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T RA D E N E W S
AUBREY KRUGER
SONETTE builds relationships
with Kroonstad producers
T
Sonette Viljoen is the Relationship
Manager at the Senwes Village
Hinterland branch in Kroonstad.
AUBREY KRUGER
Martie Tinkler is the
Admin Lady of the Year
MARTIE TINKLER from the Senwes Village Hinterland branch in Kroonstad won the sought-after
title of Hinterland's Administrator of the Year at the
end of 2015. The branch manager, Louis Lingenfelder, is very proud of her.
Martie says she was most surprised when the announcement was made at Stonehenge.
She has a lot of experience and has been with the
company for 27 years, since 6 February 1989. She
also worked at Prodist and Champion Mills and has
been in the position of head of administration at Kroonstad for the past 4 years.
“Title or not”, Martie says that “one never knows
everything.” She thought Henry van Antwerpen
would be the winner. He has helped Martie a lot in
the past. Louis, however, keeps her on her toes - everything has to be just right. Fortunately, although
he is strict, he is fair. She enjoys working with Louis,
mainly because he is always willing to help.
She says that her success is the result of a team
effort, because we are all dependent on one another.
Another contributing factor is that she is happy at
work. “If you are not happy at work, you will simply
not achieve success”.
Martie is undoubtedly an example for others,
which is evident from the homage paid to her.
20
Feb/Mar 2016 • SENWES Scenario
he relationship manager at the Senwes Village
Hinterland branch in Kroonstad is Sonette Viljoen. And as her job title indicates, that is exactly what
she does.
Sonette regards her job as more than just an ordinary job. “I have a passion for my work. My father,
Johannes Viljoen, is a farmer and farming is in my
blood. I don't think it can ever be different.”
She joined the Kroonstad branch in August 2014,
after having gained extensive experience in the telecommunications industry at Telkom and having been a personal banker at Absa. She has been involved in the agricultural environment for the past six and a half years.
Sonette was born in Lindley, where she matriculated
in 1994. She says that the producers in Kroonstad are
different. “We have very dynamic producers.” According to her she learns something new every day and the
producers are not shy to share their knowledge and
experience with her. This is a very important aspect of
her work. She admits that she has often cried with producers, particularly over the recent past.
Sonette is very happy where she is at present. “I
want my clients and management to be satisfied with
the work I do at all times."
On a personal level Sonette keeps fit by jogging and
cycling and she has completed the Cape Town Cycling
Race twice. Exercise is food for the soul. Her motto
is: “You have to motivate yourself in order to be able
to motivate others.” A board in her office announces:
“Motivation comes from within”. It is evident that Sonette is a self-motivator and there is no doubt that she
will go from strength to strength and will continue to
do her job passionately.
The winner! Martie Tinkler (Head of Administration) in the
middle with Shamynia van Zyl (Administration and ܙ\