Success Stories

Marty, District Manager - Kansas, USA

I started with Fastenal in 2000. I was going to college and needed a job and a good friend of mine recommended Fastenal because it offered strong pay and valued their employees. I worked there for a year and a half and had the opportunity to run my own store in Monett, Missouri. Two years later, I had an opportunity to become a District Manager.

At first, Fastenal was just a job, but then I began to see how well Fastenal treated their employees and all of the opportunities that were present. The first thing that really stuck out to me was that, unlike most companies, most of the day-to-day decisions are made locally by the men and women that run the individual stores. Each branch is run like a small business by the employees. I knew that most companies were not like this, and that is what led me to making a career out of it. I could have stayed in Monett and remained a General Manager for years to come. Fastenal did not make me move, but presented me with the opportunity for advancement, and I ran with it.

With this company, you get to make many of the decisions yourself, so dig into your business. No matter if you are a part-time warehouse employee or an Outside Salesperson, learn the business. With Fastenal, the sky is the limit. You have complete control over your career.

Reyne, Executive Vice President - Human Resources - Minnesota, USA

Upon graduation from college, I worked in a position related to my major, but didn't like it, so I began pursuing other options. I made application at numerous businesses in Winona and was willing to take "any clerical job," when Fastenal contacted me to set up an interview for the receptionist opening I had applied for. I was offered the position back in October 1988 and the rest, as they say, is history. Back then, I didn't know I'd started a career with Fastenal, but as the weeks folded into months and the months into years, time has gone by so quickly.

Even in those first few weeks at the switchboard, I knew I was going to like this place. By nature, I'm motivated and driven, so I fit well into the Fastenal culture. The work environment was fast-paced, I was able to do a variety of different tasks, and was given the ability to implement ideas related to my position. I've been given different opportunities and have made several department moves since 1988 - first to Purchasing, then to Insurance, eventually Benefits, Payroll and now, my current role--leading several different areas including Payroll, Benefits, EEO/AA, Insurance (Auto & Work. Comp.), Legal, and The Fastenal School of Business. I am also a member of our Board of Directors.

I feel lucky to have found Fastenal . . . to have a job I can't wait to get to in the morning and be able to interact with people from so many States, Provinces, and Countries. I'm a good example of our "promotion from within" philosophy, and due to our Company's growth, opportunities for advancement continue to be available in all areas.

Travis, Receiving Manager - North Carolina, USA

When Travis began his career at Fastenal, he wasn't initially thinking that this would be a long-term venture. "I was a 17-year-old junior in high school in 1998, and this was the job to get me through high school. After working in the Order Picking department for a few months, I decided that this company is where I wanted to be and where I felt I was needed the most."

Travis started in the warehouse part-time and rose up the ranks to be a Receiving Manager for our Distribution Center in North Carolina.

"Fastenal is a Company that consists of the finest people, is ever changing, is growing and providing great opportunities. The people truly are the best part of the company. Fastenal has provided me with the ability to grow and be able to choose the career path that I have. Looking back, I would not change anything, and I can say that it has been a great ride."

Tracy, Regional Finance - New England, USA

As an International Student from Caracas, Venezuela, I started job-seeking halfway through my senior year in college. I came across Fastenal at a job fair, and here I am, over 10 years later.

My career with Fastenal has been filled with many opportunities. I have been fortunate enough to work in many areas of the business. My latest achievement is to have the privilege to work in the Regional Finance Department for the New England area. Someone once said to me that working for Fastenal is like getting your master's degree while getting paid. Fastenal has allowed me to have a good life without giving anything up.

I am fortunate to have found Fastenal; most people spend their lives searching for that place where they fit. My first real job became a perfect fit for me. I am addicted to what I do, but mostly, I am excited about what bigger challenges will come next.

Kris, Operations Manager - Washington, USA

I am the current Operations Manager for a Fastenal Distribution Center. When I began with Fastenal in January of 1997, I needed a job that would help me through medical school. I started part-time pulling orders in the warehouse at our Washington Distribution Center. It did not take me long to realize that this Company was not like any other that I had ever worked for. As I rose through the ranks of the Distribution Center, I changed my career choice and focused on business and leadership. The driving force of this change was the decentralized leadership structure at Fastenal.

Every day, each person makes decisions that impact a group of people. Everyone has a voice, and everyone with a great idea is heard. When we work together as a team for a common goal, there is no other industrial supplier that is better than Fastenal.

I work for the greatest Company, and will continue to -- wherever that may take me!