Since joining us in 11 March 1996, Mick Hood has seen it all. He has navigated the evolution of our software from the early days of Phil Hawkes’ first programs to becoming the go-to expert for our long-standing "Finisher" and "Prof.IT" sites.
We caught up with Mick to hear his story;
"I started at the company on 11 March 1996 into a consultancy role for the Finisher team headed up by Andrew Davies at the time. It soon became apparent that a consultancy role was not necessary for such a small team, so I became a support person for Finisher on various platforms. As time progressed, I learnt so much from Andrew and various trainers especially Sharon Mason (as was) and Claire Howells.
I was supposed to be retiring in 2011 at the tender age of 55, all plans were in place and so I was not looking to develop a career, just do a job as best as I could until that time. Unfortunately, life throws you a few curve balls and to cut a long story short we ended up having to re-mortgage our house, so retirement was out of the question. Unexpectedly, as well, during this period we had a little bundle of joy in Jack born 12 years after last child.
Anyway, I became proficient in all versions of OGL software dating back to the prehistoric era, when Phil Hawkes first started programming. During the next few years, I was sent on Sculptor programming training and when Prof.IT came along I was moved into the Software Support team with Bruce Watson, Matt Clarke, Debbie Hotchkiss and a few others.
As the company evolved from Prof.IT to prof.ITplus, I stepped up as the specialist for our heritage systems, becoming the go-to expert for all our earlier versions. It was a privilege to be the dedicated point of contact for our long-standing clients, providing them with expert support and continuity for many years. I took great pride in managing these specialist sites and guiding them through their journey.
I will always be grateful to the support I have had from the OGL family at work and in my personal life, in particular Phil Hawkes, Debbie Barton, Sharon Moreno, Sue Bullock, Debbie Hotchkiss and Andrew Davies. Of course, the crop of staff we have now all seem to fit, and everybody seems to get on well.
I have enjoyed the last 30 years at OGL and continue to find that I may have been in this business for closer to 40 years but there is always something new to learn. My motto is “don’t ever be afraid to ask”, someone will always know."
Sharon Moreno, COO commented: "What can we say about the undisputed King of stationery, printing, Finisher and a stock reconciliation check? Actually, quite a lot! When I think of Mick, I think of a man who has always put our customers and his colleagues at the very centre of everything he does. My fondest memories take me all the way back to the days of dot matrix printers and our early Finisher installations, a time of very different technologies, but never a dull one when Mick was involved.
Whenever we faced a tricky Finisher situation, particularly anything to do with printing, Mick was right there, ready to find a solution. By hook or by crook, he would always find an answer and customers respected him for it. Our customers will feel the loss of the extraordinary level of support they've come to rely on over the years.
In any crisis, Mick is the man you want in your corner. He possesses what I can only describe as a Mary Poppins drawer (not a bag), reach in, and out comes exactly the gadget or kit needed for whatever the day throws at you. I suspect this is a gift honed by his military service, something Mick is enormously and rightly proud of, and from which we have all benefited greatly over the years.
At the heart of it all, though, is family. Whether it's Alison, his wife, affectionately known as "The Drag" , his children, or his wonderfully extensive extended family (who, I believe, require a 52-seater coach for family outings), Mick's love for the people in his life is plain to see in everything he does.
Mick, it has been an absolute honour to work alongside you for the past 30 years. Your retirement is fast approaching, and whilst we are quietly wondering how on earth we'll manage without you, there is no better moment to celebrate everything you have given us. Thirty years of dedication, laughter, loyalty, and endless support. Every single one of us thanks you from the bottom of our hearts."
Debbie Barton, CEO also added: “I want to say a heartfelt thanks to Mick on his 30 years with OGL Software, he really has been an absolute legend and we chatted recently about some brilliant stories over the years! The longevity of our staff is something I am very proud of and someone like Mick has helped shape the success of OGL Software over the years and formed the backbone of our company. Staff and customers alike think the world of Mick, so enjoy this small celebration of you! Always everyone’s favourite!”
