Jose Ramirez
Lead Technician | Antcil
FAST FACTS
Key Dates
Jose Joined Anctil: 2015
Anctil Joined Midway: 2023
Anctil Career
Current Position: Lead Technician
Starting Position: Shop Hand
MEET Jose
Jose Ramirez Blanco is a lead technician at Midway’s Anctil brand. Over his young career, curiosity and hard work have helped him master his craft and develop positive relationships. His career path exemplifies how talented, driven employees find meaningful paths at Midway brands.
GROWING WITH ANCTIL
Jose started as a shop hand at Anctil immediately after high school graduation. He formed a strong bond with Mark Hungerford, the then-owner, as he learned the basics of the industry. He soon began helping with fieldwork, assisting with installations, and learning from seasoned technicians for two years before undertaking formal training. His enthusiasm for ongoing technical training, supported financially by Anctil, has inspired his colleagues to pursue similar educational opportunities.
Jose’s deep loyalty to Anctil stems from its supportive work environment. When asked how this shows up day-to-day, he references a ritual they have for celebrating customer compliments. They have a board in the office to display customer compliments, and every month there is a gift drawing. They also hold regular meetings to build camaraderie and discuss challenges, and experienced technicians are quick to offer mentorship.
Jose frames Mark Hungerford, the former owner and current service manager, as central to Anctil's family-like environment. “He is very approachable and always making sure that everybody in the company is okay,” Jose says, “He's never been the type of guy to say, ‘I'm more important than you.’” He easily recalls meaningful, personal gestures from Mark, such as receiving flowers in the hospital when his daughter was born and a housewarming gift for his first home.
Jose also values Anctil's customer-focused service ethics. “People keep coming back to Anctil. It’s the friendliness, the warmth, and the family-like relationships between us and our customers,” he explains. He notes that customers get to know the technicians by name.
“People keep coming back to Anctil. It’s the friendliness, the warmth, and the family-like relationships between us and our customers.”
THE MIDWAY TRANSITION
When asked about the transition to Midway, Jose says he and his co-workers had some concerns about job security and changes in operations. As he explains it, “A lot of us wondered, are our jobs in jeopardy? Are we going to have to reapply? What about those who are close to retirement?” Midway leadership quickly allayed these fears, providing reassurance that day-to-day work, especially for field technicians, would largely remain unchanged: “They did a great job of not coming in and changing things. We still feel like a team.”
Jose has noticed several positive developments. The first and most outward-facing change came in the form of new service vehicles. He says that customers and other contractors saw them as symbols of growth and potential. There has also been improved retention among new hires and seasonal workers, and he has felt empowered by an emphasis on safety, including frequent training, procedure reviews, and updated safety equipment.
Jose values the continued involvement of Anctil's previous leadership, especially Mark. He believes this continuity has preserved the company's core values and culture. With Mark having fewer administrative duties, they now enjoy more face-to-face interactions. "He seems happier now that he has more freedom to be involved with all of us,” Jose remarks.
Most importantly, Jose feels like Midway has provided important stability to his family. He feels more secure about his future because of the 401K plan, has become a homeowner thanks in part to an improved salary, and looks forward to using his extra vacation time this year.
At Midway, we are proud to have technicians like Jose who know their stuff and are committed to people. He represents the quality of customer service and know-how that we look for when considering new partnerships. We look forward to seeing him continue to grow and represent the best of Anctil and Midway.
“They did a great job of not coming in and changing things. We still feel like a team.”
WHERE WILL YOU GO NEXT?
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GROUP OF BEST-IN-CLASS BRANDS?
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