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