Celebrating 15 years in business because of you

Di-Monty Training Solutions milestone achievement

By her own admission Di Ind has never been a wallflower and when her business Di-Monty Training Solutions hit its 15 year milestone, she was always going to celebrate.

That party was at the end of last month and was a way to thank the businesses and individuals that have supported Di-Monty Training Solutions over the journey and just as importantly the team she has assembled to build the business into the powerhouse training provider it has become.

“I’m only as good as the team that supports me,” Di said. “My team have amazing skills that are just better than mine. I don’t know everything and I learn something from everyone every day. I’ve been in the service industry all of my life and I firmly believe if you learn it you should share it. I’m blessed with the team I have.”

It was in May 2008 that Di and long time colleague Martin Montgomery decided to set up Di-Monty Training Solutions after building up a strong body of work in the sector. Martin left the business in 2011 but continued to provide support to his former business partner.

“We believed regional and remote locations needed to be offered choice and we wanted to provide that choice in the training sector,” Di said. “We both invested our money, expertise, passion, networks and sheer determination to build a client base we could work with. ‘Tailored Training That Achieves’ was the motto we created. We both felt strongly about providing a high quality level of service throughout the Limestone Coast region.”

And that is what Di-Monty Training Solutions has done for 15 years, building their reputation on flexibility of delivery, and working across a number of sectors, including disengaged school students, pre-release prisoners, small business, large corporations and government agencies.

“It has been an amazing rollercoaster,” Di said. “As any small business owners knows, it’s long hours and lots of frustration but lots of enjoyment as well.”

As an independent training provider, Di-Monty Training Solutions has built a long standing working relationship with two Registered Training Providers (RTO) – TIME Education and Training and Limestone Coast Training.

From conflict resolution to IT upskilling, from customer service to governance, from leadership training to problem solving, Di-Monty Training Solutions is underpinned by its clearly stated purpose – We Change People’s Lives.

“The wealth of a community is based on the knowledge of its people,” Di said. “We should all be funnels. If you learn something you should share it. We should all work together, work collaboratively, work towards achieving goals.”

So much training is now offered online but Di and her team are still highly sought after – nothing beats the personal touch.

“People still love that faceto-face delivery, coming into the classroom and working with others,” Di said. “I like to get to know people as the individuals they are – to build a connection and that’s where the magic happens.”

Di credits the success of the business with the fact she was able to build her team from scratch, adding Damien Wilson in 2011, and then recruiting Chris Walters, Tricia McDiarmid and her latest acquisition Nikki Mullan.

“They are all experts in their field,” Di said. “We are all about helping people find something they love to do. It’s about using the strengths of the team and they all have amazing strengths.”

Prior to stepping into the training sector, Di built her skillset at KFC, where she worked for more than two decades.

“I had 22 amazing years at KFC, starting in the restaurant for 11 years and then 11 years in management, including area manager for seven years and the State HR manager for South Australia and Tasmania,” Di said.

“I do have to credit KFC for the incredible training I was exposed to.”

But eventually the pull to return back to her hometown Mount Gambier won out in 2003 and now she is here to stay.

“I wanted to spend time with mum and dad – they have been incredible role models for me,” Di said. “Dad is still working and he is 85. They taught me about working hard every day and finding a career path that I loved.”

Her parents, Barbara and Des, were also role models for Di in terms of giving back to the community, bringing that social conscience to her business as well.

“I have always tried to be a voice for people who can’t say it themselves,” Di said. “I believe that those who can give should and those who need help should ask. I love my community and think Mount Gambier is the best place in the world.”

That connection with community has seen Di take on several roles including Stand Like Stone Foundation director, Spare Ya Change 4 Kids director and the chairperson of Four Reasons Why and she is a former Women in Business & Regional Development chair.