ASSOCIATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT RACHEL PLANER ALPS CRAFTSMAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Rachel@alpstech.com www.alpscraftsman.com FB: AlpsCraftsman
the quality of our work. Our company is set up differently than most in that we have a team of people working throughout the organization, not just a few individuals who do both the selling and fabrication of the countertops themselves. This team structure has created
an atmosphere of trust and success for our customers. What differentiates you from others in your industry? Getting into this industry as a woman in my early 20s very much differentiated me from the majority of my peers as well as the customer base that I was servicing. Over the last 14 years I have strived to learn as much as I can about all aspects of the industry. My diverse roles have helped me to be able to approach decisions and problems from different angles due to having knowledge of the processes from start to finish. Something else that is very important to me is trust. I’m a big believer in building relationships. The successes I’ve had in my career are because of those with whom I built a partnership. Anyone who has worked with me
Years in this business: 14 How did you get into this
business? I went to school for Accounting and was working as a bookkeeper but got laid off in 2010 due to budget cuts at which point I was contacted by a temp agency. I interviewed at a countertop fabricator to
be a maternity leave cover and ended up working there for almost 5 years. Since then, I have worked in several different capacities in the industry. I have worked for both
knows that my word means a lot. Cutting corners isn’t my thing, and I won’t work for places that operate in such a way. We’ve all heard stories and know of companies in this industry who take advantage of customers. That has never been me and will never be me. Best/Favorite Mentor? I had a mentor early on in this industry that pushed me to get outside of my comfort zone and challenge myself. He helped me in developing skills that have proven to be very useful in my career. He was never my direct supervisor but was always there to
fabricators and distributors in everything from customer service to managing an entire division of the company. I’ve been given the opportunity to travel the world sourcing natural stone and have had so many amazing experiences and met some incredible people along the way. What is the story behind your business? Alps Craftsman is a family owned and operated company that has been in business since 1991. Originally started as a certified Corian fabricator,
support me whenever I needed it. His faith in my judgment and abilities was a huge asset to building my confidence when making business decisions. Even though we haven’t worked together for about 10 years, I have still reached out to him any time I have considered changing jobs to get his opinion. I truly value his input as I know he always has my best interests in mind and knows my capabilities and work acumen. I think that having a strong mentor can be extremely helpful in developing a career, and I hope to be able to be that for someone in the future whether they’re new to the industry or just looking to gain knowledge. What do you see/believe are the most important issues in the building/construction/your industry today? I think one of the biggest issues in this industry is the lack of young people getting involved in the trades. There has
the company has continually adapted to the ever-changing market over the last 33 years. We now install many types of countertops including natural stone, engineered quartz, laminate, acrylic solid surface, and recycled materials. Along with countertops, we offer cabinets as well as other kitchen and bath accessories and fixtures. We also have an in-house design team to help bring your and your client’s visions to life. In the coming months we’ll also be adding tile and more cabinet offerings. Our goal is to offer a one-stop shop solution for all our customers. Whether a homeowner, custom home builder, remodeler, multi-unit developer, or production builder, we provide all the tools and products necessary to complete your project. Alps Craftsman is not your normal countertop fabricator and cabinet supplier. We often stand apart from our competitors for our professionalism, communication style, and of course,
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