Caring just comes naturally for Daniel Ketchum.

The Dallas/Fort Worth Service Manager says his family and his faith ignited his genuine concern for his technicians, his coworkers, his company, and his loved ones.

First, his faith.

Daniel’s faith has always been his centerpiece. His father is the lead pastor at Twin Oaks Baptist Church in Keller. It’s there today that Daniel teaches Sunday School, Bible Study Classes, does the sound during services, and anything else that his father might need to be done. He’s been heavily involved there since serving as a youth leader as a teenager.

Daniel, of course, is happy to help fulfill his father’s vision for the Church. And perhaps even happier to see his own son carry on the legacy through his own involvement at Twin Oaks as a teenager, and now continuing his faith journey in college.

“It overjoys my heart not only his love of fellow students (in the youth group), but also just his compassion to follow in the footsteps of his dad. It makes me proud as a father,” Daniel said.

He’s inspired by just how much his son cares.

Second, his family.

Daniel’s grandfather worked until he was 76, only retiring because his grandmother needed a full-time caretaker. Before Daniel’s dad became a pastor, he worked in the shipping business, and never flinched at taking side jobs on the weekend. Daniel himself learned early the value of hard work, taking on full-time jobs early in High School.

The family, Daniel says, never dwelled on what they didn’t have. Their emphasis was on their faith, and providing for one another the best they could.

“We were just caring people,” Daniel says. “Our faith was what mattered most. That care for people – it just comes naturally.”

At Datamax, it’s easy to witness that same caring spirit with his technicians and his company at large. His door is open to his team, he’s quick to respond to cross-departmental needs, and he’s deeply committed to not just his success, but everyone around him.

We’re inspired by just how much Daniel cares.

Daniel came to Datamax in June 2001, having started his career as Minolta technician. It was a friend of his that buzzed him and said “I’m at Datamax. We’re like a family. The benefits are great. And we work on Canon products, they run better and they’re much easier to work on. You ought to check it out.”

So he took the plunge. And it wasn’t long before he witnessed the difference between Datamax and his previous employer. Three months in, and he knew how much his new company cared.

“The structure was what really set it off. When I started at Minolta, they sent me to a basic copier training, they basically slapped a $20 bill in my hand and let you do your thing,” Daniel recalls. “Datamax put me in extensive training for six months.”

By the third month, he was doing ride-alongs with other technicians. And the support he had once out in the field, from the lead to the supervisor and to the manager, was phenomenal.

“They cared. They want everybody to be successful. It was like a family effort. And it’s my job now to make sure that it stays that way,” Daniel said.

So that’s exactly what he does.

3 Ways Daniel Ketchum Truly Cares at Datamax.

1. He Cares About Team Culture.

Simply put, he wants his guys to benefit from the same culture he had as a young technician.

“I think that’s why I’ve always wanted to be a leader. I want to teach my guys under my wing and show them how to produce. How to bonus,” he says. “It’s not all about servicing the equipment. It’s about speaking with the customer, doing the self-teaching, not relying on the company or management to give you that knowledge.”

2. He Cares About Making Things Fun.

We’re here to work, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a lot of fun. Where does Daniel see such an opportunity? By truly getting to know the people we serve every day.

“I had a lot of accounts and the customers would ask for me; that’s simply because I took the time out to joke with them, or visit with them when they had something they wanted to talk about. That’s the image I wanted to put forward with Datamax – we don’t see your account as a number. We see you as a partner.”

Building and nurturing those relationships? It can be a lot of fun.

3. He Cares About Leaving an Impression.

Not unlike his own son, who’s followed in his footsteps at church, Daniel wants to leave a lasting impression on his team. One that technicians in the years to come can build on at Datamax.

"I want them to continue the legacy that existed before, and continues with me (at Datamax),” Daniel said. “I want these guys to take my position someday. I want them to know and to be able to pass down the idea that, if you give 100 percent every day, you’re going to see the results that you’re after. Just work hard and the numbers will come.”

From his church and community, to his customers and coworkers, Service Manager Daniel Ketchum remains faithful in his purpose to serve.

The desire to do so? Well, it just comes naturally.