BON COURAGE: Yesterday the team at VMZINC officially said, “Au Revoir” to our French colleague, Laurent Heindryckx.  Laurent has been in the states for around 12 years and was here when the doors officially opened on our US office. 

Over the years, Laurent has performed many functions within VMZINC, has suffered through storms, celebrated the moments of sunshine, and has kept his irrepressible calm largely intact -when lesser souls have completely and utterly blown their respective cool.  To say that he will be missed is an understatement.

The good news is that he will still be a part of the VMZINC family, only now he will be located in Paris, France.  We are still trying to figure out why a Frenchman would want to return to the country of his birth to live and raise his family.  Hmm?  Strange. 

To Laurent we wish, “Bon Courage” and all of our best.  Laurent will be leaving the good old U.S. of A at the end of this month. 

At the same time, one of our Territory Manager’s, Bryan Ninneman, will be relocating to Phoenix, AZ and opening an office for the mother ship down the road from Uncle Frank Lloyd Wright’s winter home, studio, and school. 

Bryan has been in Raleigh for about six years and is looking forward to the opportunity to plow new ground in the Southwest. 

Bryan started with VMZINC eight or so years ago as a part-time draftsman.  Over the years, he left VM, came back, did project management and has since been promoted to Territory Manager.  We won’t miss Bryan, per se, because we will see him often and talk to him almost daily, but we will miss his good nature and humor in the Raleigh office on a daily basis. 

Bryan will be departing for the cool winds and temperate climate of Phoenix on July 1st.  We wish him much air conditioning and a sane journey with his two year old on the trip from Raleigh to Phoenix. 

So, what do you do when two key players are about to leave the nest.  Well, first you have an office wide lunch and invite other Umicore businesses to partake in a little Southern food and hospitality.  In this case, BBQ pork, slaw, etc.  (Hopefully with defib on site.  CLEAR!)

Then, later in the evening, we went to a Raleigh favorite:  Fat Daddy’s for burgers (CLEAR!), drinks, and to school our French friend in the fine art of billards.  Our fine French friend then schooled some of our team on the fine art of Foosball. 

We had a good time, but parting is, as always, such sweet sorrow.  We all need a little courage for the road ahead without some of our favorite people in the office. 

 Good luck and safe travels to both Laurent and Bryan.  -VM

Source: www.zincsense.com

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