Service Manager, Alex Toogood (right) inspecting a Case IH Round Baler with Branch Manager David Rogerson (centre) and Sales Team Member Alex “Spike” Milligan (left).
Alex joins a relatively new team at Bordertown, with Sales Team Member Alan “Spike” Milligan and Branch Manager, David Rogerson, both starting at the dealership less than 12 months ago. Alex’s appointment is the result of one of David’s key priorities: people.
“I started with O’Connors in October and I’ve been really enjoying it,” said David, “The company is supportive of my vision for the branch and the people in Bordertown are very welcoming – they have complete faith in the Case IH product and a great support network to underpin that. It’s really the best of both worlds. O’Connors is a family-owned company, so customers get that personal approach, but, with six dealerships, customers can also access the benefits of scale, particularly when it comes to parts and service. This is a key strength and I’m determined to build on it here in Bordertown,” he said.
Like Alex, David grew up in rural South Australia, with family still dotted across the state. His appointment to O’Connors came at a time when he was keen to move from Adelaide back to a rural area.
“One of the reasons we moved was to be part of a community. Everyone in Bordertown has been so friendly, it’s a good country town. It’s also a great area. My wife and I try to get out and explore most weekends, whether it’s a pub lunch in Keith or a footy game in Kaniva,” said David.
He admits he’s been to all the different footy clubs in O’Connors Bordertown’s service area and is reluctant to pledge sole allegiance to just one. His bipartisan approach is not shared by Alan, who joined the O’Connors Sales Team in September last year. Having grown up in Mundullah he’s been a local all his life and is fiercely loyal to the Tigers, having been both a player and a coach at different times. He’s also fiercely loyal to his new employer.
“They care about their staff and they really care about their customers,” said Alan, who took a role at O’Connors as an opportunity to take a break from the tools, after running the family truck stop in Bordertown for eight years.
“I like people and I like talking. O’Connors gives me the chance to dedicate all the time in the world to customers, getting to know them and their needs and being part of the community,” he said.
With strong community values and a dedicated customer approach, David, Alex & Alan are assets to O’Connors, and their Bordertown clients. According to David, it’s about getting back to basics.
“Supply a good product, sustain it, invest in the local community and employ local or locally-minded people.”