awa awa r d s 2016
AWA WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2016
ANNE COULTER
01
Anne first became involved in the fenestration industry in 1987 as the sole proprietor of the Australian branch of a New Zealand based company distributing Accounting software. This agency took on the Soft Tech ALEXSYS product and she was trained in sales and installation. Back then, they used WANG computers the size of large suitcases, and Anne and John Ball carted these all over Australia demonstrating the software. Anne was already skilled in computers and software installation and she quickly learnt her mullions and transoms.
ALEXSYS morphed into ALUMINATE and then into the Soft Tech V6 product that has been the backbone of our industry over the last few decades. In the process, Anne made many life-long friends and built a formidable team, initially in Revesby but currently in Campbelltown. It speaks volumes to Anne’ s integrity and trustworthiness as a businesswoman that she was able to establish such a broad user base for Soft Tech amongst fabricators who were in direct competition with each other.
Anne went on to become a shareholder and Soft Tech expanded to America, the United Kingdom and Europe, establishing sales branches in each of these places, as well as a development centre in India. The core development team remained in
Auckland and Anne is now the CEO of the entire group, employing over 100 staff and having over 7000 customers world-wide. Anne has always been at the forefront of supporting the AWA, hosting Software User Groups, sponsoring events at conferences and, in particular, sponsoring the Woman in Windows initiative.
AWA LIFE MEMBER 2016
TONY GRAMLICK
02
Born and raised in Melbourne, Tony graduated from RMIT in 1961 as a mechanical engineer and headed to Sydney for a career at Rheem. Only a few years later, Tony returned to Melbourne to take up a position with Alcan and much of his career was spent with them. During this time, he held a number of engineering, product development and sales positions across different divisions. He was integral to introducing business partners and helping them build their businesses into successes. He held the position of President of the Victorian Architectural Aluminium Fabricators Association( AAFA) twice. This group was somewhat of a precursor to the AWA today and much of the old technical data developed is still used to underpin training and documents.
Tony took early retirement in the mid 90’ s when many large manufacturing companies in Australia were hit with one of the largest cyclical financial crises for decades. Tony only enjoyed three weeks of leisure before Metalex and the Aluminium Council both vied for his services. In 1996, he supported his wife when she was offered a career move to Sydney and, what was a two year option, has now turned into twenty. In 2010, he was made a life member of the Institute of Engineers for his services to engineering.
From an industry association perspective, Tony has donated his time and skills tirelessly, never, thankfully, saying no. He has offered our industry technical advice as needed for more than 15 years, mentored a number of emerging industry engineers, and mediated on behalf of many members with technical, engineering and product issues. Tony is now the longest serving active AWA accreditation auditor, consistently undertaking inspection reports and expert witnessing services around the country.
Ten years after most have retired, Tony is also still the national technical adviser to the Australian Aluminium Council and actively participates on numerous Standards Australia committees and in the development and delivery of a number of AWA education programs.
With two children and four grandsons to keep him grounded, Tony is an avid reader of military history and crime novels and has a passion for overseas travel, especially to Japan.
01 Anne Coulter( left) receiving the AWA Woman of the Year 2016 Award from Tracey Gramlick( right), Executive Director & CEO, AWA. 02 Tony Gramlick( left) receiving the AWA Life Member 2016 Award from Brendan O’ Reilly( right), Acting Chairman of the Board, AWA.
Windows Magazine Spring 2016 35