Nobody knows Gamma's history of growth better than Managing Director,Michael Atallah. He and wife Michelle started up the business together in 1992 and they're still getting as much of a buzz out of it today.
Michael is very positive about our brand new building at Compark Circuit, Mulgrave in south eastern Melbourne. It's close to major freeway links and has been purpose-fitted for our needs. It houses administration, sales, service and warehousing with ample scope for continued growth.
Just some of the features include anti-static flooring for circuitry and an all- new phone system that links Melbourne and Sydney offices by extension.The other interstate offices also have voice IP extensions, so all offices can talk to each other just by dialling an extension.
It's all a far cry, Michael says,from those early days when he and Michelle first set up the business.
'We began by writing quality assurance and data management software.We had some unique designs. At the time Michelle was doing her Masters; she won an award for a specific design and some people decided they would like to buy that software.That's what really started us off.A couple of years later we branched into data collection software, collecting information from the shop floor and managing it.'
'In 1996 Intermec decided to close their application business. Intermec's application platform was similar to ours, so we took it over. Then we started moving into new platforms, and upgraded and redesigned the software. The following year, rather than just design and sell software, we got involved in the hardware that went with it - the whole system.
'In 2002 we opened the Sydney office, increased the sales department in 2003 and from then on there has been increased growth in the hardware and service side of the business.'
Michael concedes that from where he started to where things are now the growth has been phenomenal.'I actually wanted it to slow down a little,' he says.
'But things have moved quickly and we've had to respond otherwise we would have been left behind.'
He believes Gamma's people are the strength of the company.'From day one we decided not to be a box-shifting company and have really concentrated on our staff.We invest a lot in training, both in-house and external training, so they are always completely up to date with certifications and technology.
'Every staff member today can improve their skills with Gamma's help; there are no restrictions.We're always looking for new technologies and we embrace that rather than shy away.'
We eventually got around to Michael and Michelle's other pet loves:their two thoroughly spoiled dogs Mitzi, a doberman cross, and Milou, a fox terrier.
Michael says he had always wanted to have a dog but never had the time or the inclination to even make the trip to organise it.The couple's nephew decided he wanted a dog, so they made a date to go to the local pound together.
As it turned out their nephew's family had a change of heart, but Michael and Michelle had made the appointment and decided they'd visit anyway.That's where they fell in love with Mitzi who, at eight months of age and fully grown, might have been considered too much for the new dog owners. But Michelle was smitten and so Mitzi became the first canine member of the Atallah family.
Milou joined the family a few months later as a companion for Mitzi,and the two are now best friends.
The rest,as they say, is history.
BEE FACT
Bees have been producing honey for at least 100 million years, which is used as a food store for the hive during winter. A colony of honey bees includes a queen, drones and workers.
Read more at The Buzz - Issue 1, 2008
