Richard van Nieuwkoop
At Heemskerk Flowers, passionate colleagues play a vital role in the company's success. One of those dedicated individuals is Richard van Nieuwkoop, a familiar face in the organization. Over the years, Richard has taken on various roles and is now working as a box chef, ensuring daily operations run smoothly. His story reflects dedication, growth, and ambition. Learn more about Richard's journey, his current challenges, and his goals for the future.
What is your role at Heemskerk Flowers?
Recently, I became a box chef, a role that keeps me in close contact with various departments. My goal is to ensure everything runs as smoothly as possible every day. This is often a challenging yet enjoyable task. I initially started at Heemskerk Flowers as an employee at the outdoor auction in Aalsmeer. Since then, I’ve held several roles, including a leadership position in both the plant and flower departments.
What is the biggest challenge you currently face?
The biggest challenge is ensuring that the trade goes out correctly and neatly every day — without errors. Additionally, René van den Akker and I have been working hard to ensure that the right people are placed in the right roles within the company. I also find it important that employees go home with a positive feeling, which can be challenging in such a large company like Heemskerk Flowers.
How did you end up in the flower industry?
I was actively involved in professional football for many years. When that path didn’t lead to a stable future, I started looking for a steady job. I ended up working as a taxi driver at Taxi Brouwer for five years. I really enjoyed that job, but I didn’t see long-term growth in it. Eventually, through my colleague Jaco Heemskerk, I got in touch with Heemskerk Flowers, and the rest is history.
What goals do you still want to achieve?
The role I currently have is one that no one outside the Heemskerk family and Dick van Bommel has successfully maintained for a long period. I want to prove myself in this role and aim to continue being successful as a box chef.
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