Celebrating a remarkable milestone of dedication and loyalty, our Projects Manager, Tracey marks 20 years of service with DNS and embarks on a well-deserved retirement.
Throughout two decades of commitment and contributions, Tracey has been an invaluable asset, embodying the very essence of dedication, professionalism and excellence. This incredible achievement is not only a testament to her unmatched dedication but also the embodiment of our company’s core values.
To find out more about Tracey’s time here, we have asked her some questions to gain a better insight into her past 20 years at DNS and her retirement plans.
As you can imagine, over the years Tracey’s role has developed and transformed into what it is today. Her duties are very varied but nonetheless Tracey has always overseen the admin and accounts team, as well as projects within the business. Additionally, contacts, personnel processes, procedures and training the team on new software also fall under Tracey’s trusty remit.
Let’s take it back to the beginning and find out what attracted Tracey to her role at DNS.
“I had a great and very lengthy interview with Jennie, she told me all about the role and it was very varied which really appealed to me as I knew I would be kept busy. I really liked that DNS was a smaller business and not a huge corporate. Interestingly, Jennie always said that I was a female version of Darren after the interview. Haha.”
Tracey has always worked in a similar field, which all began at Allestree Woodlands School as she learnt shorthand and typing resulting her going to Derby Collage of further education and completing a secretarial course.
Counting Careers: Delving into Tracey’s Past Professional Pursuits
Before we were lucky enough to capture Tracey for our own, she had a few previous roles which include working at her parent’s shop, a timber merchants a bank and even a local club! All of which incorporating figures and numbers
“I worked in my parent’s shop (formerly Mackworth Post Office) from a very young age with my mother’s guidance and supervision, giving me the aptitude to work with figures, money and spreadsheets. I’m pretty self-taught (however I will use Google if I’m struggling!) I can do pivot tables, lookups, complex queries and macros. Which I guess mapped my future at DNS, moving from ‘Admin & Accounts Manager, to Projects Manager & then latterly Order Process Coordinator.
Following on from helping my parent’s out at their shop, at 15 years old I joined a timber merchant in Derby as a cleaner and quickly became office junior. After 3 years, I then got a job at the Leeds Building Society and I worked here for around 7 years as a cashier.
After this I took some time away from work to raise my children however, when they were very young I worked at a several local clubs & bars and ‘in those good old days’ you had to add up the prices in your head… I can tell you that the locals all knew the price of their favourite tipple, so there was no room for error!
It was after this that I went to Main-Train (now East Midlands trains) in the finance department. I then joined DNS in 2004 and the rest is history!”
It is fair to say that the business has changed drastically since Tracey began in 2004, initially we only sold Xerox devices and toners and there were only around 5 members in the team. The business had just moved to Melbourne Business Court, and it was here that DNS began to form to where we are today. Still a very proud Xerox Partner, but covering IT Services, Communications and Document Management too.
Memorable work travels (& proud moments!)
Over the years there has been many fantastic trips that stand out to Tracey, including a visit to Palma and Madrid as well as many weekends away. One specifically including a Dambuster Helicopter Ride with extraordinary views of the peak district and Chatsworth House.
“We have been lucky enough to have had so many fantastic trips over the years which I have been extremely grateful for. One thing that does stick out to me was that for my very first Christmas at DNS I got a £500 voucher for a department store which for me was just incredible. I felt so valued and appreciated by the sheer generosity of the business.”
As well as many trips, as you can imagine there has also been lots of projects too! Tracey is most proud of the below:
- Introducing the direct debit scheme around 15 years ago which was a huge progression for the team it added security, flexibility and control as well as reducing late payments and reducing administration burden.
- Tracey also created a data base which included every customer, every contact, every machine and every meter that DNS supplies. This automated print meter collections and billing customers, which meant we could save a significant amount of time and keep control of this process in house.
After-Hours Retreat: Tracey’s Unwinding Rituals & Retirement plans
After years immersed in the world of figures and numbers, you must be curious about what helps Tracey unwind after a busy day.
“Getting my comfies on and having a glass of wine is my go-to after a long day, the sound of the ‘pop’ when the cork is released and the glugging into the glass is enough to make me go ‘ahhhhhhh’! Oh and a nice meal. Anything… I love food.”
When Tracey retires she is keen to carry on with many projects, although these will not include any numbers!
In 2019 Tracey and her husband bought a 100 years old house which they are in the process of renovating. She also enjoys spending her time digging and planting and you’ll often find her in the garden with her wellies on! Always keen to have a project on the go Tracey also sews, reupholsters and paints when it isn’t nice enough to be outside.
At the weekends after a long day, I enjoy nothing more than getting dressed up and going out for a meal and a drink with my husband and I love visiting my children as they’re all living close by.
“When I retire I’m hoping to continue as I’ve always done, I’m a ‘jack of all trades’ but a ‘master of none’ as the saying goes. To my husband’s annoyance, I’ve always got a project on & I ‘never’ sit still.
However, I think life will change dramatically now, and not just because I’m retiring from DNS.
I now have 7 grandchildren, a great grandchild & another on the way. I anticipate that my babysitting services will be required.
I would also like to add to my ‘to do’ list, walks with hubby, he is retiring in February. Go on more holidays. And maybe, join a gym…. I’ll get back to you on this one though?”
A few words From Darren
“The commitment and hard work Tracey has shown over her twenty years at DNS has positively helped to shape our company’s journey. The business has grown and changed over the years and Tracey has been there every step of the way. Her contributions have been instrumental in our success and we’re honoured to have had her as an integral part of our team for 20 years. Thank you, Tracey.” – Darren Marsh, Managing Director.
To celebrate Tracey’s retirement, the DNS Team will be joining Tracey and her family at Morley Hayes to say goodbye and thank you (we have promised Tracey no speeches!)
A Farewell From Tracey
And of course we had to ask the pivotal question: Why have you stayed at DNS for 20 years?
“My role has always been varied, I have never had chance to get bored and there is always lots and lots to do. (And of course the people here have played a huge part in being here all this time too!)
It’s certainly been interesting and very busy! The days wiz by and you are never ever stuck with nothing to do, ever. Sometimes my brain is frazzled… hence the reason for the wine at the end of the day, but I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. Thank you Darren & Jennie for making my time at DNS so interesting and always showing your appreciation.”
On our final note, on behalf of the whole DNS Team would like to again like to say a huge thank you to Tracey for her invaluable contributions, unwavering dedication and the profound impact that she has had on our team. Although we will miss her presence in the office, we wish Tracey all the best in her retirement, plenty of gardening, dining out and time spent with the grandchildren to come.
