Please join us in celebrating Leon Bonk, who has been a valued Ciminelli employee for 20 years! Leon is one of our Mobile Maintenance Technicians and looks after multiple properties throughout Florida. His hard work and dedication is recognized by his colleagues and our clients, and we are proud to have him as part of the Ciminelli Team!

To commemorate his anniversary, we put together a 20 questions for Leon to celebrate his 20 years. Check out his answers below!

20 for 20
20 Questions for Leon Bonk, Celebrating 20 Years with Ciminelli
 

1. Give us a brief description of your role
   A: As a Mobile Maintenance Technician, I’m responsible for a variety of repair and maintenance functions on commercial real estate buildings to include electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and more.
    
2. What made you first apply for your job at Ciminelli back in 2003?
   A: I liked what I saw in the job advertisement. It came across very professional, came with great benefits, and I felt it was a good opportunity to hire on with a promising new company in Florida.
    
3. What do you remember about your first day?
   A: During my interview process I remember being interviewed by everyone in the office, including the front desk receptionist. I liked how Ciminelli wanted all employee’s opinions and thoughts before hiring me.
    
4. What’s your favorite part of the job?
   A: Definitely the people I work with. I feel like I am part of a family and I like the relationships I have with management and other engineers. I also like the freedom Ciminelli gives me to do my job.
    
5. What has been your biggest achievement/success?
   A: I found an alternative solution to fix an outdated fire system and saved the building owner $30,000.
    
6. What’s your favorite memory with Ciminelli so far?
   A: How I have been fairly treated by Ciminelli since day one. They have always been there for me even during rough times. I’ve always appreciated how Ciminelli has had my back.
    
7. What have you learned by working for Ciminelli?
   A: I’ve learned, and am still learning, how to conduct myself in a professional manner by observing my bosses: Hunter, Tom, and Chris. I’ve gained so much knowledge from the leadership of these gentlemen.
    
8. What is one of the craziest things (or encounters) you have experienced while on the job?
   A: The one that really stands out is when someone installed a gutter system on the inside of a building to control building leaks in the first-floor ceiling.
    
9. What do you find most challenging with your job?
   A: Taking care of all the building assets assigned to me. It’s a real challenge sometimes, but nothing I can’t handle. You learn how to carefully manage your time.
    
10. Why do you choose to remain a part of the Ciminelli team after 20 years?
    A: Ciminelli has been, and still is, a great company to work for. The people are a big part of why, too. They have always been like family, and I like working here.
     
11. How is the Commercial Real Estate industry different now than when you started 20 years ago?
    A: Cell phones. When I first started working for Ciminelli, I was issued a flip phone. All you could do was make and receive phone calls!
     
12. Are there any misconceptions people outside of your field have about your job role?
    A: Maybe that we can fix anything, which is not exactly true. If we can’t fix something, we have vendors or businesses that are called in to help.
     
13. What advice would you give to new hires in your position?
    A: Integrity is everything! Be honest, do your job, ask for help. Build good working relationships based on trust and stay out of trouble.
     
14. Share three words that your Ciminelli coworkers or clients would use to describe you.
    A: Organized, Knowledgeable, Honest/Sincere
    
    A little more about you, personally:
     
15. If you could choose a reality or game show to be on, which one would it be?
    ​​​​​​​A: Survivor! I would love to go compete with other contestants on an island with minimal food and water.
     
16. List three items on your bucket list
    A: 1) Travel the US and parts of Europe 2) Go on a hot air balloon ride at 60 (years old) 3) Go on a 7-day Caribbean cruise with my kids
     
17. Tell us a fact that most people don't know about you
    A: I am the oldest of 4 siblings. Also, I am completely deaf in one ear.
     
18. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
    A: Time travel! How cool would it be to go back in time or go forward into the future.
     
19. Share the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you
    A: Be honest, have strong moral principles, and maintain your integrity.
     
20. When you’re not working, what do you enjoy doing in your free time?
    ​​​​​​​A: I like playing Hearts, doing brain and jigsaw puzzles, going to the beach (I can still skim board!), spending time with my kids, and watching NFL football and NHL hockey.