New Zealand and Australia’s most outstanding technicians will again vie for recognition as the best in their field at John Deere’s second annual John Deere Technician Awards.
Selected from a pool of more than 100 nominations, Deena Martin, Drummond & Etheridge Parts On-Site Consultant, has been named as the South Island finalist in the Parts Apprentice of the Year award category.
In her Parts On-Site role, Deena is responsible for visiting customers that are set up with parts cabinets and replenishing their oil, filters and consumables, to ensure their machinery is maintained and operational. When not on the road, Deena spends her time on the parts counter, serving customers, taking phone calls and supporting workshop technicians.
D&E Ashburton Parts Manager Phil Bradley nominated Deena for the awards because of her passion for the John Deere brand and the enthusiasm she brings to the role.
“Deena is a very positive and outgoing individual who brings a lot of energy to our parts department,” says Phil. “She is a great ambassador for Drummond & Etheridge and the John Deere brand, never hesitating to go above and beyond for our customers.”
Deena joined D&E in 2020 after moving back to Mid Canterbury following six months of employment for another John Deere dealer in the North Island. A keen interest in the Ag industry led her to pursue a career in technical parts support. She has taken on a MITO Parts Apprenticeship to ensure she provides customers with valuable information to best help their business.
“My love of agriculture came from my years of dairy farming in Canterbury and Central Hawkes Bay. I felt that this career path would allow me to use my years of agricultural experience to form strong and relatable connections with customers.”
“Supporting the agriculture industry is critical to our role as parts technicians,” says Deena. “The sector is changing and constantly evolving with new technology, and I am lucky enough to be involved in this growth within our industry.”
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, said the awards helped spotlight New Zealand and Australian technicians’ incredible contribution to helping businesses leverage the most out of their machinery and technology.
“Australia and New Zealand is home to some of the best technicians in the world,” Mr Chandler said.
“We must celebrate the critical role high-performing techs play in providing backup support and technical expertise to the agriculture, turf, construction and forestry industries.”
This year, judging will take place in person at the John Deere Australia and New Zealand headquarters in Brisbane from 3 to 5 August, followed by an Awards Ceremony Gala.
Fierce competition is predicted throughout judging, during which service and parts technicians will be tested on their ability to problem-solve both hands-on tasks and technical troubleshooting.
