PKO career stories

Team of the Year award: First-class pub culture in the heart of Joensuu – this is the team behind the award-winning pub!

The Takatasku pub in the heart of Joensuu has been recognised as Bar of the Year, and now its personnel have also won the Team of the Year 2023 award. The recognition is a testament to the exceptional results produced through long-term work and a sense of community.

Supervisor of the Year Johanna Karhu is encouraging, fair and motivating

Regional manager Johanna Karhu, recipient of the Supervisor of the Year 2023 award, is known for her warm and encouraging management style that inspires improvement. Her team, known by the nickname Karhuryhmä, has proved that the best results are achieved through cooperation and a strong team spirit.

Creating a versatile career is possible at PKO

The desire to take on new challenges and develop personal skills by training has pushed Nina Solehmainen’s career forward. Nina, who works as a sales manager in Prisma’s consumer goods department, has extensive experience in both the supermarket trade and restaurant tasks.

Work at PKO offers many opportunities for development

There are not many restaurants in PKO where Group Manager Outi Pohjoranta has not worked during her 25-year cooperative career. It all started as a summer employee at Prisma’s Lasipallo café. After turning 18, Outi started working at the restaurant Karelia, first as a ticket seller and then as a bartender.

From Bologna to North Karelia

Simone Scarpa moved from Italy to Finland and made his restaurant dreams come true. Now, his family comes first. He found pleasant and diverse work at ABC. He also has time for a beloved hobby with horses.

Long careers increase the expertise of the cooperative

In 1975, three classmates, Seija Jaatinen, Pirjo Leirilaakso and Jorma Tukiainen, got their dream summer jobs in Sokos Joensuu. Seija had already been a student trainee in the cosmetics department before the summer.

Sirpa Rouhiainen is full of life and enjoys her work even in retirement

Sirpa Rouhiainen is a pensioner who is full of life. She wanted to postpone stepping away from work when she reached retirement age. Her work at PKO includes making offers and arranging customer events with the rest of her colleagues in PKO’s travel and hospitality business.

Eetu Lätti created a job description for himself that did not exist before

When walking along the aisles of Prisma Joensuu, you may have noticed and admired projects designed by Eetu Lätti, such as the Eglo Shop in the luminaires department and Jelppi in Prisma Rauta. Many graphics and social media productions that you have encountered may also be Eetu’s handiwork.

For Saara, offering high-quality food and good customer satisfaction are the most important goals of her work!

Saara Karjunen is a restaurant chef currently working at the Kontiolahti ABC. For Saara, offering high-quality food and good customer satisfaction are the most important goals of her work!

Eemeli Rantaeskola’s path from work try-out to sales manager at S-Rauta

Eemeli Rantaeskola from Joensuu found employment as a salesperson at PKO through a work try-out. At first, he stayed for the next summer holiday, and he did not stop working even during his university studies. Finally, through several changes, his career led him to S-Rauta Nurmes, where he is working as a sales manager.

For Johanna Harjapää, the best thing about being a service manager is the variety in the work

Johanna Harjapää was never supposed to become a salesperson, but things turned out differently. Advancing to the position of service manager at ABC Nurmes was a happy coincidence for Harjapää. She had previously graduated as a security supervisor and animal attendant.

Uliana and Maryna from Ukraine found a welcoming community at Bomba – now there is a reason to smile

Two Ukrainians, Uliana Pomozybida and Maryna Chorna, fled from the war to Finland less than a year ago. They have quickly adapted to their new lives in Nurmes. Currently, the two women are studying Finnish, making friends with the locals and working at Break Sokos Hotel Bomba as hotel cleaners.

A people-centred workplace always invites you back - Sanna Cortes´s career story

Captain Sanna Cortes of Pub Kolumbus and Gastropub Vispiläkauppa is a true globetrotter. She has been with us since she was 15, and not even a decade spent in Spain could make her forget about being a member of the PKO team, which increasingly entails matters important to her, such as environmental and solidarity work.

Diverse professional expertise led Pia Hämäläinen to the Service Manager position

Pia Hämäläinen has studied for all the professions she dreamed of as a child, and she first became familiar with PKO while working in one of PKO’s restaurants during her studies. When Prisma’s first hair salon opened, she knew what to do. Eventually, after an eventful journey, her passion led her to become a manager.

Tiina Hytti followed her desire to return to PKO

Tiina Hytti serves customers at Prisma Joensuu’s S-Bank outlet with such passion and warmth that customers have referred to her as “Our Tiina” in their feedback. Tiina was away from Prisma for 14 years but fortunately for us, a desire to work for PKO again made her return to us.

Johanna Karhu’s journey from a year off to regional manager

Johanna Karhu, well-known as the heart of S-market Outokumpu and the regional manager for the area, ended up working for us during her year off after graduating from secondary school. This exceptional “year off” at PKO has now lasted for 25 years already. Despite this, she has managed to study for six degrees while working, and a seventh may still be ahead!

The present day and the Karelian tradition meet in Bomba in the hands of Tiina Pikkarainen

A visit to the Bomba House or Trattoria Pielinen in Nurmes leaves no one cold! After all, the visitor is greeted by shift manager and PRO finalist Tiina Pikkarainen, whose warm, professional and genuinely Karelian touch can’t be missed. When will there be the next opportunity to visit Bomba?

Solid customer service at a hardware store’s cash desk

Heidi Sormunen, who works at Prisma Joensuu, is a solid customer service professional who serves our customers in many different places. You may have met Heidi at Prisma ABC, Prisma Rauta, the cash registers or perhaps when getting vaccinated!

The joy of work radiates from Minna Auvilahti in Prisma’s aisles

Minna Auvilahti works in Prisma’s grocery department. She is an energetic and easy-going professional who effortlessly handles both early morning shelving and evening shifts, as well as the online shopping service and the hidden bottle room.

Helping people motivates Kari Kontkanen to take up a new job even after retirement

Kari Kontkanen is a 64-year-old systems specialist who has already retired after working for an impressive number of years. However, he decided to enjoy his retirement while working with people. He now works as a mobile advisor, travelling between outlets across the region and helping customers. It’s very fortunate we found each other!

Marketing expert Toni Simonen found their place

Toni Simonen from Joensuu has good things to say about his employer.

Kini Le, Ambassador of Cheer

Kini Le, a salesperson who works at the S-market on Rantakatu in Joensuu, is known for providing exceptional customer service with a smile. Now they share their cheer with the general public through social media, both at work and during their leisure time.

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