Over a lifetime, the average person spends about 90,000 hours at work
So, as far as we're concerned, it better be worthwhile!
Here at CRM Insights our mission is to help our clients make CRM work. Whether they use CRM systems to support marketing, sales, customer service, a combination of all of them or something entirely left-field. It's a challenge we all relish.
Sure, it's challenging at times, and it can be stressful. But we pull together as a team. And for our clients, we want them to see us as an extension to their team.
We've created an environment where we all work together as a team, but each have the opportunity to stand out and be recognised through our own efforts.
We hope that our team members enjoy the experience just as much as our clients.
Want to get to know us a little better?
Scroll down for a short bio on each of us. And if you'd like to join us as a valued team member, take a look at our careers page to see current vacancies.
Don Wiid
Director & Co-Founder
Don's day-to-day responsibilities see him looking after CRM implementations. He makes sure that the delivery team has a clear and prioritised work schedule. A key part of this responsibility involves keeping projects on track, and ensuring that clients receive timely and relevant progress updates along the way.
Don also oversees the marketing function.
Outside of work Don is mostly to be found on the golf course. The only downside being that it's a constant reminder to him that his body is not quite as performant as when he was in his 20's! Still, he perseveres and is working towards a low-teens handicap by the end of the year.
Having spent more time working from home in 2020, he's also reignited an interest in cooking. For a while it appeared as though he were going for a Guinness World Record attempt for the most sour dough bread eaten in a week, but he's promised us he's now overcome that particular addiction!
Superpower: Creative-Visionary
Someone who transforms old outdated systems, paradigms, and radically challenge the status quo. For Don, in his role this means he can quickly create solutions from customer requirements and, just as importantly, convey them to both technical and non-technical people.
Mike Basketter
Director & Co-Founder
Mike's career started in marketing, having progressed up to Managing Director in a number of different companies. His career experience has seen him work in companies from a single employee right through to more than 2,500.
At CRM Insights his responsibilities include heading up pre-sales and sales. Typically, this involves fact-finding conversations with prospects, demonstrating the capabilities of the products that CRM Insights supports, engaging with future clients, and agreeing the commercials.
Outside of work Mike is an Alfa-male.
No, we don't mean he tends to assume a dominant or domineering role in social or professional situations (aka alpha-male). We mean that he's an Alfa-Romeo enthusiast. So, when not in the office you'll likely find him with his head under the bonnet of one of his classic Alfas, or behind the wheel on a race track.
Superpower: Pertinacity
A quality of sticking with something, no matter what. A type of persistent determination. People who have pertinacity won't give up, and they stick with things doggedly. Pertinacity is a mix of courage, conviction, and a little stubbornness. Essential ingredients for making sure that final follow-up call is made to help get prospects over the line and closer to resolving their business challenges.
Mandy Allen
Business Relationship Manager
Mandy holds responsibility for generating leads through both online and face-to-face networking. Working hand-in-hand with our marketer and the wider team, Mandy is very much the glue between our marketing and sales efforts. A true people-person, Mandy has an innate ability to engage in conversation with just about anyone. A key aspect of her approach being the ability to listen, and to know instantly who she can refer people to to get help - whether that's internal or external to CRM Insights.
When asked about working at CRM Insights, Mandy said:
“I’ve never come across a business before now where everyone wants to achieve the same for our clients. The integrity of everyone who works here makes me feel good. I treat it as if it were my own company and when I'm networking, the people I meet often comment on my passion for the business.
What I like most is that we're encouraged to be ourselves which makes me feel valued.”
Outside of the office Mandy's a keen traveller, constantly seeking new places where she can jump on her paddle board or into the water for some open water swimming! And if that's not outdoorsy enough, Mandy likes nothing more than a walk or cycle, or when she's seeking something more lively, you'll find her at an outdoor gig or festival (although she does confess to not being a fan of camping and is more likely to be found in a local Airbnb!).
Superpower: Connector
In his book The Tipping Point, author Malcolm Gladwell said, "Connectors are the people in a community who know large numbers of people and who are in the habit of making introductions. They usually know people across an array of social, cultural, professional, and economic circles, and make a habit of introducing people who work or live in different circles. They are people who link us up with the world... people with a special gift for bringing the world together."
A description that fits Mandy to a tee.
Rob Medlock
Developer
Rob is our developer, tackling complex challenges from PHP scripts in Workbooks, through to complex C# programs to integrate with accounting systems.
On working at CRM Insights, Rob said:
“I've had the ability to develop the skills that I naturally have. I was always into computers and couldn’t work with them as much as I wanted to before. I've learnt to program and am much happier as I feel it's worthwhile and I'm developing myself. I am making a difference here as it’s not a job that just anyone can do.”
Outside the office Rob is really LOUD! And no, we don't mean in his choice of attire. He has a talent for music, playing the drums and the guitar. He also knows rather a lot about sound equipment.
Superpower: Translator
A person who translates from one language into another, especially as a profession. And this is exactly what Rob does. He takes complex business processes and translates them into code, often while everyone else is still considering an approach, possibilities and solutions!
Trevor Gordon
CRM Implementation Engineer
Trevor knows Workbooks inside out, which is just as well as he's able to confidently navigate unchartered waters with new customers. On the journey to making CRM work, Trevor is able to calmly help overcome difficulties for the people he interacts with - no matter their level of technical competence.
Trevor said about working at CRM Insights:
"I like developing solutions and improving a customer’s business – I know I'm doing something useful. There’s more variety in my work now as we have new customers all the time with new challenges that need solving. I've learnt on the job and from Mike and Don. As we’ve grown as a company, we have bigger customers and bigger challenges. No two days are really the same.”
Outside of the office Trevor is... well, outside! His passion is extreme outdoor events like rat-race, spartan, etc. Despite confessing that he doesn't really like running all that much, he still finds himself competing in 20-mile obstacle courses most weekends.
Superpower: Patience
Able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. When you meet Trevor his calm nature is obvious. What it takes to rattle this man we're still yet to determine! As far as clients are concerned, the feedback is that he’s always polite and allows people the time to think, absorb and learn.
Marcell Berenyi
CRM Support Analyst
Marcell has 7 years experience in software development customer service. With a background in virtual-reality and mobile augmented-reality, at CRM insights Marcell is able to utilise his skills in dealing with complex environments to quickly understand client problems, and to determine potential solutions.
Marcell said about working at CRM Insights:
"What I enjoy most is learning something new every day! Having an open mind whilst being surrounded by a supportive team gives me a great opportunity to learn and grow.”
Outside of the office Marcell is... still in front of a screen! He'll happily tell you that he's a bit of a geek. And he wears this as a badge of honour whilst playing online strategy games or tinkering with PC hardware. He also rather likes broken things! That's because he loves nothing more than fixing stuff. Whether it's a broken shelf, a dripping tap, or a smashed laptop screen, there's no challenge too difficult for Marcell!
Superpower: Eternal Optimist
Always looking on the bright side and having hope, no matter what obstacles might attempt to push you off your path. Once you meet Marcell you quickly recognise this characteristic in him. Fortunately, this stands him in good stead for his customer support role - a job that means you often face clients at their most fraught time!
Charlie Maylin
CRM Consultant
Charlie ensures both the CRM Insights team, and the client team, keep momentum going during projects. As a consultant, he translates client requirements into actionable tasks for the developers. And in return, he translates techie jargon into a language that clients understand. Coming from an organisation that heavily invested in Workbooks, Charlie also has great understanding and empathy for the day-to-day business challenges of a CRM user.
Charlie said about working at CRM Insights:
"I feel very lucky to be part of the team; to get to work with great clients; and to help them get the most out of their technology investments.”
Outside of the office Charlie is... a bit of a Robin Hood! He likes nothing more than enjoying a good woodland walk, with the occasional bit of archery thrown in too! Or should that be 'fired in'!? When not outside, you're most likely to find Charlie avidly engaged in reading historical fiction, fantasy, sci-fi or a horror book.
Superpower: Platespinner
To have a number of different activities in progress; to deal with or oversee several different things at once. And this is exactly what Charlie does with aplomb. He keeps the team honest, and project momentum humming along.
Can you see yourself as a member of our team? Then why not take a look at our careers page to see our current vacancies.