Systems That Run.
Data That Is Accurate.

INSIDE RK

A Career Path That Began in the Joinery Workshop

Mario Weimer’s story in #TEAMRK did not begin in a server room or with an IT ticket. It began in our joinery workshop. At the age of 15, he completed a student internship at REINHOLD KELLER and quickly realized that it was a good fit. The people, the environment, and the character of our family-owned company all felt right.

After school, he returned to REINHOLD KELLER and chose the company as his employer for his dual study program in wood technology with a focus on industrial engineering. The intern became a student, the student became a colleague, and later the Head of IT and Master Data Management. Today, Mario is 35 years old, leads a team of twelve people, and knows not only our systems, but also the processes behind them.

From Internship to IT Responsibility

At first glance, wood technology may not sound like a classic IT career path. In Mario’s case, however, it makes perfect sense. Anyone who wants to digitalize processes must first understand them. How does a project come together? What processes intersect in production? Where do things get stuck in day-to-day work?

Mario became familiar with these connections early on and turned them into one of his strengths. For him, technology and business belong together. “I have always been interested in both sides. This allows me to connect both worlds.”

After completing his studies, he worked in process management, supported the introduction of the ERP system BORM, and helped build the master data team. In 2021, he took over responsibility for the entire IT department at RK.

Interview IT & Stammdatenmanagement, Mario im Serverraum, REINHOLD KELLER

KEEPING CALM WHEN MANY THINGS COME TOGETHER

Today, IT support, IT administration, and master data management all come together under Mario’s responsibility. His team solves everyday issues, keeps servers, networks, and security stable, and ensures that item data, supplier information, and product master data are properly maintained in the ERP system BORM. When the data is accurate, many processes within the company run much more smoothly.

That is why Mario’s day-to-day work is not just about technology. “Organizing, prioritizing, planning, communicating, leading,” is how he describes what is part of every day. Many projects run in parallel, many things depend on each other, and everything needs to function during ongoing operations. And even when something goes wrong, he does not look for someone to blame. For Mario, the key question is: “What do we do differently in the future?”

“WE REALLY MANAGED THAT WELL AS A TEAM.”

Two challenging projects have stayed with Mario. One of them was the introduction of BORM. “A lot of preparation went into it, and for a company of our size and diversity, changing an ERP system always involves a certain level of risk,” he says. A change like this is much more than new software. It affects processes in purchasing, production, warehousing, sales, and administration.

The company-wide IT security reset was another major project. Systems had to be brought back online one after another, uncertainties had to be clarified, and everything had to be coordinated at the same time. Looking back, Mario says: “As a team, we handled it really well.” Moments like these show how important structure, trust, and teamwork are.

Where Responsibility Continues

For Mario, taking responsibility does not end when the workday is over. He finds balance in nature, with his family, and with friends. He is also an active member of the volunteer fire department. Teamwork, reliability, and clear processes are just as important there. These are qualities that fit very well with his role.

After almost two decades at REINHOLD KELLER, Mario does not sound like someone who wants to stand still. Quite the opposite. “Our company is constantly evolving, open to new ideas, and very future-oriented. For me, that creates great prospects,” says the father. Anyone who says this after so many years truly means it.

Interview IT & Master Data Management, Comparison Module Mario, REINHOLD KELLER

Settled, but Never Standing Still

Behind stable systems, functioning processes, and reliable data is a team that moves a lot in the background. IT and Master Data Management in #TEAMRK help make work easier, keep information accurate, and ensure that projects can run on a solid foundation.

Mario describes his work in three words: “diverse, challenging, valuable.” That fits a path that began in the joinery workshop and has now arrived at the heart of the RK Group’s digital infrastructure. Could he have imagined this back then as a student intern? Probably not. But often, the best stories begin exactly that way.