Tech savvy Terry is happy to lend customers a hand

FACE BEHIND THE BUSINESS
Name: Terry Coles.
Age: 59.
Location: EOL is located on the sixth floor of Harrington House, Tauranga City.
What is your job? I am the managing director of the company.
How long have you been working here? I've been here since EOL started, on June 30, 1995.
Why did you get into it? Because I enjoy shaping new technology that makes a positive difference in people's lives. I saw the potential of the internet and wanted to be a part of it from the ground up. Coming from the organic food industry, it was one of the few career paths I could see that held mainly positive outcomes for humanity with few direct negative impacts on our planet.
What's your favourite part of the job? Getting to work each morning knowing that I will finish the day with more knowledge and exciting ideas than I had yesterday.
What were you doing before this? I built and managed a large organic food importing and distribution business.
What was your most memorable or embarrassing day? Fortunately I have escaped embarrassing myself too much. As for most memorable ... that would have to be when EOL finally moved into its own Network Operations Centre in 2008. The centre was filled with all the amazing technology we had previously only dreamed of. We knew we had finally made it, surrounded by more electronic toys and gadgets than most people see in a lifetime.
Number of employees? Eight.
Tell us about your workmates: I never cease to be amazed at the way our team never, ever stops developing new ideas. They are a brilliant bunch of people that just won't let a problem or new idea rest until they solve it. When I look back at how they have played their part in building EOL into a cutting-edge technology company I am filled with admiration at how every staff member has treated the company as if it were their own.
How do you go the extra mile for your customers? By being accessible to customers as much as possible, both by phone and in person. My days are always over 12 hours, seven days a week, and have been for over 15 years now.
What do you do after work (in your spare time) to unwind? Spend precious moments with family over a meal or watching a movie, or in our organic orchard in the Kaimai Ranges.
What does the future hold for you? I always promised myself that on my 60th birthday my lifestyle would get reversed; more family time, and less work. I am working hard to make sure that happens. That doesn't necessarily mean my role will change in EOL, it will just evolve into a situation where staff will assume more of my day-to-day tasks leaving me to guide the company onwards and upwards from one step back.