In 2018, Kristen Grzegorczyk had no idea what career path lay ahead. She was interviewing for customer service positions in the Metro Detroit area—one of which was at Evans. She soon received an offer from another company and was thinking it over. As she drove home, she noticed an Evans Distribution truck in front of her, bringing forth an aha moment.
“It was a sign from the universe,” she says. “I had to call Evans before I accepted.”
She joined Evans and has never looked back. Today, Kristen is an Account Manager, overseeing 19 associates on one of the busiest and most complex customer accounts to date. Her new promotion is related to the very reason she chose Evans in 2018. “The atmosphere at Evans was different. I knew that it was a job that was interesting and had diverse customer accounts that would force me to learn new skills and grow,” she says.
Before her promotion, Kristen was customer service representative at Evans’ Fort Street facility. She was known for her desire to “figure things out” when challenges arose.
“I always considered my role as more than paperwork and data input. It was important for me to see the whole process, from start to finish—and you can only see that on the floor.”
This natural ability to be curious and think critically has made her invaluable to her customers, colleagues and operation managers. Becoming knowledgeable about the products, parts, packaging, rates, and handling requirements, ensures that her accounts are successful from both sides of the table.
“My mother used to tell me, be teachable,” she says. She now understands the meaning behind her mother’s advice.
As an Account Manager, Kristen oversees the operational account performance from every side: customer service, labor management, training, quality, communication, etc. She is responsible for order accuracy, inventory management, and other key metrics associated with warehousing.
The account she oversees requires high level management. The international mold and industrial machine manufacturer is a fast moving account with nearly 20,000 unique SKUs of various parts, with specific measurements and applications. The operation is beyond average for a layperson with no background in injection molding, tooling, and die-casting.
A new account like this one can be difficult to handle, but Kristen has made it her mission to know the meaning behind every part application and SKU structure to ensure that she doesn’t just rely on what’s in the system but can spot inaccuracies before they become problematic. “I’ve learned more in the last seven months than I had ever expected to learn in my life,” she says.
One example of learning comes in the form of state-of-the-art technology. A vertical lift module is an automated storage and retrieval machine, like a giant elevator for parts. It is designed for a high SKU account like the one Kristen oversees. Its vertical storage design and advanced software system incorporate several technologies such as machine vision, lasers, sensors, and weight systems to increase accuracy and picking efficiency. Kristen is currently testing the technology before it goes live, something she never imagined she would be involved in.
“I feel lucky to work on a project that is at the forefront of the industry, and I know it is going to be a game changer for this account and my team,” she says.
By far, the most rewarding and challenging aspect of her role is managing for the first time. Bringing a diverse range of roles, skills, and personalities together as a team has fostered new forms of openness and compassion within her. “You can’t just work, work, work. I’ve learned to step back and enjoy. Teamwork makes the dream work,” she says.
The promotion has given her family a front row seat in watching her develop professionally. Especially in the eyes of her daughters, as they witness an important lesson about female career advancement in male dominated industries like warehousing.
“I tell them you don’t need to know exactly what you want to do from day one. You may not even know the job exists. Take initiative to learn as much as you can and opportunities will come your way. You may be nervous at first, but go for it,” Kristen says.