Zane Hartley, 21, was a stand out for the judges for his attitude, charisma, commitment, and dedication not only to his employer and career but also to his family.
Zane began his apprenticeship in February 2022 with Fortress Collision Repair Services in Queensland and promptly stood out for his capability to acquire knowledge and build his skills.
Fortress says: “He has been unstoppable, fast tracking his apprenticeship and is soon nearing completion. Zane currently performs beyond the expectation of a third year apprentice, working unsupervised and producing units up with qualified and experienced tradespeople.
“Zane exceeds his targets consistently and passes our QC audit process on every job. He understands and complies with all procedures, he shines at colour matching three layer pearls and candys and more difficult metallic variants, not to mention working with Sherwin-Williams to create new formulas of paint to make it easy for other tradespeople to use.”
His capability is evidenced by Fortress utilising him as a fully productive resource to fill gaps when tradespeople are on leave. No stranger to awards, Zane was Fortress Spray Painter of the Year in 2023 and was a nominee for the Capricorn Rising Star award.
He attends all internal training and is always willing to take on extra work if needed.
He is a nominated Fortress mentor for first year paint apprentices and is an excellent role model, says Fortress.
Zane has assisted Fortress and the Australian Collision Industry Alliance with community engagement, to promote the trade to young people. He is earmarked for progression, showing a talent for teaching and mentorship. He is passionate about giving back. Zane is one to watch – his tenacity to succeed, and humble, thoughtful approach to others makes him a valuable team member and he is a lovely person to work with.
Judge Paul Wake said Zane’s community spirit is commendable and when selecting a winner for this award it was important that they are a well-rounded individual.
In rural Queensland Zane helped both his grandparents and other elderly people responding to assistance requests on the community board. With a new born baby girl, Zane and partner have been saving hard to buy a house. Zane’s entrepreneurial spirit is supported by Peter Taylor at Fortress, and Peter Gerard his mentor at work has been a big influence on Zane with work and life issues.
Judges Leah James and Wake said they could see how much Zane loved his trade and believe he has all of the potential to be a key player in the repair industry going forward.