FortTalk with Makayla Smith

Starting her journey at our first site in Slacks Creek, Makayla was completing her Cert III in Business while gaining valuable experience as a Customer Support Administrator. "I was eager to develop my interpersonal skills, and a busy smash repair center provided the perfect environment to start," Makayla recalls.

Driven by a hunger to learn, Makayla was identified for skill development in production support, which paved the way for her current role as Parts Manager. Throughout her journey, she has gained valuable experience in BAU repairs, mechanical repairs, and now supports our Stolen and Recovered site.

When asked what she enjoys most about her role, Makayla explains, "Although it might seem like a repetitive job, there are always obstacles to navigate and proactive decisions to make. I can guarantee I learn something new about cars and damage every week—it's incredibly rewarding."

She adds, "The team I work with every day makes my job truly enjoyable. What I love most about Fortress is the supportive environment—both on-site and from senior support managers—that has consistently backed my growth."

The sky’s the limit for Makayla, with her future trajectory firmly set on learning new skills and taking on more responsibility. "The mentorship from senior Fortress staff is incredible; I feel like they will be right there to support me in my next step. Fortress has a structure with dedicated leaders for training and developing functions like parts and estimating. It’s like having a teacher who provides you with everything you need to succeed."

Makayla hopes to stay with Fortress and work her way up to a management position, continuing her journey with the company that has supported her growth every step of the way.

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