If you ask Maximilian Pischel about the stages of his professional career, the answer is always the same: Grenzebach. He is proud to say that he literally grew up with the company. Grenzebach was always somehow present throughout his life. Did this not get repetitive at some point, some might ask him. Not at all, Maximilian Pischel says, because the company has so many different tasks and places to see and people to meet.
When the American company Millennium joined the Grenzebach Group and the cooperation between Maximilian Pischel and them grew closer, they wanted the strategic purchase to be closer to home and to the day-to-day business, so he would be easier to reach. That meant being on site. And that meant: coming to America. For Maximilian Pischel, the choice was easy: a new challenge, new opportunities—he was sold.
He started as a Senior Buyer in Newnan. The early days in America, he says, were a little bumpy, mainly because of the bureaucratic effort involved. However, Grenzebach was always at his side with help and advice, and with a place to stay and a car for the first three months, which gave him time to settle down and get his things in order.
Since 2024, he has been team lead with the SAP project and, for around two months now, Supply Chain Manager. His training at Grenzebach is a great advantage in his work because he already knows the processes and logistics by heart. However, even a “seasoned professional” like him can't predict what will happen the next day.
“You never know how the day will turn out. One email or phone call can change your entire schedule. The most important thing I would say is: be open to everything and everyone.”
Two worlds
His working life was firmly established, but what about the rest of his life in this new American world? Was it easy for him to fit in?
“The most important thing I would say is: be open to everything and everyone. I connected with many different people over the years, not only the German expats like me, but also a lot of American colleagues,” he explains, “so I never had a fixed group of people.” This was good, he says, because this way he could easily connect with others and was not bound to a place or specific person. The support from his American colleagues also played a big role—they welcomed him warmly and helped him settle in, which made it much easier for him to feel at home in the USA. Of course, he still has his friends and family back home in Germany, and every time he visits them, they make sure to enjoy the time together. He describes this as his “two worlds”—one in Germany, one in America, which both have their place and purpose in his life.
It helps that Maximilian Pischel has always been communicative and spontaneous, but at the same time happy to spend time alone. This is important, he adds, or else you would probably just feel lonely. He also sees himself as a workaholic, something he was taught early on by his parents, who were both self-employed and often had to work on Saturdays. This mix works very well for him because it also suits the American work ethic.
“I never had a 'master plan'
or anything like that”, he laughs, “I just evolved with my tasks.” And he is certain that Grenzebach will keep on surprising him. The next challenge is always just around the corner.
