Loganholme, Queensland, Australia
Still today after over 34 years in machine shop tooling sales, I have a huge passion for small business & engineering, as well as living the dream and seizing the moment, taking any opportunity put in front of me. Got to give it a go, that's part of my life all round - work & social. I founded Miller's Tooling about 20 years ago, thriving on hard work & passion in engineering & tooling. (after 12 years as a fitter/armourer/machinist in the Australian army, then14 years of technical sales at Comag in Brisbane). Love to be able to help others to increase their knowledge. What ever I have learnt or know, I feel its important to share with others, so they can grow too. Hence - I'm a good talker...and extremely observant. Being technical & very mechanical practical - I am an "ideas man", so I make things happen - being a perfectionist, I like to only to present the best in all I do. Living on the beach at the Gold Coast these days, being on the beach as much as possible. Best way to start the day with surfing, fishing, boating , golf, SUP or just a walk along the sand to enjoy what life has. We travel extensively up & down the East coast,Vic to Nth Qld, whenever can get away, catching a wave, meeting up with our families & friends, or just kicking back on a lazy beach hideaway - both being prone to a cold drink or two. Seeing new places is exciting. I really have trouble staying still to long, got to go walk about & explore - still yet to ever mature or learn how to sit & relax.... 16 years experience as Body Corporate Chairman in an large 37 unit industrial complex , combined with 8 years as Secretary in another Residential Body Corporate role has kept me very busy and gained a wealth of knowledge in the world of Body Corp. I've had my whole life in very active sports, many representative state & services rugby union teams, volleyball, touch footy, swimming even darts,- 12 years of martial arts training, eventually as a Sensei, running my own Zen Do Kai dojo in Shailer Park, Brisbane, also to be training & teaching weapons & Muay Thai kickboxing.
I founded MILLER'S TOOLING with all my passion. More than just a job, working 95 hours / week for a few years, this was my hobby & life, obviously dedicated & proud. I have discovered to only work with the very best staff in their fields. Each team member is the best! This makes life easy for me, as they all can and want to do their jobs extremely well, I don't need to be pushing them. We can all work together as a team to offer our customers advice & service - this is lacking in our industry & world today. Personal service is what we all offer to all our customers, that's why we are still growing & same repeat customers come back & recommend us. We have grown aprox. 20% - 25% every year - that speaks for itself - thanks to our great customers, who trust us to look after them.
On the road for 14 years at Comag was a great job , I learnt so much about general engineering shops, CNC machining, toolmakers & all types of metal engineering. Carbide cutting tools & measurement was a specialty of mine. Meeting & learning from so many clever people in our industry. Then I also learnt that I could help out & teach other tradesman about tooling or ways they hadn't heard about or tried, Sales wasnt "flogging tools" at all - it was coming up with solutions, ideas & helping people. Both Dave Powells & Bob Aitkens were my mentors. Eventually went out and created my own company - Miller's Tooling.
Leaving home & joining up in the Army - as a Fitter & Turner apprentice at 16. What a way to grow up real quick... Simply the best way to learn all aspects of a trade is in the Army. Qualifying as an Fitter & Turner, Armourer, small engine mechanic, blacksmith, welder in all types, sheet metal, auto electrics - basically the Army trained you to fix anything that was broken, think outside of the box. Later to be spending 6 - 7 months a year of my time in the bush, fixing anything from earth moving plant equipment & gear; armoured personal carriers & trucks , generators & .50 cal guns. A lot was just keep it going with a bit of fencing wire, etc. My best effort was to cut up a land Rover front panel to make a new fan blade for a TD 15 dozer on a big project. Making & fixing & solving things has always been my life , always will be...love it.