In May 2025, Thermaflex celebrates a remarkable work anniversary: Trudy van der Velden-Heesbeen, a cornerstone of the Customer Service team, marks her 45th year with the company. Trudy’s journey is not just a testament to her dedication, but a living history of Thermaflex’s evolution, from a small Dutch insulation business to an international industry leader.
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Trudy van der Velden-Heesbeen: 45 Years of Heart and History at Thermaflex
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A Humble Start and a Family Spirit
Trudy’s story began in 1980, when, fresh out of school at just 16 or 17, she arrived for her interview with founder, the late Leendert Baars. “I started my day with an interview……and after that, he asked me when I could start. I looked around and said, ‘Oh, shall I start immediately?’” she recalls, laughter in her voice. In those early days, Thermaflex was a tight-knit team of just ten people, all pitching in wherever needed. Trudy did everything from making coffee and painting the canteen to working on the machines and packing boxes. “We all knew each other. It was like a family,” she remembers.
Embracing Change and Growth
Trudy quickly found her calling in customer service, a role she’s held for nearly her entire tenure. She fondly recalls the days before computers and fax machines, when invoices were typed by hand and every calculation was done on a calculator. “Now, everything looks completely different,” she notes, reflecting on how technology and scale have transformed her daily work.
The company grew—adding new products like Flexalen®, expanding internationally, and moving offices multiple times in Waalwijk. With each change, Trudy adapted, always focused on what she loves most: connecting with people. “What I’ve liked the most in my job in these 45 years is being in contact with people. I talk with customers on the phone, and also with colleagues in the factory and the warehouse. We communicate a lot with logistics. In general, I like interacting with people,” she says.
Navigating Challenges and Celebrating Milestones
Growth brought its share of challenges, including reorganizations and the bittersweet loss of colleagues. Yet Trudy’s resilience and positive outlook never wavered. She credits her early mentors, the late Leendert Baars and Aad Mutsaerts, for giving her the chance to develop and thrive in the formative years of her career. Later, Humphrey de Bell also played an important role as a mentor, supporting her growth as the company evolved. “You could develop yourself and they tried to supervise you in this way. You had a chance to improve,” she reflects.
Her approach to customer relationships is simple but powerful: be honest, sincere, and helpful. “If you cannot do something for them, you have to say so. Sometimes, it can be difficult,” she admits. But finding solutions and maintaining trust is what she enjoys most about her work.
A Changing Culture, an Enduring Core
As Thermaflex expanded, so did its diversity and complexity. The family atmosphere of the early days has evolved, but Trudy sees value in both the old and new. “At first, we were with a very small team, and the director at that time and his wife were like mother and father. Now, it’s completely different. The company is bigger, the departments are bigger. We have different cultures…In the past, it was one big happy family. It’s always changing and busy,” she observes.
She’s proud of Thermaflex’s resilience, especially through difficult times like the Covid-19 pandemic. “We survived Covid. During the pandemic everyone worked from home and there was almost no one in the office. I missed people around me.” she shares.
Legacy and Advice for the Future
For new colleagues, Trudy’s advice is timeless: “If you are open, honest and respectful, those, I think, are very important.” She’s proud that after so many years, Thermaflex is still growing, welcoming new customers, and developing new products. “We still do a good job. After so many years, we’re still growing,” she says.
When asked to sum up her journey in three words, Trudy chooses: “Challenging, happy, inspiring.” Her story is filled with fond memories of team-building weekends, sports days, family days, and festive company gatherings—moments that made Thermaflex more than just a workplace.
A True Heart of Thermaflex
Trudy’s 45 years at Thermaflex are a living example of loyalty, adaptability, and the power of human connection. Through every transformation, she has been a steady, positive force—always ready with a solution, a kind word, or a smile. Her journey reminds everyone at Thermaflex what truly matters: showing up with honesty, care, and a sense of family.
Thank you, Trudy, for everything you’ve given—your time, your laughter, your spirit. You’ve made Thermaflex not just a company, but a community. Here’s to many more years of shared success, growth, and memorable moments together!
