{"id":22408,"date":"2021-06-14T22:06:13","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T22:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dfipiling.flywheelstaging.com\/?p=22408"},"modified":"2025-02-17T18:37:51","modified_gmt":"2025-02-17T18:37:51","slug":"mike-leakos-man-of-25-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dfipiling.com\/us\/blog\/mike-leakos-man-of-25-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Leakos \u2013 Man of 25 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Mike Leakos \u2013 Man of 25 Years, Many Hats & Few Words\u2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

It\u2019s been 25 years since this Saskatoon born and raised Rider fan pulled up for his first day of work at DFI in his brand new 1996 \u201ccandy apple red\u201d Honda Civic. Little did he know that when he started on the computer programming side of things, he\u2019d try on several more hats. From purchaser to lending a hand with project management\u2026 today, he\u2019s a key player on the commercial side of DFI, as a go-to estimator for North America.<\/p>\n

For perspective, Mike\u2019s been around longer than the\u00a0Pipe Mill<\/a>, which just celebrated 20 years! Check out the\u00a0Pipe Mill 20 Years Strong + New Cut Off Saw!<\/a>\u00a0blog story.<\/p>\n

\u201cMike and I started out as colleagues 25 years ago and have become good friends along the way. It seems like yesterday when he walked in our small office in the spring of 1996. Since then Mike has been a steady constant in a world that has moved very quickly at times and changed dramatically overnight in some cases.\u00a0 Mike gets people. He is interested in their stories and takes time to learn about their lives \u00a0\u2013 colleagues, suppliers and customers open up to Mike. He is the point man in several key relationships DFI has built over the years. Always calm and very efficient, it is not uncommon for a customer to get a price back from Mike at 8pm the same day they requested it. DFI is fortunate to have Mike on the team, congratulations on 25 years.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Dave Hunt, VP Commercial<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We sat down with Mike to find out a little bit more about the\u00a0brain<\/em>\u00a0behind the numbers\u2026<\/p>\n

Q: Tell me about yourself when you\u2019re not working?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I moved here in 1993 when I got married to my wife of 28 years, Shelley. We have four kids. Three girls, our oldest is 21 and the twins are 16, and just one boy, he\u2019s 18.<\/p>\n

I love outdoor recreation. Golf, camping, lake life, hiking, and I go for runs with one of my twins (she\u2019s keeping me young). Did I mention golf? ????<\/p>\n

Q: 25 years is a long time (unheard of these days). What made you stay?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u00a0truly<\/em>\u00a0enjoy coming to work every day; there\u2019s always a new challenge. It\u2019s still fun. On top of that, the innovation, the foresight, the evolution \u2013 and they treat you well.<\/p>\n

Q: Why DFI?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The people. We\u2019re a certain breed \u2013 everyone is hard-working, self-motivated, independent and smart. It\u2019s great that DFI trusts their employees; they don\u2019t micromanage, we can make our own decisions and run with them.<\/p>\n

Q: Who\u2019s your favourite peep(s) at DFI? Mentors?<\/strong><\/p>\n

If I don\u2019t pick Dave Hunt there\u2019s going to be a big problem, I\u2019ve known him the longest, and Sean Freeland. I\u2019ve been through thick and thin with them. In terms of mentors, it has to be Dave Freeland.<\/p>\n

Q: Biggest success story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Customer relationships, period. Some have worked with me my entire career here.<\/p>\n

Q: Advice for newbies?<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first thing that comes to mind, keep your customers happy.<\/p>\n

Q: What\u2019s in store for the next 25?<\/strong><\/p>\n

To be President one day!? Right now, I\u2019m happy with where I\u2019m at.<\/p>\n

Congrats Mike!<\/h2>\n

\u201cMike has been a good role model for me as I\u2019ve been working alongside him on the Estimating team for almost 2 years. He\u2019s got a great sense of humour which contributes to a fun work environment as he keeps us mostly entertained with his quick wit and overall jovial character.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Jacques Marais, Estimator<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cCongratulations on 25 years at DFI; you\u2019re a survivor. Mike and I ran the leg 3 of the\u00a0Canadian Death Race<\/a>\u00a0a few years back. It was getting really close to cut off time, we were both struggling and a little concerned that we wouldn\u2019t make it in before cut off time. The finish line was close but every corner or hill we went over failed to reveal the end. Finally \u2013 we finished just before the deadline (just like a bid close) and Dave Hunt was furious at how late it was (just like a bid close) as he was the next runner. Just like always, you got it done and had success! I\u2019m happy to work alongside Mike and I\u2019m looking forward to many more career milestones.\u201d\u00a0\u2013 Richard Middleton, Regional Manager, Australia<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cGreat guy, but since you asked\u2026 I\u2019ve known Mike the entire time he\u2019s been here and one thing that has never changed is his procrastination on everything. He has several sayings \u2013 all amounting to the same result \u2013 later.<\/p>\n