March 22, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by Novak Sanitary Service.

They’re longtime team members and newer Sioux Falls residents, but all share a common philosophy: As leaders, their role is to support their front-line colleagues.

That’s the philosophy at Novak Sanitary Service, and it’s one this newly formed leadership team reflects, district manager Pat Draisey said.

“We’re excited to see this team come together and by the variety of experiences and skills they bring to Novak,” he said. “They’re all bringing an approach to leadership we think will help us continue to hire and retain strong talent at all levels in the company, especially for those who play a direct role in servicing our customers.”

Jonathon Boggess, Roy Card, Christopher Wehde, Mark Zelasko and Kyle Fountain.

Here’s a closer look at Novak’s leaders:

Jonathon Boggess, operations supervisor

Jonathon Boggess went from the grocery business to the garage business when he joined Novak in 2018. After working in fresh meat and seafood markets for 18 years, he found a new way to grow his career.

What attracted you to your role at Novak?

At the time I joined, honestly the pay and benefits were the draw. After my interview, I got a feeling of camaraderie and felt like this was a relaxed yet productive environment.

What’s a typical day like for you?

My day starts with a safety meeting and getting our drivers going for the day. I do ride-alongs and route observations, reroute routes and sometimes talk with customers. My two main roles are training and promoting safety, which is our company’s No. 1 operating value, and supporting the drivers on my residential team, including training and coaching.

What’s the best part about your job or stands out about working at Novak?

The great people I work with make me love coming to work every day. The people who do our front-line work are always and will always be the most important and valuable part of our team.

Roy Card, maintenance supervisor

Roy Card came to Novak in 2020 after working for several years in Arizona at a family-owned mechanic shop that serviced all makes and models of vehicles. He recently was promoted into his new role.

What attracted you to your role at Novak?

I was attracted by the family environment and welcoming atmosphere.

What’s a typical day like for you?

My days are never the same. I always ask myself where I’m needed, whether it be on the floor with the team to support the team in whatever aspect is needed to get the job done or in the office to get work done for trucks and compliance.

What’s the best part about your job or stands out about working at Novak?

My co-workers. Here at Novak, we take care of our front-line employees first and treat everyone with respect. This isn’t like any other company. You’d have to experience this environment to understand what I mean.

Kyle Fountain, manager in training

Kyle Fountain transferred to Novak last year from another company location in South Carolina, where he worked as a preventive maintenance technician. He grew up in the industry, with his dad serving as an operations manager, and he has worked on a temporary basis in nearly every role.

What attracted you to your role at Novak?

I had a few options when considering a promotion, but I decided on Novak because I knew they would train me in the proper way to do things and not throw me “to the wolves” to learn. Meeting people here gave me a good feeling about how everyone cares for the person to the right and left of them. I’m happy to be following in my father’s footsteps in this industry.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I’m currently learning each line of business, so I could be driving a roll-off truck one day, a residential truck the next and then dispatch the following day. So my days are not typically the same and that keeps the work very interesting.

What’s the best part about your job or stands out about working at Novak?

The culture just makes it feel like you’re at your home away from home. You’re treated like family, not micromanaged, enjoy good benefits, and we work hard and play hard.

Christopher Wehde, operations manager

Christopher Wehde recently marked one decade at Novak after coming into the industry following a career in tree removal and trimming, and recently was promoted into his role.

What attracted you to your role at Novak?

My prior company had little opportunity for growth, and when I heard about the servant leadership approach Novak takes, I wanted to check that out. And it is their model. The front-line workers are the most important people in the company, so management focuses on removing obstacles and providing direction for them rather than giving orders. We let each driver make decisions every day as to how they service stops. They are self-directed versus micromanaged.

What’s a typical day like for you?

My days are never the same. One day, I might be riding with a driver on route; the next, I might be out surveying new stops and talking to customers; or I might be spending my time routing or rerouting stops.  My main role is supporting my supervisors and their drivers in any way I can and keeping the site compliant with OSHA and DOT regulations. I’m also very involved in the interviewing, hiring and onboarding of new employees and helping in their training. Another key element to my job is making sure what we do can be done safely. Safety is our No. 1 operating value, so I spend time presenting daily safety topics, analyzing risk at stops and finding ways to make our day-to-day work easier and safer.

What’s the best part about your job or stands out about working at Novak?

The people I work with. Watching new drivers really take hold of their jobs and grow, and sharing my experiences and general knowledge of the company. I enjoy helping supervisors and drivers in their personal growth.

Mark Zelasko, operations supervisor

For Mark Zelasko, a job at Novak was supposed to be something to pay his bills between college at Dakota Wesleyan University and figuring out his ultimate career. He now has worked there for more than 20 years and recently was promoted into his new role.

What attracted you to your role at Novak?

At first, it was an in-between job, but after I finished college, I wanted to stay in South Dakota. At Novak, I recognized I had the opportunity to advance. My career has been great. I’ve had so many opportunities over the years. I have traveled the country and made a network of friends in the profession. I’ve been treated really well, and I have no plans on leaving this company.

What’s a typical day like for you?

I lead the commercial front load crew. My day is all about getting my guys what they need to complete their day. Typically, that involves meeting, communicating and planning how to get the work done.

What’s the best part about your job or stands out about working at Novak?

The best part of my job is giving someone something they need. Being in a leadership role is sometimes self-sacrificing and maybe thankless. But when a driver succeeds or accomplishes a task because you helped them down that path with advice or training, that feels good. It’s something money can’t buy. We should all have supervisors or people in leadership that are invested in us doing well. That’s not always the case in other workplaces.

Would you like to begin growing your career at Novak? Click here for more on current opportunities.