Deli manager – Italian Centre Shop – www.ItalianCentre.ca

If you become a regular customer at the deli counter at the Italian Centre Shop, Gino Marghella will soon know your name. His personality trait brings in business, and customers wait to be served by Marghella.

“I like it when I have 50 [customers] and I can make everyone happy,” says Marghella. He started working at the Italian Centre Shop when he was 17 years old; now, at 24, he is manager of the deli counter.

Despite his youth, he has become an exceptional manager because he makes the effort to get to know his customers and his co-workers. When he first started working as a manager, he struggled to gain the respect of his co-workers, most of whom were older than he. That came by working alongside them, not just supervising them. “You can’t tell people to do something without being willing to do it yourself,”

Marghella explains of his success. His caring attitude toward his coworkers, and his own work ethic make for a productive environment. He has shown increases in deli sales each year through his customer service, and helps with employee retention through his positive relationships. “I’m a working manager, a people’s manager,” says Marghella.

He works long hours and rarely takes a vacation, readily admitting, “I couldn’t consider myself doing something else.” Marghella is also finishing a business administration accounting program at NAIT, and got married in July. “I like to be busy,” he laughs.