Our team is here to serve you!!
Installers:
Don Bateman II
Don came aboard in September of 1984. A Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, Don, his sisters and parents moved to Lansing, Michigan where he graduated from high school in 1979. After high school his family relocated to Monroe where Don attended Monroe County Community College and worked at Fermi before he came aboard in September of 1984. “He has been instrumental in the growth of our installation department. He is a real asset to the company”, says Lisa Herkimer-Walters, owner. “He is a hard worker who is loyal, honest and dependable, qualities all employers are looking for. It not only benefits our company to have an employee with those characteristics but the customer benefits also”, she added. With over 30 years of experience Don and his team focus on the customer’s requests, making sure all of their needs are met without compromising the integrity and safety of the equipment and the end user. Don makes his home in Monroe.
Steve Linkey
“Steve has been with our company since 1999, working in the installation department to make sure the quality of the work done in the garage is to each customer’s satisfaction. He plays a vital role in installation and removals of public safety equipment”, remarks Lisa Herkimer-Walters, owner. “Working in the garage can sometimes be a difficult task filled with challenges but Steve comes to work each day with a positive attitude ready to get the job done.”
Born in Quincy, Illinois, Steve worked in the car audio field for 7 years before moving to Michigan 22 years ago. When Steve isn’t busy at work he enjoys golfing, hunting, RC racing and the outdoors with his family.
Technicians:
Tom Patania
Tom joined the team in June of 1987, Tom has become a vital part of our company. Lisa Herkimer-Walters, owner, says, “With all of Tom’s expertise and experience he has become the “go to” person for all of our customers' easy or complicated communications needs. He does a thorough, detailed job and his knack for detail and follow through are second to none. We are very lucky to have him on our team and so are our customers. His work ethic is in line with the company’s and its founders, honesty and integrity - ‘we don’t sell the customer something they don’t need’.
Tom is a lifelong resident of Monroe and makes his home here with his wife and two kids. He graduated from Catholic Central High School in 1984, attended Monroe County Community College where he received an associates degree in Electronics Technology. From there he went on to University of Toledo where he completed a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Technology. In his spare time you will find Tom camping, boating or fishing.
Jason Oestrike
Jason joined the team in September of 2015. Bringing his love of computers and networking, Jason has been a great addition to the company. “He has been able to fill a gap in our services to our customer along with filling a need for the community of Monroe”, says owner, Lisa Herkimer-Walters. “Jason was the brains behind the screen and tablet repairs we currently do. Jason saw a need in the community and developed our program,” she stated. Jason makes his home in Dundee with his son.
Owner:
Lisa Herkimer-Walters
Lisa is the third generation owner of Herkimer Radio Service. Many of you may not know the history of the family business, Lisa’s grandfather started the business in the garage behind her father, Harry’s childhood home in 1936. Harry took over the business in 1936 when his father passed away unexpectedly. Lisa began with the business in February of 1989. She has been running day to day operations of the business for the last year and with the passing of her father in March, 2015 she became president/owner of the company. Lisa’s wishes for the future of Herkimer Radio, “My hopes for our company, employees and customers is to experience growth along with continuing to service our customers with the same respect and honesty that my grandfather and father cultivated over the last 79 years”.
Lisa makes her home in the same home where Herkimer Radio originally was, her father’s childhood home, she is married and has 2 children. Graduating from St. Mary Academy, Monroe in 1984, Lisa went on to Monroe County Community College for a year and then transferred to Western Michigan University where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing with a minor in Business Administration in 1988.
Sales/Office:
Mary Bilan
Mary is a diverse, well-rounded, personable, thorough, excellent customer service and follow through, all words Lisa Herkimer-Walters, owner uses to describe Mary Bilan. “Mary is on the ‘front lines’ of the business, one of the first people you talk to on the phone or in the office and she makes sure everyone is taken care of.”
Mary graduated from St. Mary Academy and Monroe County Community College as well as taking several computer classes from various learning centers. She put her education to good use working at small to large businesses along with owning a few over the years with her husband, Tom. Mary not only devoted her time to her education and businesses but she was also involved in St. Michael’s Church, funeral dinners and a Eucharistic minister, altar society and parish council, a former board member of Monroe Family YMCA and member of the Regional Committee of YMCA of USA. For enjoyment Mary likes to meet for dinners with her friends of 50+ years, watching grandkids play sports, going to plays and musicals at the Stranahan, spending her hard earned money at the casino. Mary has called Monroe her home all of her life and this is where she raised 3 very successful children.
When you have time share some casino stories with Mary, who knows maybe you will even see her at the casino or the theater but we don’t know where she finds the time!