On the 14th of March, the O’Brien® Best of Australia 2024 competition, saw the seven best Automotive Technicians in O’Brien® AutoGlass battle it out in the arena, displaying their precision, skill and pursuit of excellence for all things vehicle glass repair, replacement and recalibration.
Now, it’s time for our BOA 2024 winner, Jack Karssemeyer, to take his place on the global stage to compete against 29 other technicians from around the world at the Best of Belron competition
in Lisbon, Portugal.
The Best of Belron is a biennial global event held across the Belron Group designed to recognise and determine the best Belron technician worldwide. The competition will see technicians from 30 different countries worldwide showcasing their skills and expertise. Over the course of two intense days, they will complete a range of vehicle glass repair, replacement and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) recalibration tasks, using Belron’s standard repair and replacement processes, known as the Belron Way of Fitting.
We sat down with Jack to learn about his journey, his preparations for the upcoming competition, and his experiences (so far) at O’Brien®.
Jack, you recently won the Best of Australia title. What has that been like since winning?
Jack: Winning the BOA has been a pretty crazy feeling. I have had my eyes set on it since starting at O’Brien® just over four years ago, so achieving it sooner than I expected was incredible. It’s been unusual to have everyone in the company recognise my face and name, but amazing at the same time; it just goes to show we’re all family here at O’Brien®.
I also think it’s made me more excited about my work at O’Brien®. This competition has reinforced to me the importance of the smaller aspects of our job, and I’ve found joy in paying attention to the little details that can really show how much we care about our customers.
You’re heading to the Best of Belron competition in Lisbon soon. Are you excited? How are you feeling about it?
Jack: Absolutely, I’m very excited. This is as big as it gets for our profession. The preparation has been so intense, but I feel ready. It’s a great opportunity to showcase my skills on a global stage.
Can you walk us through your training regimen for this competition?
Jack: Sure. So, I’ve been fortunate to be pulled out of my regular branch at Moorebank to undergo high-intensity training and with less than one week to go, we’re still going strong. It’s been a whirlwind, but incredibly exciting.
My training has been very focused. For the past two months, I’ve been working to perfect the intricate details of the windscreen fitting. With the support of the O’Brien Centre of Excellence Technical Team, we’ve been improving these minute aspects to ensure I can execute it perfectly on the day. It’s all about the small details that make a big difference both in competition and to our customers.
What sort of support have you received from the team at O’Brien®?
Jack: Since March, the support has been incredible from across the business, with everyone behind me to help me succeed at BOB.
Shout out to my branch manager, John Paton, he has been amazing (as have my whole Service Centre team). The entire Technical Trainer team have been there for me, with additional training and mentoring.
My coach in the Technical Trainer team, Phil Cole, who won the Best of Australia in 2022, has been with me in Sydney for the final two weeks of my one-on-one training as well. Overall, the commitment from everyone has been so great, and it reflects the strong team culture we have here at O’Brien®.
Learn more about Phil’s experience at the Best of Belron 2022 here.
What would winning the international competition mean to you and your team?
Jack: Winning would be indescribable, especially as Australia/O’Brien® has never done it before. It would be a huge accomplishment, not just for me, but for the entire team that has supported me. It would be a win for all of us at O’Brien®.
Do you think anyone at O’Brien® could achieve what you have so far? And what would you say to someone considering joining the team at O’Brien®?
Jack: Definitely. With a passion for what you do, perseverance and the right mindset, anyone can achieve what I have. It’s about putting in the effort and staying dedicated to your craft.
That’s why I think everyone should consider a career at O’Brien® – the opportunities are endless and it’s very rewarding. Outside of the competition, helping customers and seeing their relief when everything is fixed is a great feeling.
I’ve also made some of my closest friends here and after four and a half years, I still look forward to going to work every day. The people and the supportive environment make it a great place to be. If you’re thinking about a career here, I’d say go for it. You never know where (in the world) it might take you.
Finally, what are your plans after the competition?
Jack: After the competition, a few of my family members and partner are flying over, and we’re planning to make a trip out of it and explore a bit of Europe together. I’ll be away from work for about five weeks, but it’ll be a well-deserved break. I can’t wait!
The entire O'Brien® team is behind Jack as he represents the team in Lisbon – we’re proud of you!
Next time you need to get your windscreen repaired or replaced, think of the team at O'Brien®. We’re your trained experts in all things windscreen glass – book online or call 1800 059 829.
At O'Brien®, we’re proud to have so many outstanding Vehicle Glass Technicians, as well as many other team members, working for our company right across Australia. If you would like to be part of our technical expertise and service excellence culture at O'Brien® visit obriencareers.com.au for more information today.
