Managing Director (3rd Generation-30 years)

Stratton Todd Knightley Simpson - "Ox"

Strattons working history is a constant association with consumers and their expectations. He started his first company at 17, a mobile Disco business called "Sir Dancealot". This grew into a small Entertainment business, and he signed onboard with P&O by age 22. Providing bands and DJ's for their South Pacific cruises and gaining valuable experience in people skills. Back in Sydney in 1985, he worked the "Sydney Club Scene" in venues like The Cauldron, Metropolis, Stranded, Beatie Street, Steps and Rogues. Stratton also continued to work within the fasmily business in daylight hours as the installer, using Cherry Pickers, cranes and ladders.

As Production manager in 1990, complaints received related mainly to poor communications. Introducing computers into production, and QA proceedures, many of the issues were fixed before they reached the clients. In 1994, now in Marketing, Stratton (with his father Rob), signed to manufacture exclusively, all the launch banners for The 2000 Oylmpic Games. 1996, as the digital future approached, the name was changed to Southern Cross Visual Communications.

Currently, SCV could well be the only company in the world, with 4 direct to fabric digital printers, each worth a cool $ 250 k. On average 5,000 Australian's purchase from Southern Cross Visual annually. Each year the competition becomes more intense and over time the equipment and technology must keep pace.

Highly computer literate, (handles the IT in his spare time), experienced in financial analysis & control, sales & marketing. His generational work ethic promotes a tenacity toward problem solving and creativity.

HR QA & Languages

Melanie Simpson - "Mellow"

B.A., GRAD. DIP. ED., T.E.S.L. / T.E.F.L. CERT.

Business administrator with 26 years work history gained primarily in the hospitality and computer industries. Sound management, interpersonal, organizational, and multitasking skills.

Graduate Diploma in Education & Teaching, Melanie has a Bachelor of Arts and speaks fluent French and German. Her historical learning has also included medical secretarial / reception roles in nuclear Medicine / ultrasound, psychiatric / psychological, and general practices.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an ability to work effectively at all levels. Quick to assimilate information and effect improvement in processes (order from chaos Queen). Experienced in training and skills transfer. High level of professionalism and self-motivation. Not to mention a Mum who spends 15 hours on the road weekly, to and from School.

Digital R&D Chief Engineer

Jerzy Kuziak - "Yazz"

Jerzy has worked his way up from the screen-printing room floor, through production, finishing, and into digital. When he learned to speak English, we found out he had an Engineering and Computer Science Degree.

His experience of 16 years within our company includes all technology based manufacturing, PMS colour matching by weight and dye dispersal mixing of colours.

Experience in management and scheduling including critical path planning and incentive based production. Good creative engineering leadership and his R & D expertise is at the cutting edge of Digital Printing worldwide.

He is conversant with all forms of textile printing technology, with a high level of tirelessness, tenacity, resourcefulness, and creativity. Highly computer literate. Jerzy speaks fluent Polish, English and manages Vietnamese as a third language. He has a masters Degree in Computer Science and Engineering and is part of the ongoing success of the firm.

Events & Special Projects

Gary Pedler - "GAZ"

A professional Events Manager for more than 3 decades, with previous experience in both a commercial and government environment.

His view of the importance of design and use of signage comes from experience attained over nine years as Commercial Events Manager for the Darling Harbour Authority, now Sydney Harbour Foreshores Authority.

With his broad ranging expertise of co-ordinating outdoor events in public spaces Gary also recognises the importance of sound design and graphic images to enhance a planned event and to create a look of themed corporate or commercial messages for viewers or spectators.

Dealing with many individuals, and components of organizations to ensure an event is successful has given Gary a thorough insight into the optimum use of visual images to enhance any activity designed to promote a corporate or commercial message to the public.

A professional events manager with previous experience in both a commercial and government environment.

Image Supervisor

Andrew Johnson "AJ"

Andrew is always at his desk and is seemingly always on a deadline. He hardly sleeps and we sometimes wonder whether he is capable of slowing down. Andrew is bringing about an entire fresh company branding, together with a major overhaul of our entire graphics department.

His Graphic Designs are specific and unique, having already enhanced hundreds of companies image in the marketplace.

Andrew maintains the day to day pree press requirements of SCV, so that customers designs are signed off on, and ready to print. This is an extremely important area as the faster this occurs the smoother the rest of the digital printing process becomes.

With Andrew's creative depth, it’s possible to envisage many improvements within SCV in the next 12 months. Did we mention he's also a drummer in a band (Superstition) nearly every other night of the week. We look forward to the constant desire for improvement Andrew brings to Southern Cross and relish in every new idea and visual he presents.

Prepress

Joshua Kinsela " Josh "

Joshua brings a new energy to SCV in his ability to clearly understand the client and their expectations.

His Graphic expertise and willingness to adapt, will set Joshua apart from others in the industry.

Joshua has embarked on the Digital graphics area within SCV with a passion. We've placed him into the Digital "engine room", of SCV where there are some 20 or so requests daily for instant graphic mock ups and designs to keep the company flowing forward.

We look forward to Joshua's input, suspecting he's up for the challenge in this business of Signage and Events.

Operations

Peta Southgate - "PS"

Peta commenced as a casual sewing lady and worked her way through the sewing room to become the Finishing Manager.

Now firmly entrenched in the company, Peta is the Operations person, making sure the Admin and finishing liaise correctly with each department. Her understading of all the variations in fabrics and printing methods, gives Peta a perfect balance for this role.

PolyRepel, PolyLock, PolyMechanicalStretch, Taffeta, Chiffon and Organza are some examples. As part of the team Peta knows that when we have a DEADLINE to meet, "near enough is not good enough".

Admin \ Sales

Michelle Southgate - "Elle"

Michelle has been working on and off for SCV for years. Firstly, helping in the finishing room, then in the hot knife area, learning about our products from the inside. Her new role in admin & sales, see’s Michelle using all her skills to meet her very full day of multi-tasking. Administration, Sales and even some Production.

Michelle has learnt from the ground up, and we know she works well under pressure and has adapted quickly to the demands of a signage business, especially the requirment for constant checking and updating of both client and her co workers. Michelle is on a mission to learn everything and become a valuable employee over time.

With some big shoes to fill, we look forward to Michelle working her way into a secure and rewarding position.

Digital R&D 2nd Engineer

Martin Hoffman - "The Hoff"

Martin has an engineering background, more in the electrical field, however, we snapped him up into our Digital Printing R & D team.

Martin has a high aptitude for solving difficult problems and is always run off his feet fixing machinery to effect a continuous manufacturing environment.

Martin “burns the midnight oil” and often works while others sleep to ensure the equipment is serviced and tuned to perfection, ready for another big week.

Experience in C, M, Y, K Digital printing has been a huge asset to our R & D testing team. Marty is now well versed in all the areas of the manufacturing of the company and is so in demand it’s hard to see him out of this role.

Highly computer literate, and he speaks fluent Polish and English.

Digital R&D Leading Technician

Quoc Mach Nguyen - "Big Mach"

Mach is one of those very quiet achievers. He starts early, gets the job done and leaves without so much as "boo".

The work is always completed on time, and the quality is rarely, ever off his best.

Understudy to Jerzy (also his brother in law) Mach has become one of the new Digital Direct experts.

He wades through nearly 3 kilometres of printing every week and still manages a smile.

Mach is one of the new “Secret weapons” of SCV.

Sublimation & Screen Supervisor

Glenn Dunn - "Muscles"

You just can’t keep some people away. Glenn headed up the screen printing department for around 5 years before moving on to do other things. 8 years on and “guess who’s back” with a fresh take on the industry.

Glenn is a screening professional with over a decade in our business, running the screening department. Already versed in all forms of screen printing including 4 colour process work, Glenn makes the job look easy and trains other staff as he goes.

Working with our new Digital team, Glenn is also now competent in paper sublimation and direct fabric sublimation. He is a problem solver and handles the fuss in the screen room with ease.

With a great sense of purpose, Glenn manages to keep the output of the printing room at full speed.

Installer

Marc Pratt - "Fisherman"

Marc has installed our products for near a decade now and still hates computers.

From cherry pickers to swinging stages, and from ladders to "fleet of foot" installs, Marky Marc is the man.

If it's nailed, drilled, screwed, glued, twisted, bolted, gaffed, concreted, hung, spun, lifted, lowered, and just plain old installed, Marc is "Mr Magic".

Sewing & Finishing

Celia Mosna - "Mrs M"

Celia started work for Southern Cross on 25.11.1987, just as we started manufacturing for the Bicentenary to be held in 1988.

Back then we were based in Castle Hill and flag manufacturing was still in the dark ages. Nearing the end of her second decade with SCV, Celia is the longest servicing employee next to the family members of the company.

Celia's sewing and finishing section reached astonishing heights during The Olympics and Rugby World Cup. Somehow she managed to complete thousands and thousands of banners in just 3 short months. In fact her area made their annual target during those three months.

Meticulous in her role as Manager of this section, Celia's ability to complete the work under extreme pressure is highly regarded to all at SCV.

Sewing & Finishing

Sandy Dobson

Sandy arrived after the Speedo factory closed down and said "Hey I can sew that!"... and she did.

Learning the flag and banner sewing routine as an adjunct to her existing sewing skills, Sandy now sews our items with ease.

Looking for solid employment, SCV has encouraged Sandy to relax into the job and we're happy she's happy.

Sewing & Finishing

Kay Kowalczyk - "K"

Kay joins Southern Cross from her 10 years or more as floor manager with Speedo. Plenty of experience in sewing room drama's and perfect training for our pressure packed finishing department.

With experience a plenty, Kay will bring about a calming influence as she assists with over 25,000 sewing requests annually.

Kay has also worked in the real world in construction, so we know she has what it takes to be part of the integral link in the team.

Sewing & Finishing

Janet Hawkins

Janet worked full time with us for years then retired to attend to her twin grand kids.

Back for some shelter (from the kids) and still keen to sew, Janet is always good for a laugh in the sewing room.

Part of the team and happy to have her skills in sewing when Janet feels the need.

4th Generation

Jordon Adiseshan Knightley Simpson - "Jordi" (4th Generation)

Jordon's arrival in 1995 was pleasing to family in all directions and he automaticaly became the 4th generation of Southern Cross.

He loves his School where he plays Rugby, Cricket & Football (favorite team is Liverpool). He plays Tennis & trains at squads Friday nights and also plays a great game of snooker on a full size table (his grandpa was Walter Lindrum's practice partner).

A keen member of the School Orchestra playing Viola, he also plays Piano & belts out a thumping beat on his drum-kit ( Winner - School beginner divison drumming solo).

Jordon recently signed with Brightstars Talent Management and is now one of their new photo models.

Always ready to jump in and help out in the office, Jordon has already insisted we fix some stair access and include railings for staff. His aptitude and wisdom amazes us for someone so young and it's obvious to those who meet him, that he is destined for big things!

2nd Generation (Retired 2007 - 40 years service)

Robin S. K. Simpson - "Simmo"