How did you start working at Fabi? What year was it?
I started out at Fabi in 1975. My uncle knew Elisio, who was 32 at the time.
I was barely 15 and I was used to doing whatever I liked, being out in the open air,
in the country. My uncle wanted me to get into a trade and I was reluctant at first,
so Elisio Fabi himself came over to our house. By the time I made up my mind,
Elisio thought I’d dilly-dallied too long, so my uncle had to go back and ask him to hire me
as a special favour. In the end I went to work. I was already trained as a cutter and after just 7 years,
in 1982, I was asked to become foreman. I was very nervous about this new responsibility of mine,
but with stubbornness and hard work, everything went fine.
You’re one of the people who’s been at Fabi longest;
could you tell us about the company’s evolution seen through your eyes?
The company’s evolution runs parallel to the story of my own life.
At first there were 30 of us, making 250 pairs a day. Now those figures are completely different,
there are 350 employees! I used to come to work on a bicycle, and now I have a Jeep…
What do you like the most about working here?
The human element and the relationships that have been forged over the years.
You must have a lot of stories to tell,
but is there any one episode that particularly sticks in your mind?
In 1978 a young woman named Paola came to the company; we met and fell in love.
We got married in ’82, the same year I became foreman. I’d call that a great year!
What’s something you often tell your children?
I tell my children my story to help them understand how you deal with the world of work.
I would work day and night. My son Danny can hardly believe it. Now he’s here at the company, too.
What dreams have you achieved, and what are you still hoping to achieve?
The first dream I achieved was to buy a Lancia Beta Coupé 1600,
which I consider to be the mother of all cars. It earned me a warm welcome in all the finest places.
At the Green they let me park in front of the entrance. Now I’d like a single-family home, just for us.
Still, I’ve had plenty of gratifications.
What would your advice be today for a young person entering the workforce?
You can’t do a job if your heart’s not in it. That’s the secret: work towards what you really want to do,
keep your eyes peeled, take responsibility.
What do you still believe in?
In people. You have to believe in something, otherwise what's the point of life?
