Employee Spotlight: Janice Kaelin
I love this company (Daikin), my co-workers and feel that we have the best and most innovative Chiller products in the market. I have met the best, brightest and most talented characters in our industry here. Janice Kaelin, Service Coordinator”
About Daikin
I started with the company 25 years ago last month, at the time we were Snyder General. I have been a service coordinator since. Richard Grenz wanted me to be the first woman SSR in the company but for those of you who know me well know that I do not like to drive in south Florida traffic. The best and most memorable times I have of this job was working with Richard Gerken, RIP, and with the crew at the Prospect Rd office where I learned to dial up chillers via 800 BAUD Modems, disassemble compressors with the crew and be a guinea pig for Gerken’s comedy routines.
Personal Background: I was born in Louisville, KY and one of seven children. My great grandparents immigrated to the US from Germany in the 1880’s. Married to Rudy for 34 years, moved to FLL in 1983. I have lived in my Plantation home for 33 years and raised two boys and two girls there. We have two grandchildren. I love to watch baseball (Marlins) and NCAA basketball (KY Wildcats) fishing, being outdoors, gardening, growing and eating my own vegetables and fruits.
Professional Insights
I took a job with Bahia Mar Yachting Center and worked there for ten years at the Pool deck bar and later the restaurant Manager. I went to the engineering office to serve out the last trimester of pregnancy of my youngest daughter. I ended up staying there because I really hit it off with the Chief and the hours were better for raising a family. Highlight (Sold an AWS chiller to the ex Bahia Mar Chief Engineer while he was serving as the engineer at IGFA. It was one of the first AWS’s for us.)
While working in engineering, we purchased a Dual 50 chiller from AAP. Richard Grenz (former McQuay South FL manager who hired John, Paul, Franklyn, Stephen and Santos) came to my office during start-up trying to sell us on a service agreement. Richard Grenz came to our office at least once a month for 2 years trying to hire me and get a tour of the 300’Yachts. I finally accepted in January 1993.