Operations Manager Marek Brabec: In America, no one holds your hand, but some things are easier here

Mark, where are you from?

I come from Starovice in South Moravia, about 30 kilometers from Brno. Our village is mainly known for its winemaking, but also its lack of streets. Local streets are called rows. The funny thing is that I lived on the Zero Row for years because it was built after the First Row, and since it was already named the First Row, they kept it. The Czech film Wedding on the Battlefield with Bolek Polívka was also filmed here.

Where did you go to school and what were your first work experiences?

I studied at the Secondary Industrial School,  the Sokolská Vocational School in Brno, and briefly at VUT University. I enjoyed technology. At school, I encountered technical drawing, and during my internships, I tried out blacksmithing, lathing, woodworking and locksmithing. As part of my school internships, I joined a manufacturing company in Hustopeče near Brno. Not long after school, I started working in the automotive industry in engineering. After some time, however, I realized I would like more interaction with people, specifically clients and suppliers. By moving into project management, these criteria were met, and I also welcomed the fact that the projects still overlapped with engineering, which I have always enjoyed. Given my new management position at ALBAform, I recently completed my management studies and received my MBA.

Congratulations! Was it ALBAform that brought you to the U.S.?

Yes, their projects took me here. Honestly, I had no desire for the USA; it just happened.

Your current job title is Operations Manager for ALBAform US. In layman’s terms, what does that mean?

On the operational level, it involves managing the entire company’s middle management and supervising and ensuring the company meets the key performance indicators (KPIs). And then, of course, there are the medium to long-term strategies, i.e. planning goals, pricing policy, strategy, budgeting, capacity calculation, human resource planning and maintaining good relationships with business partners in collaboration with top management.

What are the differences between employment in the Czech Republic and the USA?

Probably in the policies and laws. In the Czech Republic, it is standard that the employees have health insurance that covers most procedures. In the USA (at least in the state of Georgia, it varies from state to state), you can choose every year that you do not want any health insurance or options with high deductibles, which are usually offered as a middle road. In the USA, it is also possible to choose how much taxes to withhold from your paycheck during the year, and then once a year, you will either pay more or get a refund. Employment in the Czech Republic offers social security and clear, relatively unchanging rules. In the USA, many things are up to you, and no one leads you by hand. You can quit your job from one day to the next, and your employer can immediately fire you.

Speaking of insurance and bureaucracy, what was the hardest part for you initially after relocating to America? Would you have done anything differently?

The first two years were the hardest. Separation from friends and family, my English, which was classic British English learned in school, and so at first, I didn’t fully understand Americans, and they didn’t understand me. But nothing was holding me back in the Czech Republic, and I wanted to experience an adventure. Looking back, I have to give myself credit for living from the very beginning in a rental with an American roommate, with whom I’m still in contact. I told him to correct me every time I said something wrong. At first, he was reluctant to do that out of politeness, but then he corrected me every day until I started saying specific phrases and sentences correctly. He himself spoke with a strong American-Southern accent and used many slang words that school doesn’t teach you. It was a plus because I got used to it and now understand this accent and slang. What I would have done differently is to get a credit card and build a credit score from the very beginning. A credit score is very important in America; without it, you can’t get any loan or mortgage, and no one will rent you anything. I procrastinated about the credit card; it seemed stupid to me because it didn’t work like that in the Czech Republic. However, I was wrong; some things would have been easier later in my life.

America is known for long commutes. How is it for you?

I live about an hour and a half north of Atlanta, near the Blue Ridge Mountains. For several years, at the beginning, I used to live closer to Atlanta, but the daily commute to and from work was awful, so I was glad when I later moved a little further from Atlanta to the countryside, still within reach but with relative peace. It’s a 25-minute drive to our production facility in Flowery Branch, which is considered close by American standards.

You have a lot of Czech colleagues in the company. Do you come into contact with them more than with the American colleagues?

What’s unique about ALBAform is the mix. Every day you meet people and speak three languages-Czech, English and Spanish, which I really appreciate. I am proud that this is a Czech-owned company that has had such success. It is not that common. Usually, medium and large companies from the Czech Republic with several branches around the world have foreign owners.

What do you enjoy most about living and working in the USA?

The fact that I interact with people and cultures that I probably would not have experienced in the Czech Republic. It changes your view of the world; people from different backgrounds can think differently than, for example, Czechs, which is sometimes worse or better, but you have a choice of more options and scenarios. Our society is relatively homogeneous.

I understand. How are Americans and Czechs different when it comes to work?

Americans are more workaholics. A lot of them basically never take a vacation. They are more goal-oriented and less focused on how many hours they work. I like working with them because they focus on assignments and proactively consult them with you. They are generally more informal and do not care so much about dress codes compared to Europe. Americans like to make small talk, often at inappropriate times, while Czechs like to get straight to the point.

Do you miss the Czech Republic?

Certainly, yes, but a little less and less every year, which is probably normal with time. The toughest period was perhaps during Covid, when traveling was impossible and I did not see my parents in the Czech Republic for 2 years. I say that if you can visit your family 2 – 3 times a year for a week, it is relatively manageable. My sister lives with her husband in California. I have my own family here in Georgia – my wife Leticia, who is Mexican, my daughter Lyla and my son Damian. Leticia is of Mexican origin but grew up in Georgia her whole life.

Your work at ALBAform also means business trips to your homeland. Are you happy about that?

Of course. I am proud of my South Moravian roots and traditions. For years, I have been an active member of a folklore group and participated in events such as balls and folk festivals. I try to combine the trips with work and visit my parents, since they will not get any younger, so I combine business with pleasure.

Would you like to join our team in the United States? Get in touch with us.