All Purpose Transport General Manager Paul Kahlert named Brisbane's Professional of the Year at Australian Institute of Management Excellence Awards
By Ruza Zivkusic-Aftasi | September 23, 2013
All Purpose Transport General Manager Paul Kahlert has been named Brisbane’s Professional of the Year at the 2013 Australian Institute of Management (AIM) Excellence Awards.
Kahlert was recognised for his strategic thinking when implementing a workforce development program last year that saw all of his 260 staff complete the training.
The company’s revenue has risen by 17 per cent in the last year, with staff morale increasing.
The $1 million program, which was partially funded by the Federal Government’s National Workforce Development Fund (NWDF), has also helped the business pick up major business.
Kahlert says he undertook the training because of the ageing workforce of drivers.
“As an outcome of that we have to create a pipeline now to get people to come and join the logistics and transport industry,” Kahlert says.
“The biggest challenge at the moment is getting good calibre people to come and work in the industry when obviously mining has taken people up until a few months ago.
“The program has raised the company’s profile and as an outcome it ensures quality of service guaranteed for our customers.”
Kahlert has been in his role for 12 years but has been with the company for 25 years. He does not consider himself as a manager but a coach.
“I very much believe in that you let people run the business and then you come in there when there’s a need to step in,” he says.
“But there’s no need to be dictating what needs to be done all the time because if you’re doing that your business will run you.”
All Purpose Transport plans to launch an induction program for staff next year that will see them become qualified before they start with the company.
“We want the guys up and running before they join the business and we want to create some noise in the market to keep attracting people to our business,” he says.
“Because if you have 17 per cent growth you need 17 per cent more people so we have to create a pipeline of people who are wanting to join the company so therefore we can select the best candidate,” he says.
A typical job advertisement last year would attract around 40 applicants, but the figure is now up to 160 nowadays, Kahlert adds.
“There’s lots of employment branding on our website, we talk about our people all the time,” he says.
“Because we employ the best people you do attract quality people. The message is getting out there that we are an employer of choice in Brisbane.”
The AIM has been recognising managers across Queensland and the Northern Territory for over 20 years.
