As part of our 70th anniversary celebration, we’re meeting some of the employees who have been our colleagues the longest. Read about their career journeys, experiences, and how the daily work has evolved over the years!
Say hello to Mario Nedel!
When did you start working at Thomas Sand und Kies GmbH?
I joined the company in 1995, so this year marks 30 years.
What was your first role, and what is your current position?
I initially worked as the deputy site manager at the gravel pit in Kobrow. The following year, I took on additional responsibilities for production, sales, quality assurance, and planning. Today, I’m the Head of Sand and Gravel at Thomas Sand und Kies GmbH, overseeing two gravel pits and 25 employees.
“It’s encouraging to see how much we’ve progressed.”
What does a typical workday look like for you?
Together with several colleagues, I’m responsible for planning, production, sales, logistics, and invoicing. Our two sites in Vierhusen and Kobrow produce around 650,000 tons of sand and gravel annually. We supply several of our concrete plants as well as the local construction industry with road materials and specialty sand.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Mario Nedel, I’m 59 years old, and I live with my wife in a small village in northern Germany. Our two daughters have moved out. In my free time, I enjoy hunting and gardening. I’ve also served on the board of a local sports club for 20 years. I really enjoy spending time with friends, playing cards, watching football, or simply having a pleasant evening together.
Share a memorable experience from your early years at the company.
The biggest challenge at the beginning was understanding the permitting processes for extraction, production, and restoration in a gravel pit. After five years of negotiations with authorities and landowners, we finally secured a 38-year extraction permit in 2000, an important milestone.
What has made you enjoy your work and stay with the company for so long?
Throughout the years, I’ve received support from both managers and colleagues in all kinds of situations. That support is the main reason I’ve enjoyed my work and stayed with the company for so long.
Tell us about something unexpected that happened during your time at the company, and what it led to.
In the early 2000s, we discovered a Slavic settlement from the 1st century BC in our gravel pit in Kobrow. The findings were documented and preserved, which meant we had to pause extraction for a few months. We don’t just create gravel pits, we also create valuable habitats for endangered species like the red-backed shrike, sand martin, and natterjack toad. Kobrow is also home to a unique rock layer, ‘Sternberger Kuchen,’ which contains 20-million-year-old mussel shells. Geologists from all over Europe come to study it!
How has the company culture changed over time?
In the past, sustainability and care for natural resources weren’t as highly prioritized as they are today. The same goes for safety. Although standards were high back then, they’re even stricter now. It’s encouraging to see how much we’ve progressed.
