Staff Profiles
Hyspecs (Hydraulic Specialties Ltd) would not be the success it is today, without the contribution and expertise of our valued staff members:
Auckland Staff
Richard Krebs
C.E.O.
Richard qualified with Aircraft Avionics Certificate, Radio Technicians Certificate, and NZCE Electrical from Air New Zealand in 1982. He joined Hyspecs in the same year and progressed through stores, sales and design duties, and eventually became C.E.O.
Mark Featherstone
North Island Sales Manager
Mark holds an Advanced Trade qualification in Automotive Engineering Heavy Equipment. Mark started at Hyspecs as a Sales Engineer progressed to North Island Sales Manager. Mark has been involved in hydraulics for over 20 years of which 20+ of these have been with Hyspecs.
Albert Wang
Technical Manager
Albert holds a Masters Degree in Engineering specialising in Fluid Power. After graduating from university, Albert worked at the university in the Fluid Power department for more than eight years as a researcher and lecturer. Albert joined Hyspecs in 1994.
Damon McCarthy
Purchasing Manager
Damon holds a NZCE (Mech.) qualification. He initially worked as a draughtsman in various civil engineering fields before starting at Hyspecs over 10 years ago. Damon progressed through to Sales Engineer and is now the Purchasing Manager.
Ray Sollitt
Customer Services Manager
Ray's role at Hyspecs is to facilitate sales and service departments in Auckland. During his 20 years in the industry, Ray has had experience in many roles ranging from installations engineer to offshore purchasing officer. Ray has been in the Hyspecs team for 10+ years.
Nick Cottier
Marketing and IT Manager
Nick started with Hyspecs in January 2002 in a Sales Engineer position and moved to the Marketing and IT role in mid 2004. Nick holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Ling Xie
Branch Accountant
Ling graduated from the Manukau Institute of Technology in 2002 and holds a Diploma in Business (Accounting). She worked as a sole charge account for more than 7 years in NZ before starting at Hyspecs in June 2007. Before emigrating to NZ Ling was a practising pharmacist in China. Currently Ling is working with an accounting mentor aiming to be qualified as an Accounting Technician with NZICA by the end of 2008.
Kim Estreich
Accounts Receivable Administrator
Kim originally joined Hyspecs in May 2002. Her backgound is predominantly in the banking and finance industry and now works in our accounts receivable department.
Craig Kemp
Project Engineer
Craig holds a National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Before joining Hyspecs in early 2007 Craig worked in various roles from Project Management/Engineering to OEM Sales Manager. He has over 11 years hydraulic experience.
Lloyd Jones
Sales Engineer
Lloyd joined Hyspecs after moving to New Zealand in 2002. Lloyd has had previous experience in hydraulics and pneumatics and has been involved in the engineering service industry for most of his career.
Conrad Hauser
Sales Engineer
Conrad completed a fitting & turning apprenticeship with Fisher & Paykel and went on to complete an NZCE-Mech in 2000. He has spent 10 years as a maintenance fitter with various manufacturing companies and in the process has gained considerable hydraulics and pneumatics experience. He also spent 6 years working as Project/Draughting Engineer. Conrad joined Hyspecs in 2006.
Darren Rafferty
Sales Engineer
Darren holds a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a trade qualification as a Toolmaker. He relocated to New Zealand from Ireland in 2009 where he had been working as a Design and Sales Engineer in the specialist oils and lubrication industry. Darren joined Hyspecs in early 2010.
Ross McConnon
Hydraulic Engineer - Taupo
Ross's hydraulic experience originally came out of the plywood and sawmilling industry. He has spent the last 15 years in the hydraulic design, service and manufacture of forestry attachments. Being Taupo based, Ross will be covering customer's needs throughout the central North Island area.
Ross is a keen sportsman, game bird hunter and fisherman. Often he can be found at the local stream fly-fishing. His smoked trout is legendary! Ross joined Hyspecs in mid 2010.
James West
Sales Engineer
James Initially trained in the Royal New Zealand Air force gaining National Certificates in Aeronautical engineering and Aircraft servicing. Having gained over 13 years engineering experience both domestic and internationally, 2 of which employed at Marshall Aerospace Uk and 8 years at Air New Zealand. James joined Hyspecs in August 2010.
Andrew Williams
OEM Facilitator
Andrew came to us in 2005 from Steel and Tube, where he serviced Auckland's largest structural steel fabricators' accounts. Andrew originally started with us in internal sales. Since mid-2006 he has looked after purchasing, production management, forecasting and logistics for our OEM customers.
Andrew Ieremia
OEM & Technical Assistant
Andrew started with Hyspecs mid 2007. With 5+ years experience in the hose and fittings industry Andrew is utilising those skills in our OEM department.
Phil Housley
Stock Controller
Phil joined Hyspecs in January 2003 having previously worked as stock controller within the computer industry and is also involved in reconfiguring motors and pumps at Hyspecs. He comes from a mechanical background involving motor racing.
Mike Whittingham
Dispatch Controller
Mike joined Hyspecs in 1992 and since then has been responsible for the dispatch of all of Hyspec's product from the Auckland warehouse to our customers.
Christchurch Staff
Gary Holt
General Manager Christchurch
Gary joined Hyspecs in mid 2008. Returning from North America after 32 years in the fluid power industry, Gary has covered all aspects from field service and sales engineering to management. His travels have included design and engineering trips to Sweden, Japan and USA and he brings an extensive knowledge of fluid power manufacturers in North America.
Brent Dale
Director
Brent has 25+ years experience in the hydraulics industry. In 1977 Brent, along with Helen, founded Dales Hydraulic Services Ltd (Dales). During the 1980's, Hyspecs (S.I.) and Dales formed a working relationship and in 1991, both companies merged to form the Christchurch operation of Hyspecs as we know it today.
Owen Ladbrook
Technical Manager
Owen graduated university with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He has experience in production machinery design, and has specialised in manufacturing processes and machine commissioning. Owen started with Hyspecs in late 1998.
Kathy Shailer
South Island Office Manager
Kathy joined Hyspecs in September 2000. She came with a background in office management and administration. Kathy has returned to Hyspecs in September 2006 after a years parental leave.
Therese Sefton
Office Administrator
Therese comes from a background of office admin in the in the agriculture and viticulture industries. Therese joined the Hyspecs Christchurch team at the beginning of 2011.
Scott Clemens
Sales Engineer
Scott joined Hyspecs in 2008 after studying engineering at the University of Canterbury. Scott comes from an agricultural background and has experience operating and servicing a range of mobile heavy agricultural machinery.
Steve George
Sales Engineer
Steve has a Military background having spent nearly 14 years in the RNZAF initially as an Aircraft Technician followed by 5 years as a Flight Engineer aboard C130 transport aircraft. During his time in the Air force Steve gained experience in aircraft hydraulic systems and components, including fault finding and overhauls. He has also completed a Diploma in Mechanical Engineering. Steve joined Hyspecs in early 2011.
Andrew Miskimmin
Internal Sales
Andrew holds a trade and advanced trade certificate in fitting, turning and machining.
Initially working on machinery maintenance in the printing industry, Andrew worked on inside technical
sales for six years for a bearing company before joining Hyspecs in 2002.
Scott Bonnington
Sales/Service Technician - Nelson
Based in Nelson Scott Bonnington covers an area from the West Coast of the South Island north to Nelson and Blenheim. Scott's hydraulic experience includes CNC machining for a cylinder manufacturer and a number of years working in our Christchurch branch. When Scott is relaxing he's always keen to pick up a rifle, shotgun, fishing rod or go for a trail ride.
Matt Bartle
Service Manager
Matt has been with Hyspecs since March 1998, first employed as a service technician before moving into the Service Manager position in 2007. Trade certified as an automotive engineer (heavy equipment), and came with a background in the mining industry. He now has several years experience in the hydraulics industry, working with a large variety of equipment, plant, vehicles and vessels and is a registered EWP inspector.
Bill Marks
Access Equipment Specialist
Bill has been with Hyspecs since February 2006. He is a trade certified auto electrician and CBIP Qualified E.W.P Inspector, coming to Hyspecs with a background in access equipment. He is a Snorkel Access Technician and has experience in a variety of access equipment. Bill likes to surf in his spare time.
James McKay
Fitter / Turner
Started with us in October 2007. James holds a National Certificate in Machining and Toolmaking and previously worked as a machinist/toolmaker for a local Christchurch company. He brings a variety of skills to the service department including machining, welding, plant maintenance and mechanical engineering.
Aidan Sheard
Fitter / Turner
Before joining Hyspecs in early 2009 Aidan spent time working in Scotland and England, with various jobs including profile burner, forklift driver, steel and sheet metal fabrication and production line work. Prior to this he completed an apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering and Machining and Tool Making in Christchurch with Skellerup.