Mark Ruggieri, salesman at Polek & Polek, has been working for the company since 1976.
Mark Ruggieri
The US-based company is an imaging distributor of compatible printer, copier and fax supplies including toner, toner cartridges and components for toner cartridges. On its website, it celebrated Ruggieri’s time at the company, after he began as a warehouse clerk in 1976 when the company “was first started” and was based in “the tiny garage” in founder John Polek’s home.
Ruggieri used to “drive packages to UPS because the business was too small for pick-up service”, before being promoted to Sales Executive, and is now “the top salesman for our company”, having “reached many plateaus during his years”, as well as winning “many awards”. 14 July 2001 was “declared Mark Ruggieri Day” at the company, while Ruggieri has “surpassed numerous records and has set the precedence for the rest of Polek & Polek”.
The company also pointed out that Ruggieri is known as the “copier encyclopedia” at the company, as “he knows just about everything about copiers, parts and supplies”, describing him as “outgoing, friendly, always ready to help you and just one heck of a nice guy”. CEO Chris Polek paid tribute to Ruggieri, stating that he is “the only person to have known Mark during his entire 40-year tenure”, having “first met Mark when I was just 12 years old!”
He added: “It is a rare opportunity to have an individual work for a company for 40 years, let alone witness their entire career accomplishing it. I am proud of that experience, and working together with Mark is one of the reasons I enjoy coming to the office every day. Mark is one of the most loyal people you will ever meet. I am grateful for having him as a cornerstone of the Polek & Polek team.
“I have said this numerous times before, and I will say it again because it is true: Mark Ruggieri is to Polek & Polek, what Mickey Mouse is to Disney World! There are quite a bit of stories over 40 years. One that I will always remember is when Polek & Polek first started selling toner. Our office was a lot smaller back then in Cedar Grove, and there was not enough space to hold the hundreds of cases of toner we had to stock.
“We decided that we could stack the toners like a brick wall along one open wall of each individual office, and in the main office area. I remember Mark and I would help the warehouse staff unload the truck, and start building the walls of the office with toner. As the office would start to look bare, we would know there was another shipment of toner on the way! Everybody who worked in the office literally saw the toner move in and out the door! Congratulations on 40 years Mark! You have only just begun!”