Spotlight Series: Meet Michael Uting from Repair Department

Meet Michael Uting from our Repair Department!

What is your role at Warners’ Stellian?

I am a repair department team lead and trainer.

Tell us more about your role.

I train new hires on how to do the job and provide ongoing training for the team such as reviewing appliance troubleshooting and de-escalation techniques.

What do you like most about your job?

Leading group training activities that bring the whole department together to learn something new and have fun too!

Tell us about your family.

I am the middle child in a family of five.  My parents and siblings live in the Twin Cities area and thankfully I get to see them often.

What was your first job?

I got a job teaching kids tennis for the city of Eden Prairie and started working at the local Target the same year.

What do you like to do on your days off?

I love to discover new hobbies. In 2022 I learned how to snowboard, solve a Rubik’s Cube, and install a hardwood floor in my townhome.

What three words would you use to describe Warners’ Stellian?

Family, Integrity, Quality

What’s your favorite appliance, and why?

The dishwasher.  If it can fit in there, I am not washing it by hand.

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that most people don’t know.

I am partially colorblind. Reds and Greens get me sometimes.

What is the one thing you cannot live without?

My computer – social networks, games, YouTube . . . all gone. ☹

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I choose Pizza Hut; I lived on that stuff while working there.

What is your favorite thing to do?

Going off jumps on my electric unicycle.

Stay up to date on the latest news and trends by subscribing to our newsletter below.

Learn more about our team at Warners’ Stellian!

Spotlight Series: Meet Receiving/Shipping Manager Aaron Milles

Meet Aaron Milles from our St. Paul Warehouse!

What is your role at Warners’ Stellian?

Receiving/Shipping Manager

Tell us more about your role.

I ensure product is received at our facilities in a timely and accurate fashion. I also arrange shipping of client orders throughout the US along with vendor returns.

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy the team I work with around the warehouse and the challenges the job brings. I get great satisfaction seeing hundreds of appliances roll through the doors every day.

Tell us about your family.

I am married for 26+ years to Lezli. We have a daughter, Larissa 24, and a son, Jeffrey 20. We also have our dog Hazel at home.

What was your first job?

A dishwasher at Perkins, I still hate syrupy plates to this day.

What do you like to do on your days off?

I like to backpack on the SHT and work on restoring/modifying my Jeep Wrangler. I am hoping it will be done this year to take it out to Moab.

What three words would you use to describe Warners’ Stellian?

Family, Opportunity, Growth

What’s your favorite appliance, and why?

Range, I have always been the cook in our family. I finally got my dream LG dual fuel slide in range 2 years ago when we remodeled our kitchen.

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that most people don’t know.

I suffered the “widow maker” heart attack while driving with my wife and daughter 5 years ago. I spent 6 days in ICU under ECMO bypass. It has made me appreciate all the little things in life.

What is the one thing you cannot live without?

My family, I will do anything for them.

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

That would be chickpea masala with jasmine rice.

What is your favorite thing to do?

Right now it is collecting Bourbon and Rye whiskey, and of course enjoying it.

Stay up to date on the latest news and trends by subscribing to our newsletter below.

Learn more about our team at Warners’ Stellian!

Spotlight Series: Meet Appliance Specialist José Marquez

Meet José Marquez from our West Des Moines showroom!

What is your role at Warners’ Stellian?

Sales Manager.

Tell us more about your role.

My role consists of helping the sales team if they have questions about the sale process, inventory, policies & procedures, NetSuite questions, de-escalation of high stress situation with customers; selling and following up with happy customers and not very happy customers. Overall, it is a fun job. Not the easiest job but never boring.

What do you like most about your job?

I really like helping upset customers. I believe every upset customer is an opportunity to leave a better impression than the previous one. All customers want is to be listened to; I always place myself in the customer’s shoes. My job is to de-escalate the situation and give the customer peace of mind that they will taken care of. Besides problem solving and making customers happy I really enjoy the culture at the West Des Moines store and all my co-workers. I’ve never had a job where I’ve had so much fun and still made good money. 😊

Tell us about your family.

I’ve been with my beautiful wife since high school. I have three beautiful children and a dog. We really like to stay busy. In the summer, we go on bike rides, play basketball, go to the park and go on walks. Really anything outdoorsy. The winter is really tough for us. This year, I got a membership at the Y and it’s been a success. My kids get to burn off energy at the rock-climbing wall and basketball court. We also really like to travel. I want my kids to experience a lot more than what I did when I was a little kid. The first time I ever left my hometown was when I came to the US. I was ten at the time.

What was your first job?

My first job was at Little Caesars. Those were the good old days. Life was simple back then. I would go to school, play soccer, play video games, and eat pizza. Some of the best years of my life!!

What do you like to do on your days off?

I like to spend time with my family when I’m off work. We usually go out to eat at least once when I have a weekend off. I also really like to lift weights and ride my road/gravel bike. I heard in a podcast that a good sign of longevity is having strong legs and good grip strengths and I want to live to 130 so I got some work to do!

What three words would you use to describe Warners’ Stellian?

Family, energy and passion.

What’s your favorite appliance, and why?

I have a really intimate relationship with my Traeger. We have been through a lot together. Any time I’m hungry, angry, sad, or happy my Traeger is always there to help me make the best BBQ or chicken ever. My manger, Dan, recently showed me a picture of a BBQ fatty he made on his smoker, and it was love at first sight. I had to try it, so I made it for New Year’s, and it was delicious. If you don’t know what a BBQ fatty is, you should look it up!! If the Traeger doesn’t count as an appliance, I really love my fridge! It keeps my adult beverages cold and my ice cream frozen. Life is simple!

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that most people don’t know.

I compete in bike gravel races. I got into it last year and it was super tough. My longest race was 68 miles on Iowa gravel roads in February and it took me seven hours to complete it. It had 3,400 feet of climbing. I didn’t even know Iowa had hills until I did this race. I got my first cramp at mile 35. Both of my legs cramped up in the middle of cornfield, and I almost called my wife to come pick me up. But I’m not a quitter. I got up and kept going; I probably got ten more cramps between mile 35 and the finish line. I’m signed up to do the race this year and my goal is to beat my time from last year!

What is the one thing you cannot live without?

My phone. I’m a very social person. If I didn’t have my phone, I wouldn’t be able to talk to all my friends and family and I would miss all the fun parties.

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?

My mother-in-law’s enchiladas! Please don’t tell my mom; she would be upset if I didn’t say hers are better!

What is your favorite thing to do?

My favorite thing to do is spend time with my kids and teaching them new things. At the end of the day, we live through experiences. When I get old, I want my kids to have good memories of me. All the money in the world is not going to buy memories. Money is important, and it sure makes life easier, but memories and time spent with family is priceless!! Thanks for reading!!

Stay up to date on the latest news and trends by subscribing to our newsletter below.

Learn more about our team at Warners’ Stellian!

Spotlight Series: Tammy Smith from Accounting

This month we’re meeting Tammy Smith from our Accounting Team!

What is your role at Warners’ Stellian?
Accounts Receivable.

Tell us more about your role.
Processing credit applications, ordering pre-liens/liens, etc. Doing my part to ensure that money keeps
rolling in!

What do you like most about your job?
Definitely the people that I work with. We’ve got a great crew!

Tell us about your family.
Small and simple! I live with my husband, Shane, our two cats Milo and Penelope, and our dog Lily. I also have two adult stepchildren.

What was your first job?
Factory Card Outlet (a party store that wasn’t around long)

What do you like to do on your days off?
During the warm weather months, I love outside activities – fishing, camping (let’s be real – “glamping”), games and gatherings
with friends. But now that winter’s coming, I’ll probably be going into hibernation. 😉

What three words would you use to describe Warners’ Stellian?
Family, growth, community

What’s your favorite appliance, and why?
Probably my dishwasher; gotta love an appliance that does a chore for you!

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that most people don’t know.
I know how to speak a little Swedish. My grandma taught me some when I was younger, and throughout the years I’ve studied a little on my own here and there. I’m far from fluent but I can say enough to randomly confuse people.

What is the one thing you cannot live without?
Probably my phone.

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Taco stuffed pepper hotdish.

What is your favorite thing to do?
Almost anything can be fun with the right company! Fishing, bowling, sitting around a fire and chatting with friends. But I also
love my alone time where I binge true crime podcasts or read/listen to a good book.

Spotlight Series: Mike Anderson from Builder Divisions Sales

This month we’re meeting Mike Anderson from our Builder Divisions Sales team!

What is your role at Warners’ Stellian?
Builder Divisions Sales since Jan. 2009


Tell us more about your role.
I work with the builder / remodeler trade-partners in the south and west metro.  It has been very rewarding to see how our division has grown and adapted in my time here.

What do you like most about your job?
The store personnel I get to work with day to day.  I also get a chance to visit most stores and really enjoy meeting my co-workers in the stores I don’t visit as often.

Tell us about your family.
Wife Julie, daughter Emily, son Sam, and 2 puppies: Maddie and Eddie!

What was your first job?
I worked for a power tool company out of college.  I still have some friends from my days there.  Love the appliance business much more!

What do you like to do on your days off?
Try to go to the gym, ride my bicycle, and hang out at home with Julie and the puppies.

What three words would you use to describe Warners’ Stellian?
Family / Friends / Integrity

What’s your favorite appliance, and why?
Whichever one we sell to a builder!

Tell us something about you that would surprise us or that most people don’t know.
Was a first team all-conference basketball player way back in high school.

What is the one thing you cannot live without?
Sad to say, but my iPhone.

If you had to eat one meal, every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Easy, Pizza.

What is your favorite thing to do?
Golf with my high-school buddies once a year back home in Iowa.