Malcolm Petrofski - General Manager

My name is Malcolm Petrofski and with my wife Michelle, we own and operate Country Courier Services.

My transport skills started off with three mail contracts with Australia Post and a local news paper delivery business. This led me to join Security Express as a part time courier to fill what time I had left in the day. Within 12 months, I had taken a full time contract with Security Express and sold the postal business and paper distribution.

After 4 years with Security Express in Townsville as a courier driver, I was promoted to Operations Supervisor and then to Cairns as Branch Manager before moving to Brisbane to become the State Operations Manager with control of the ground services, air network and country agents.

This role led me to a National role with Mayne Nickless (now Toll Priority) where I assisted states and business units with change of management and restructuring. While this was an interesting and rewarding role, the travel became a real issue, and I decided to move back to Townsville to operate one of the first agency businesses for Mayne Logistics. The business moved to a fully independent business and the agency work was handed back on March 2004.

Queensland Services was created in 1999 and took on the name of Country Courier Services Pty Ltd in April 2002. We started off with a small warehouse of 600m2 with 10 employees offering warehouse solutions to 2 clients, and a courier service around Townsville. Today we have 4,200m2 of warehouse, 8 warehouse clients, with 30 employees, and offering an over night service to Rockhampton, Mackay, Mt Isa and Cairns.

Having recently found the team at Country Courier Services, my role as Sales Manager is to focus on client relations, actively promote our regional services and maintain revenue growth.

Commencing in transport, this I find amusing, "My interview was with Ipec as a clerk and I went to the Comet Depot as the only TV ad I saw was "Absolutely Positively Comet" and the young guy missing a truck"

That's all I knew about transport and was pointed in the right direction, thus 20 years later....

I have an extensive background in sales and transport, working with Mayne Nickless for 12 years in various sales and operational roles in New South Wales through to Brisbane and North Queensland.  This included airfreight, road freight, storage & distribution and local courier. 

I then moved on to operating my own freight brokerage company in the Gold Coast.  This experience also gave me a great insight into moving 1kg through to semi trailers.  My experience has enabled me to use the motto "Locally Owned - Nationally Networked" and being able to offer clients a fully tailored logistics solution.

Chelsea Hobson - Systems Manager

I have been with Country Courier Services since March 2007. I have a team of three, including myself, who are responsible for processing all administrative tasks, including accounts receivable and payable. Vicky has been employed with CCS full time for over 5 years and Rashelle has just joined us in April 2009 and is completing a Certificate III in Business through TAFE.

The focus of my role with CCS is the integration of new customers, achieved by implementing customer specific procedures. With daily/weekly tasks of inducting new staff members, ensuring at all times Work Place Health & Safety is of high standard and that all requirements are implemented to reduce risk. Previously, I worked as a Quality Assurance Coordinator for 3 years, developing, implementing and gaining accreditation for Quality Management Systems. It is these skills that I use in my current position as Systems Manager to develop and implement quality procedures, whilst conducting monthly audits on all systems including customer specific systems.

I have a certificate IV in Work Place Training & Assessment. St Johns Ambulance Certificate - Perform CPR, Provide Basic Emergency Life Support and Apply First Aid. I am currently undertaking studies to become a Work Place Heath & Safety Officer and Rehabilitation & Return to Work Coordinator.

My future ambition is to continue to increase my skills and knowledge, working within CCS maintaining the high standards within the work place and strengthening customer relations.

John Rowland - Projects and Ambient Storage Manager

I have been employed by Country Courier Services (formally known as Queensland Services) since Malcolm and Michelle Petrofski established the business eleven years ago.

My background before joining Country Couriers was as a manager in various roles for ten years with Mayne Nickless (now Toll Priority) in the express courier activities they operated. I was employed as a Branch Operations Manager in Mackay, Branch Manager in Townsville, Operations Manager in Brisbane and Regional Manager for North Queensland based in Townsville.

Since joining Country Courier Services I have fulfilled various roles in our airport services, freight operations and warehousing, logistics and distribution services. Major clients included Toll Priority, Jetcraft Aviation & Macair, CSR Bradford Insulation, Barrick Osborne, BHP, Century Mining Alliance (now OZ Minerals) and Southern Cross Fertilisers (now Incitec Pivot). Currently I am the Specialised Services Manager, with responsibility for five major accounts for whom we provide warehousing, logistical and distribution services. These accounts are Dell Computers and NCR (both DHL clients), Carroll's Springs, Stanley Tools and Philmac Irrigation & Plumbing Equipment.

Our wide range of experience and exposure to a varied customer base has seen us develop excellent facilities, service levels and personnel, who can provide for, meet and exceed our clients requirements.

Marni Henaway - Customer Accounts and Operations Manager, Tobacco Products Division

I am the Customer Accounts and Operations Manager of the British American Tobacco Australia products within Country Courier Services (CCS). I am responsible for overseeing all areas of warehousing, pick, pack and dispatch, and liaising with the customer solutions team to assist in supplying the best possible service to clients. I started with Country Courier Services in July 2007.

I have a long history of management and supervisory roles in customer service and particularly in fields where a high level of attention to detail, accuracy, and prioritizing are essential.

I have experience in developing, restructuring and monitoring company procedures resulting in streamlining, cost cutting, and increased productivity. I also have previous experience in dangerous goods handling and transportation.

I have excellent interpersonal, communication, and rapport building skills and I am constantly seeking methods of improvement. I have a strong commitment to my work, love challenges and have performed to a high standard in various roles since the commencement of my employment with CCS.

I believe in hard work, going the extra mile, and leading by example and I have worked hard to build a strong, cohesive team of employees in my area who feel a sense of ownership and pride in good results.

Elizabeth Pegg - Customer Accounts and Operations Manager, Pharmaceutical Division

 I have spent a number of years in a third world country involved in logistical and organisational requirements with remote supply lines, through voluntary work and supporting my family.

Moving to Toowoomba I started working with Super Amart in 1997 in a clerical role within 3 mths moved to Office Manager where the company implemented a gift and award for performance which I was the first recipient out of 500 employees.

Transferring to Townsville in 2000, Amart created a position for me liaising between office and despatch working autonomously handling quality control, inventory, warranty and establishing professional working relationship with transport companies.

I commenced work with Country Courier Services (CCS) February 2005 as a Customer Service Officer assisting with Dell computers, Eftpos Engineering, Cardinal Health, Toll Priority and consolidating air freight for various mines. During the expansion of the company in 2006 I took on the role as Supervisor for the new DHL British American Tobacco warehouse. The acquisition of further DHL clients has given me the opportunity to take on the role of overseeing the implementation and ensuring our customer requirements are met. I currently carry out inventory control, monitor QA and maintenance requirements and oversee the warehousing and distribution of hospital products, pharmaceuticals and animal health vaccination supplies.

Whilst working for CCS I have gained a Certificate III in Transport and Distribution (Warehousing, and Storage), forklift licence and dangerous goods certificate.

Michelle Petrofski - Company Secretary

Since establishing the business with Malcolm in 1999, from the very beginning Country Courier Services has been molded on the traditional family business. It is very important to Malcolm and myself that our employees all feel a part of the team and are valued member to our company.

Working mostly in administration, I too had a small stint in delivering freight. In 1984 Malcolm and I had three mail contracts with Australia Post and a local news paper delivery business. The postal business and paper distribution business was sold in 1985 when we were relocated to Cairns with Security Express. After further administration roles, we were relocated to Brisbane where we had two beautiful children. In 1997 we moved back to Townsville to operate the "checkin" counter for Jetcraft (now Mac Air), and in 1999 Queensland Services was created.

Currently, with the expansion of Country Courier Services and the addition of extra staff members, my role now is in the background, working more in complying with the never ending taxation and regulatory requirements. Payments of company wages, superannuation, taxation and invoices keeps my daily role fairly static.