Simône Boersma (1967)

Office Manager

I have known Arnauld since my childhood. Our fathers were colleagues and friends. I ran into Arnauld at the school of my three sons and it appeared that Arnauld and Monique had moved to Bergen and had chosen the same school for their children.

Later I met Arnauld during a recital of the Mattheus Passion. He told me he was looking for a new employee and had heard that I was looking for a job. Trade and dairy produce were something completely new to me but Arnauld and Monique gave me the confidence and the time to get to know this line of business. At first it was very hard - I had to learn a lot of new things - but now I have become a real expert, which improves our teamwork greatly.

I am still surprised about the way AVH dairy trade came into my life. Earlier I had worked at the logistics department of an international fashion company in Amsterdam and I was in for something new after a few years. One of the conditions was that it had to be close to Bergen and the other that it had to be a part time job. I have always dreamt about a life where work and children would be in balance, about a perfect match between a job and a family. Here at AVH I can adjust my working hours to the school’s timetable. Every morning I take my children to school and go to work by bike. I drink a cup of coffee with Arnauld to catch up and I work until it is time to get the children from school.

At AVH quality is more important than quantity. This is reflected in the low pressure of work which helps me to do my work well. Every now and then we have a lunch out of the office which is a nice break from working on the computer and a nice moment to relax. When things work out well, we give each other positive feedback, when they don’t we discuss them in a constructive way. This gives me the opportunity to improve my work and to develop myself. That positive attitude is characteristic for our company. It is the same with which we approach our customers.

My contribution to the atmosphere at the office? I think that would be stability. Since I am always at the office my colleagues can count on me, which adds to the balance at work. At home I actually hold the same position. Everyone has his own role and I like to be the tower of strength, that is my nature.