Last week, the NexGen Digital UK team came to Irvine to spend a few days with the people they work with every day from across the Atlantic.
Daisy Arnup, Lee Booker, Mitchell Killingback, Matthew Pike and Graeme Pressney made the trip from the UK, while Sarah came in from Texas. Most of the time, these teams work together through calls, emails and an eight-hour time difference, so having everyone in the same office gave them a chance to spend time together without a screen in between.
For once, nobody had to ask anyone to unmute.
Chris Senesac, NexGen’s Head of Global Sales, said the UK team was built around the people first.
“It really comes down to the person. Do they match the culture? Do they treat people with respect? When the opportunity came to grow the team in the UK, it was a no-brainer. Each and every one of them brings that commitment.”
Graeme had his own reason for wanting to be part of it.
“Fresh challenge, different customers, different countries, and, to be honest, a chance to put myself out there.”
Inside the office and the lab
During the week, the team worked from the Irvine office and spent time with people they would normally only speak to online. They were able to sit together, ask questions as they came up and get a better feel for how the different parts of NexGen work together during the day.
They also spent time in the lab.
The NexGen Digital UK team already talks to customers about the inspection and testing process, but being in Irvine gave them the chance to see it for themselves. They walked through the lab, met the people doing the work and saw what happens to parts once they come through the door.
Mitchell said that being around the Irvine team was one of the best parts of the week.
“The guys here were brilliant. Everyone was welcoming, and it’s been great to meet everybody and see how the company works day to day.”
There was plenty of time together outside the normal workday too
The office had tacos together one afternoon in the break room, with the neon sign, arcade machine and the skeleton in the Hawaiian shirt all in their usual places. Later, everyone headed outside for a group photo, which took a little arranging once people started deciding where everyone should stand.
Mitchell also came in wearing a full England kit and bucket hat, so the UK side was well represented.
The group spent some time in Newport Beach as well, including an afternoon on a pontoon boat with food, drinks and a good part of the team on board.
At some point, the UK group also picked up the American chant, “You can’t do that.” It was aimed at referees here, although it sounds like they have already found a few other uses for it back home.
Another evening ended at a backyard barbecue in Orange County. There was food, a smoker, a dog making the rounds and enough time for everyone to hang out without having to get back to another meeting.
They stayed until dark, and nobody was checking what time it was in England.
The UK team heads home
By the end of the week, everyone headed home and back to the usual calls, emails and different time zones.
The work itself has not changed much, but the people doing it now know each other better. The UK team has seen the Irvine office, walked through the lab and spent time with the people behind the names they see every day. Irvine got the same opportunity with them.
The next call will still travel a long way. It just has a little more familiarity behind it now.
It’s not a part. It’s a partnership.
Questions about the NexGen Digital UK team
Yes. NexGen Digital, Inc. has a UK-based sales team of five senior account executives: Daisy Arnup, Lee Booker, Mitchell Killingback, Matthew Pike and Graeme Pressney. They look after customers across the United Kingdom and Europe and work directly with the company’s headquarters and laboratory in Irvine, California.
Email info@nexgendigital.com, call (949) 475-8900, upload a bill of materials at nexgendigital.com/contact, or contact any member of the team directly on LinkedIn. Quotes come back from a named account executive with a direct line.
In NexGen Digital’s own laboratory at 1370 Reynolds Avenue, Suite 119, Irvine, California 92614. Every part the company ships, to any country, is inspected there before it leaves. Testing to AS6171 methods is added when the part or the customer requires it.