Humans of Crafty: Danny Contreras, Senior Delivery Supervisor

Born in Miami, Danny found his way to Chicago at nine, eventually returning to Florida after high school. Seeking purpose at 20, he enlisted in the military, finding fulfillment and adventure in the army, including a tour in Afghanistan.

Back in Miami post-service, Danny tried various jobs but felt something was missing until he followed his love for vehicles and got his trucking license in Chicago. Introduced to Crafty through his brother-in-law, who worked in the same building, he initially hesitated but ended up joining as a Delivery Assistant.

Seven years later, Danny leads delivery operations across Chicagoland, proving that sometimes the best journeys start with unexpected turns. Read on to hear all about his journey with Crafty.

What Attracted You to Crafty

I was hesitant to join Crafty. It was a new startup. I had a two-year-old son, and I was looking for something stable. What sold me was that Ishan, one of the cofounders, was so passionate. His personality was inviting and warm, and he seemed to genuinely care about everyone who worked for him. Crafty seemed interested in hiring folks who could grow with the company. I liked that we talked about moving up and the opportunities beyond the role I interviewed for. Taking the chance has been great—I've grown, honed my skills, and learned a ton.

Explain Your Career Growth with Crafty

As I mentioned, I started as a Delivery Assistant in 2017. I rode along with the drivers and helped them with their routes. A few months in, I took over my own route and became a Delivery Specialist. After a while was promoted to Lead Driver, balancing road duties with additional responsibilities for the team. I was eventually promoted to Delivery Supervisor and finally to the role I’m in today, Senior Delivery Supervisor.

Describe Your Current Role

I manage all Chicago-area delivery operations for Crafty, supporting our team to ensure exceptional service for our clients. This involves maintaining our vehicle fleet, overseeing team training, and handling quality assurance. Our service standards set us apart from our competitors, so I ensure that our team provides incredible service every time they visit a client site, and I arm them with whatever knowledge or tools they need to get the job done. I also split my time between being on the road and working out of the warehouse so that I'm familiar with our drivers' experiences. It helps me identify efficiencies and see where I can be most helpful to the team. Being on the road at least once a week helps me stay connected and efficient in supporting the team.

What Do You Love About Your Job

‍I love the diverse interactions I have every day. My role touches nearly every aspect of our operations, from working with warehouse teams to collaborating with client operations and directly engaging with our clients and on-site specialists. Building relationships with the Crafty crew is what makes my job so rewarding. It also helps me understand the priorities of different teams, allowing the Delivery Team to better support the entire business.

Most Challenging Part of Your Job

My schedule flip-flops throughout the week because I split my time between office work and driving. If I'm driving, that means I have to be at the warehouse at 4 am to start my shift. If I'm doing office work, I can be at the warehouse at 7 am. Switching between those two schedules can sometimes be a challenge. However, I have two kids, so I'm no stranger to multitasking.

How Has Your Previous Experience Helped You

My time in the military has had the most significant effect on me as a person in the workforce. It's taught me the value of standardizing processes to streamline our operations and guarantee we are doing things most efficiently. It's taught me how to power through difficult times to find a solution. We might run into an issue on the road or with a delivery that doesn't appear to have an immediate resolution. Because of my time in the military, I can stay calm, take a breath, and figure out the next steps. It has also turned me into an absolute clean freak, which you’ll see rear its head when it comes to maintaining our trucks and delivery equipment.

Most Unique Thing About Crafty

I’ve had so many jobs in my lifetime, and the thing that sets us apart, aside from our culture, which I know gets mentioned all the time and I love, is the dedication of our leadership team, particularly our cofounders. There are not many jobs where you get to work alongside your cofounders. Cofounders or people in C-suite level positions often have this untouchable, unapproachable energy about them. Here, it's the total opposite.

I have spent time and worked closely with almost all four cofounders to varying degrees. They are in the trenches with us, especially in the beginning. We all knew we could call on them for help if we ever needed anything. Now, as we've grown and we have a much larger team, there is much less need for them to hop in and drive a route or go to a client site and set up a kegerator. However, they continue to find ways to interact with all of us. More often than not, they are the ones approaching me to say hello and ask for my thoughts on what's going on in the delivery world. I have not worked for any other companies where that is the case.

Favorite Product in the Office Pantry

Lately, the hit has been the Tropical Vibe flavor of Celcius. It's an energy drink with a green tea base, so you get caffeine, but it’s a little less buzzy than other energy drinks. As for snacks, I eat blueberry Belvita crackers every day. They're a classic, and I love them.

The Perfect Day Off

A perfect day off for me is simple. I'd start by spending the morning with my kids, enjoying some quality time playing together. In the afternoon, I'd tackle house projects and possibly some yard work if the weather's nice. Then, I'd love to head to my garage and finish the day off by working on my cars. Given my profession, it's probably no surprise that I’m an amateur mechanic. I have a 2004 Volkswagen GTI, an 89 Mazda pickup, and a Ford Ranger.My son and I work on cars together. He's gotten into it alongside me, and it has been super fun for both of us.

Lightening Round

What is the last TV show you watched?
The Rookie.

What is the last book you read?
Honestly, it was probably a car manual.

What is the last song you listened to?
“One Mic” by Nas.

What is the emoji that best encompasses your vibe?

Who is a famous person you’d like to hang out with?
The Rock.

Who was your first celebrity crush?
Amy Jo Johnson, also known as The Pink Ranger from The Power Rangers.

Crafty would like to extend a huge thank you to Danny for generously sharing his time and insights with us and allowing us to write about him. Thank you so much for all you do for Crafty. We are endlessly grateful to have you on our team.