Simon den Tuinder becomes VP of Finance
What Simon den Tuinder likes best about business is getting people to see things in a new way. "I've done that many times in my career," he explains," and it's part of my task in Longmont." In December 2000, Simon moved to Longmont to assist Paul Driscoll, who had gotten overloaded as the company grew. The two are splitting financial responsibilities, although Simon still reports to Paul. Simon earned an M. S. in finance and accounting in 1995 at a Dutch university, and got his CPA certification that year.
Simon had served as Chief Financial Officer at Misener Marine three years before moving to Colorado. Prior to that, he was with HBG out of Holland for 11 years, where he served in a variety of capacities. Part of Simon's decision to move to Longmont was based on a desire to travel less. He and his wife Anja have two-year-old twin toddlers, Mitchel and Kimberley, and Simon wanted to spend more time with his family. His parents still live in Holland, where Simon grew up. He visits them twice a year, and they come to the U.S. three times a year to stay acquainted with their grandchildren.
Simon finds the American way of doing business more entrepreneurial than in Europe, and also more aggressive. However, he believes the Dutch are more structured and more organized than their American counterparts. He is surprised to find the business world here less stressful than at home. While in Colorado, Simon and his wife hope to explore more of the state. "It's so beautiful here," he marvels. "I've never seen so much space in my life!"
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