As our first employee in this capacity, Vladimir Nikishov began employment as a software engineer on May 13, 2002.

In Vladimir’s words, “I am lucky to have worked for 20-years in a company that is an absolute pleasure to work for. I’ve been able to get to know people, both professionally and personally, on all levels. Since I started, the company really took off and turned into a big player in the tunnel equipment, and in my modest capacity, I can take some credit. I am proud of our work and , more important, our most valuable asset – the employees who are more of a team than just a collection of individuals. I’ve made good friends with the people at the company and with many of our customers.”

He shared a funny anecdote about his hiring process. Following his job interview with Roger Sindt, Vladimir didn’t hear from Akkerman for a couple of weeks. When he called Roger to follow up, Vladimir stated, “he told me that I had been hired, but he forgot to tell me.” Which, of course, made Vladimir wonder, if he hadn’t called, Roger might have forgotten about the interview altogether. We’re so glad that Vladimir made that call because life would not be the same around here without him!

Here’s what Brad has to say about Vladimir. “Vladimir’s positivity, team spirit, and optimism are contagious across the organization. He radiates confidence and is always willing to deal with problems or new tasks without complaining or giving up. I am grateful Vladimir is part of the Akkerman Team.”