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Episode 23: 2024 Wrap-up and thanks!
18 Plays1 month ago
Thank you to our incredible team and our wonderful customers and vendors. We are grateful to have the privilege of working with such high quality people.
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Transcript
00:00:01
HFW Industries
a
Introduction and Recap of 2024
00:00:11
HFW Industries
All right. And welcome back to episode 23 of the HFW shop talk podcast. This is our year in review holiday edition for 2024. Hard to believe 2024 is already just about in the rear view mirror, but here we are. Um, it's been an interesting year. Um, a lot of good things to go through and, uh, um, we're excited for,
00:00:40
HFW Industries
um the year to come in 2025.
Year's Highlights and Thanks
00:00:44
HFW Industries
So ah what I thought I would do with this episode is first kind of walk through the year and and cut some of the highlights. And then I want to thank all of our great team members as I have done in the past.
00:00:58
HFW Industries
So first and foremost, Merry Christmas to ah all of our great team members, our great customers and our great vendors. um We're really fortunate to have a great ecosystem here at HFW, ah whether it's our vendors, we got a great package on Friday from ah one of our most trusted vendors applied and inspection services. um They're a tremendous company to work with. And I think they're really emblematic of um the great partnerships that we're very fortunate to have. So thank you to AIS, um as well as well as all of our other fantastic vendors.
00:01:38
HFW Industries
um It's been an interesting year, like I was saying. um Obviously some ups and downs. I would say our business is in a ah place of transition um in a couple of different ways.
Leadership Transition and Workforce Changes
00:01:50
HFW Industries
Starting right at the top, we began this year with a change in leadership ah for the first time in 50 years, which I think is a ah great testament to our um our persistence and our consistency. But my grandfather passed the title of president down to my father, Matt, who has now been leading us for just about a year. And I think that like ah many leadership transitions, that's not something that ah happens overnight.
00:02:19
HFW Industries
I think both my dad and my grandfather would tell you it it has been a learning, a time of learning and adjustment and figuring things out as we go. um But I think we're in a really good spot now. think I've noticed, especially in my dad the last couple months, i'm really starting to come into his own as a leader. And I think he's only going to get stronger.
00:02:40
HFW Industries
and a company likewise um as we move forward. And I think my grandfather is is really enjoying this this path as well, um passing off some more of the day-to-day um annoyances and and and things that are um crucial to the business, but maybe not ah what you want to be doing when you're almost 80 years old. And he's focusing on um the areas of the business he likes most. um So obviously, you know, every day is not perfect. But I think we're making a lot of progress in that on that front. And I'm trying to figure out what the next generation of leadership looks like, not just at the top, but throughout our company as well.
00:03:19
HFW Industries
And that kind of leads, obviously, to my next point about the the transitions we're seeing on the shop floor and in the office. um We were very, very fortunate. Even just a couple years ago, we were a very, very experienced workforce. And so we were turning out some incredible work. And I would say the only downside to that is When you have a very experienced workforce, obviously, um people are going to begin to embark on their well-deserved retirements, which we have, of course, seen over the last couple of years. And so, I think we've made strong progress on
00:03:56
HFW Industries
um recruiting and bringing in uh... young men and women who are excited to uh... take on the opportunity and and see the the opportunity in front of them but of course it's a learning curve and we're we're learning that i think for so long we were we're so fortunate to have a very experienced workforce and now uh... we're learning how to train develop uh... which again i think the best way to learn is is to learn by doing and we are certainly in the midst of a lot of that. So as you may imagine, as as I know most of you are aware, there have been some ups and downs with that. It's not um up and to the right every single day.
00:04:37
HFW Industries
That being said, I'm very optimistic, and I think we're on a great path. I think the the direction we're going is is fantastic, um but I also know that um that takes time, and um there are going to be setbacks, and um truly, I think the setbacks are the best way to learn.
Challenges, Optimism, and Industry Outlook
00:04:55
HFW Industries
It's not fun um in the moment. It's it's really frustrating.
00:04:59
HFW Industries
But um the the most battle-hardened professionals and leaders and in businesses are those that have gone through ah many periods of um disappointment and frustration and of have come out the other end. And so I'm very fortunate. And I think we're on the right path. um We've got some fantastic people here that I'm going to get into in just a moment.
00:05:23
HFW Industries
As far as our business goes and and where we're heading in the future, I think things are really looking up for our business and the markets that we serve. When you look at some of the industries that we're we're fortunate to work with, um including power generation, a chemical,
00:05:41
HFW Industries
um These are critical industries that ah are essential to the re-industrialization of America that you are so actively seeing. We're seeing record numbers when it comes to ah factory building in the US, numbers that haven't been seen since um during and after ah World War II. And so obviously there's a lot that remains to be seen. We'll see how much of this actually comes to fruition. And a lot of times um the projections are not anywhere near reality. um But I think there's a real push um that you see um with people realizing maybe we went way too far with with outsourcing and and sending things overseas. and And a lot of that plays right into the markets that we serve. So power generation, for instance, um is booming right now. And there are a couple of reasons for that. um One of the big ones being
00:06:35
HFW Industries
the amount of energy that AI demands. and so This is critical infrastructure, um but this um boom of artificial intelligence and the development of that technology requires immense amounts of power that we don't have enough support for at the moment. and so The companies that we're working with are building like gangbusters um to be able to um support these industries and and support the growth in in technology and manufacturing. And so HFW is indirectly a player in that. And I think that's just one example of a couple um that I think lends very favorably to the future of this business.
00:07:19
HFW Industries
So I'm not going to bog everyone down and in the nitty gritty details, but I think it's important to provide a little bit of perspective. um Obviously we're optimistic and yes, things can still go wrong, but I think um we offer a service and a product that is very core um to industrial society. We extend ah equipment's life and and help protect against things like wear and corrosion.
00:07:44
HFW Industries
And it doesn't matter what your process is. um If you have an industrial process, you're going to be coming up against wear and corrosion. So HFW's value play, I think, is is very strong now, and it will be very strong in the future as well.
00:08:01
HFW Industries
And so as I've done in the past, I want to take a moment to thank and appreciate each of the members on our team. I am truly so grateful to be able to work with such an incredible team.
00:08:15
HFW Industries
And I don't say that lightly. I know I might sound repetitive at times, but I'm really optimistic about this business and where we're going. And a lot of that is because of the great people that we have on our team. Again, we're going through a transition. So it's been an adjustment. I know it's not always fun, um but i'm I'm really appreciative to all the people that have are with us and have been with us and have served.
00:08:42
HFW Industries
um and have done great things for this business. And so I just want to take a moment to um walk through each person here that's working with us currently and and thank you. So I'll start in the office. I'll start with Mark Sherman. Sherman has been an incredible asset to me personally. We've traveled together a bunch and he's been very willing to ah teach me the race the ways of the sales warrior and and teach me the tips and tricks for building relationships with people, which
00:09:14
HFW Industries
It's not always the easiest thing, especially when there's um expectation and it's hard to get people pinned down to meet with them. And Sherry has a way with interacting with people that's been tremendous. And I really appreciate ah his mentorship and guidance as I am at the very beginning of my journey. So thank you, Sherry. Next up, we have Lori. Lori is the smiling face ah
Acknowledgments and Team Contributions
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HFW Industries
that greets you when you first walk in the door at HFW. And I'm very appreciative of that.
00:09:42
HFW Industries
I know you know we we're obviously being in manufacturing. ah We're still a primarily male-dominated industry and company, um and it's so nice to have a ah nice smile and um just such a refreshing personality when you walk in. Lori is a tremendous um team member. She's been very helpful to everyone. ah She goes out of her way to help you before you even know that you need help. It's just this incredible thing that's hard to fully explain.
00:10:13
HFW Industries
um But Lori is just tremendous. We're so lucky to have her and I'm really appreciative of you Lori. Thank you. Next up we have Dana. Dana is our second longest tenured employee. and She's been just a tremendous person to have on the team. You know, same thing with Tom as well. I don't think a lot of us realize the full extent of what Tom and Dana do um because we're just so used to everything going right within their domain, right? We get our paycheck every week. um There's no problem. There's there's really no
00:10:47
HFW Industries
No issue. um But as we always say, people would realize if if Tom and Dana ah weren't doing their job at a high level very quickly because we would not be getting paid. And so we're very appreciative. um Dana, hopefully we've got you for several more years because we're um We're very lucky to have such a person that understands the ah the culture and the attitudes and all the different um personalities of everyone at HFW. And I really am grateful for um all of the great things that you do in our business. So thank you, Dana.
00:11:24
HFW Industries
Next up, we have Tom Andrews. Very fortunate to get to work with Tom on a day-to-day basis. I know Tom's not. He is one of the few people in our office who's not on the shop floor every day like Dana. ah So you know it may be easy to not understand what he does, but um Tom is one of the most skilled leaders of our business um and really leads the business operations of our company, um making sure that HFW remains in strong financial standing and you know this is something it's a critical role in the business that again I think because things tend to go right it's very easy to underestimate or not fully appreciate um how great I believe Tom and Dana are at their jobs.
00:12:14
HFW Industries
um But I'm very lucky, and we are all very lucky ah to have Tom. And Tom, I enjoy working with you. I'm appreciative for everything you do. So thank you. Next up we have Will Wagner, who was one of our new additions this year. Will joined us as a manufacturing engineer out of UB this summer. And Will, it's been a pleasure to have you on the on the team so far. um You're doing a nice job.
00:12:43
HFW Industries
Again, I know that getting up to speed takes time, especially in this business. um But I'm very appreciative. And I enjoy working with you. And I think you have a very bright future in this business. So thank you for everything you've done so far. And I look forward to working together in the years to come. Next up, we have Bob Res. Bob is, I'd say, he's the glue in the engineering office.
00:13:08
HFW Industries
ah You know, he does a lot of the things that, again, we don't appreciate, um you know, interfacing with the customers, writing jobs, making sure that we are meeting and exceeding customer expectations. And that's something that's that's important. And, you know, he has a lot of insight into our customers and and um what their expectations are, what they need. And then he also, he's able to translate that into the engineering office. And I'd say more than that, Bob's just a fun guy to work with. um Makes the, makes coming into work every day and coming into the engineering office fun. um And it is your pleasure to work with Bob, so thank you. Next up we have Jason Newman. Jason, ah thanks for all your hard work.
00:13:54
HFW Industries
um Jason's handling a lot of the work in our power generation and business. And you know that's very technical, precise work. And Jason, I appreciate all your attention to detail on that. And I'm turning that work out. You do a nice job, and I appreciate it. Thank you. Last up in the engineering office. Well, no, I have Scott, too. ah But last up with in the end, I'm thinking of our how our engineering office is shaped.
00:14:25
HFW Industries
We have Joe Appila, who I am eternally grateful for. Joe's been my mentor and someone that I really look up to in our business. um Joe, thank you for always answering my stupid questions. I try not to ask the same stupid question twice, but I know that I have definitely done that. um And so thank you for your grace and being willing to work with me.
00:14:49
HFW Industries
um I really appreciate it. I enjoy working together and and learning from you and I look forward to continuing that hopefully helping you more and more. So actually last up in our engineering office is Scott who runs the whole thing in engineering. um Scott I'm really grateful to get to work with you and be led by you. I think you're ah a an incredible team member, um one of the smartest people I've ever met. And you know I think you always have an interesting perspective on things. And I'm grateful to have you heading up our engineering office. And um I look forward to a bright future um with you as our leader. So thank you. Lauren, thanks for all your hard work.
00:15:35
HFW Industries
um Again, Lauren is the one of the most meticulous people I've ever met, um has fantastic attention to detail, and which is important in her job, working in accounts payable and other various accounting tasks. You need that. And again, as I've said, I don't want to sound like a broken record, um but ah that attention to detail and and that um meticulousness It's so easy to underestimate or not fully appreciate when everything's going right and and knock on wood, everything typically goes right. So Lauren, thank you. I'm very grateful and you do a nice job. So thank you. Last up in the office, we have Darlene.
00:16:23
HFW Industries
Darlene, like a lot of people at HFW, is just an incredibly hard worker. I mean, my my famous story is, or I guess not mine, but the story I always remember when it comes to Darlene's work ethic is Darlene literally having a broken knee and essentially crawling up the stairs and still coming to work.
00:16:41
HFW Industries
Now, mind you, that is not the expectation. If you are injured or sick, um ah that's a very fair reason to and not be able to come into work. But Darlene, work is such a part of her i identity and identity and she um It drives her and and challenges her. um and So she still came in, which I am grateful for. Again, not the expectation, ah but you know that's the kind of perseverance and drive that I think will push this company forward. And so Darlene, I'm very grateful to you. Thank you.
00:17:21
HFW Industries
All right, moving into the shop now. First, I want to say thank you to Jordan and our CNC office. Jordan's another one of our new additions this year as our CNC supervisor. And Jordan, what a pleasure it has been to have you join the team.
00:17:37
HFW Industries
um your perspective and your your thoughts and your ways that we're going to get better and grow as a business are are really inspirational. And I think you've been a tremendous addition to the team. We're very grateful to have you. And you're doing great things now. And so I can only um imagine where we're going to be as you as you continue to get comfortable and and learn and grow in this role. So thank you. We're happy to have you. um I look forward to the future.
00:18:06
HFW Industries
Dennis, Dennis, yet again, we have so many people in this business who I i think are so steady and consistent. um And I really appreciate that. And Dennis is no better example of that. Dennis is just an incredible a CNC programmer. So much of our business and our work now.
00:18:25
HFW Industries
is reliant on CNC programming. Our business has really transformed over the last several years. We're trying to figure out how that that fits and how to grow that in the future. um But Dennis, you've been such a ah tremendous um person that I think again you're just steady and you know um that's something I do I absolutely do not take for granted I really appreciate you and I think um you're a great person in our business and I'm i'm just
00:18:57
HFW Industries
um I'm trying to think what we'll do without you because it's going to be hard, you know, we'll manage. But, um, again, when you have someone like you, Dennis, who's been in that role and and just intimately understands the work, um, it's hard to swap someone out. So as, as you look forward to your well-deserved retirement, um, I'm very grateful for all of your hard work and, uh, I look forward to the time we have left and, and then we'll send you off to your, uh, your well-deserved retirement.
00:19:29
HFW Industries
Moving to the inspection office, Timmy, thank you for all of your hard work. um you know Your many years at HFW, I think, are are such a tremendous asset to everyone here. You understand the work. You understand the history. You understand the the need for the attention to detail. And I know you've caught some very complex and technical issues that um you know may not have been caught without you. So I'm very grateful. ah You keep keep things light around the shop.
00:19:58
HFW Industries
um Your laugh, I can hear from ah you know a couple rows down, and and it's always it's always putting a smile on my face. So thank you, Timmy. I appreciate it. Next up, we have Clayton, who I'm not sure, but he I would not be surprised if he was the guy here with the most overtime worked. So obviously, Clayton, thanks for all of your hard work and and your extra hard work.
00:20:23
HFW Industries
I'm going above and beyond to get the job done. um I do not take that for granted. I really appreciate you and I enjoy working together. So thank you. Dan. Dan's our newest inspector, but he's been with us a couple of years now. And ah Dan, I think the the strides you've made and and you've quickly become a ah core member of the HFW team and I could not be more grateful. um I think you have a very bright future in this business and I'm i'm very appreciative. Thank you.
00:20:53
HFW Industries
And last up, in the inspection office, we have the one and only Kevin Nation, who always has a story. ah Usually it somehow ends up back relating to Niagara Falls, um but I would not have it any other way. Kevin, you...
00:21:11
HFW Industries
ah You don't give yourself enough credit um with your your level of intellect. ah You have a great pulse on the shop and and how things are going. And you're also a great inspector too. And I really enjoy learning from you and when working with you. And we're very fortunate to have you leading our our quality department. So thank you, Kevin.
00:21:35
HFW Industries
in our shop office. I have to thank Trish. Again, she's another one of these people that is the glue of the shop. And, you know, i I think it's, again, easy to underestimate the importance of that role. But Trish does a fantastic job organizing all of the data and information that's flowing through the shop at any one point in time. um Trish, we're very grateful to you. You do ah great work and we're ah Very thankful to have you on the team. um So thank you for everything that you do.
00:22:07
HFW Industries
Fred, Fred's another guy um who's been with us for several decades and and we've been talking about I know I've talked with Fred as he thinks about ah you know retiring in a couple years hopefully not a year ah but just that level of experience in the know-how and the knowledge you can't replace that and so um You know, as we think about that, um it's it's it's making me realize just um the level of skill and ah knowledge that you have, Fred. And I've been very grateful to learn from you. ah We're very grateful as a business to have you in the shop, solving problems and figuring out ways to do things that just get it done. That's why when I think about Fred, I think about just getting things done. And I'm very grateful for you, Fred. Thank you.
00:23:01
HFW Industries
Peter Claus, Peter, it's really a pleasure to work with you. um As with many others, I really am grateful to get to learn from you and, um you know, your many decades in the shop and at HFW specifically are something that um are just an incredible asset to everyone here.
00:23:21
HFW Industries
um I just I think you're one of the most enjoyable but enjoyable people to work with. um I'm very grateful to you as well as many others for being intimately involved with our training um and working hands on and side by side, especially with some of our younger guys. and That's one of the most important roles in the in jobs in this company is is our ability to train and develop. And obviously, you've been at the very center of that. And I'm very grateful. And, you know, we're we are so lucky to have a great leader like you
00:23:52
HFW Industries
ah running our plant. So thank you, Peter. I really appreciate you.
00:23:58
HFW Industries
Moving into the CNC department, Peter San Sierra, thank you. I always enjoy our conversations. I always enjoy your perspective and ah your smile. And, you know, we're we're lucky to have a guy with the experience that you do.
00:24:14
HFW Industries
um I think your background is is really neat. And I enjoy talking and also seeing the great things you're doing. And I appreciate your willingness to um explore and try different machines. I know you've been running a couple different things lately. And I appreciate that willingness to learn and grow. And I know if if if we're all able to do that as a business, um there's no telling what we can do. So thank you, Peter. I appreciate it.
00:24:42
HFW Industries
Mr. Hender, Rich, thank you for all of your hard work. um you know Again, it's just it's a little bit intimidating thinking about how we're going to be able to and transition from a guy that has multiple decades of experience. um I know that the you know I've seen the transition will be rough, but I'm very grateful for the many years of service you've given to HFW.
00:25:07
HFW Industries
and um you know we're We're hoping to build machinists that can be like you someday. ah So thank you for your skill and your hard work and your your dedication. HFW is built on incredible machinists like you. So thank you.
00:25:27
HFW Industries
Josh Goodwin, Josh, Merry Christmas, and thank you for your hard work. um Josh has been a little bit of our utility player this year in the in the machining department, um you know doing doing what needs to be done, um working side by side with Peter. um and And Josh, I really appreciate ah your willingness to to learn and grow. And ah you know you're doing some great work for us, so thank you.
00:25:57
HFW Industries
Next up, we have Mr. Jayden. Jayden, your strides over the last year ah in particular have been incredible. um You know, everyone is so optimistic about where we're going and and where you're going. And you have such a bright future in this business. um It's so great to see the progress you've made. And I know that that's very intentional um and you're you're very focused on getting better and that definitely shows. So thank you, Jayden. It's great to work with you.
00:26:24
HFW Industries
Mr. Anthony Circone, Anthony, thank you for all of your hard work. um I wish we could have conversations other than things like the sabers because I don't, you know, but we need more positivity in our life and the sabers aren't providing that. ah But Anthony, seriously, um I appreciate your your willingness to to learn and grow. um We're grateful to have you both in the running a machine and in on the programming side as well. And I look forward to growing our business together and the great things we're going to do. So thank you.
Role of Key Team Members
00:27:00
HFW Industries
Mark Petronsky, Mark, well, you know, I've just spent time talking with about Anthony and Jayden and I can't talk about Anthony and Jayden without talking about you. um Thank you so much for stepping up and being willing to um take on that additional role and train. It's not easy. Again, like I was saying, it's the hardest thing we do, but um there's no one I'd rather have trained than a guy like you who has the skill and the experience ah that's been learned through ah the School of Hard Knocks. So thank you, Mark. um We're very indebted to you and you're just a tremendous person to have on this team and I really appreciate you. Thank you.
00:27:45
HFW Industries
Mr. Zelco, Zelco, thank you for all of your hard work. ah So fun fact, Zelco actually roasted a pig for me earlier this year, which was a tremendous experience. um It was really cool. and And just for me, I love seeing the things that our guys are passionate about and do outside of work. It's really cool.
00:28:06
HFW Industries
um to see how multi-skilled and multi-disciplined our guys are here. um I mean, just about every person is doing some incredible things outside of work, um in addition to the things they're doing at HFW, and in ZELCO is one such example of that. ZELCO, I'm so grateful for um your hard work. ah You're doing some of the more complex things we do, and You're doing doing a lot of it manually. And ah that's something that I don't take for granted. I really appreciate. um I always enjoy talking with you and learning. And um I don't know where we'll be ah without very skilled machinists like you. So thank you. I appreciate all of your hard work.
00:28:49
HFW Industries
John Westendorf, John, like a lot of people, I think you're a fantastic utility player. um You're always willing to do what's asked, and I really appreciate that. That's something that I think is ah makes our business special. I really appreciate your willingness to learn. um You're doing one of our more custom solutions at HFW, if you will, and you do a great job with it. So thank you, John. Merry Christmas. Ben.
00:29:17
HFW Industries
Merry Christmas and thank you for everything you do to make HFW great. um Ben's kind of got his hands in everything like a lot of people here, ah whether it's applying the parking lot or coaching or.
00:29:30
HFW Industries
uh, you know, milling a shaft, which is his, his, his primary job. Uh, Ben is someone who knows this company in this shop, like the back of his hand. And it's people like that that make this business common. So Ben, now I really appreciate you. Thanks for stepping up and into the lead man position this year. Um, I'm grateful to have people like you in that role and I look forward to a bright future. Thank you.
00:29:57
HFW Industries
And then next up, I want to thank Pat Colmar, another one of our additions this year. Pat, everyone has talked so highly of you and and and I've really appreciated all of your hard work i'm getting to know you and the great work you've done so far. um you're I think you're a tremendous fit for us at HFW and hopefully you feel the same way. And yeah, we look forward to a very bright future and the great things we're going to do together. So thank you, Pat.
00:30:27
HFW Industries
Next up, we have our shipping department. I have to thank Ronnie. Ronnie just recently came in on a Saturday um to unload an emergency job ah that we turned around very quickly for a customer. And it's that willingness to say yes and learn and grow um that I'm very appreciative of. Ronnie, you're always such a great um positive attitude in the shop. and I look forward to a great year to come. So thank you, Ronnie.
00:30:55
HFW Industries
Will Clark. Will is another one of our additions this year at HFW and what a tremendous addition you've been Will. I always enjoy ah talking with you. I think you are a tremendous person to have at this business and I look forward to many great years ahead and like a lot of people You know, well, you've got a great laugh and it's it's really nice. You know, everything, obviously sometimes things get serious around here, um but it's nice to keep things light. And ah it's fun walking down the aisle in the shop and hearing that great laugh. So, um well, it's been it's been great to have you join the team and and I hope you feel um that this is your home because we certainly feel like it is. So thank you, Will.
00:31:40
HFW Industries
Bob Bachman. Another one of our additions this year. Bob, ah thank you so much for, first of all, joining the team and also your hard and diligent work. um your Your attention to detail is something that I've noticed and in our time together. And um it's it's so nice to have people with um that that level of quality and also the patience and persistence to do things right. So I appreciate you, Bob, and it's good to have you on the team. Thank you.
00:32:12
HFW Industries
Next up, we have Andrew Newman. Andrew, it's always a pleasure working with you. ah You keep things light around the shop, um whether it's our picnics or ah you know whatever it is. ah You have a lot of variety, obviously, in the assembly area. um And I appreciate your willingness to go with the flow and and get things done no matter what that that entails. So thank you, Andrew. And I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
00:32:43
HFW Industries
Next up, we have John Burek. John, thanks so much for all of your hard and usually dirty work. and You're willing to do the work that a few people are, and I'm very grateful for that. I appreciate ah your willingness to get the job done no matter what that entails. The world needs people like that, and I'm very grateful to have you on our team. So thank you, John. Merry Christmas.
00:33:10
HFW Industries
Moving into our grinding shop, first and foremost, we have Tate Mendel, who is not only doing what he's done for the last four years, but also learning our new CNC grinder and helping in the development of that, um which has been a a slow, arduous process, um one that I know will pay off, but obviously it's not always easy. And I'm very thankful to you, Tate, for your willingness to go along for the ride and and um figure things out the hard way. I also enjoy working with you on and some of our recruiting efforts and our trips to Alfred State. um You represent the next generation of this business um and and it's it's really fantastic to see a young leader like yourself and where you've come and in only a few short years really um and with a whole career in front of you. I can't wait to build a ah tremendous team
00:34:07
HFW Industries
ah With you Tate and then I really appreciate all of your hard work in our grinding department Chris mr. Chris Owens. Thank you for all of your hard work. I always enjoy our conversations. You're always keeping it real um and And I appreciate the feedback both good and bad I think having a guy like you on the team is is awesome um you do nice work and and you're very smart intelligent funny guy and I enjoy talking to you. I always learn something. And I always think we're getting better after our conversation. So thank you, Chris. I appreciate the feedback and and in your hard work as always. Next up, we have Mr. Bob Luns. Bob, thanks for stepping up into the lead man position.
00:34:54
HFW Industries
um you know couldn't ask for a better leader there. and Someone who's got the both the the technical skill, but also I think the the the personality to work with people and and help coach a department that obviously is ah pretty experienced, but um still when when you're talking about the precision and the intricacies of grinding, um it's great to have an experienced hand like you around. So thank you.
00:35:25
HFW Industries
Bob, I really appreciate all of your hard work and I hope you enjoy um the holiday.
00:35:31
HFW Industries
Next up, we have Doug Boyd. Doug, Merry Christmas and thank you for all of your hard work. ah Doug is another one of these guys. You know, we're so privileged to have um such a great team of veterans and and Doug is one of them. He's been with us for 25 years, nearly 25 years, and we're very grateful, ah Bob, for, I'm sorry, Doug.
00:35:55
HFW Industries
for all of your hard work. um it's It's just tremendous to have people that have been with us for such a long time. Actually, ah Doug and Bob will both be ah hitting their 25th year anniversaries um in 2025 and only a couple weeks apart too. So um we're very grateful to both of you guys.
00:36:19
HFW Industries
um Doug, I always enjoy talking. I think you've got a great perspective on and the work and in life. And um not only that, but you're a fantastic grinder as well and very skilled. So that's not something that you know just walks in the door every day. and And I'm very appreciative to have great people like you on the team. So thank you, Doug.
00:36:42
HFW Industries
Mr. Pete Keebler, thank you for all of your hard work. um You know, that the the grinding skill is something that is rare. And then knowing how to ID grind is then somehow even rare. And so having someone like you, Pete, who can do that, I'm very grateful. Not only someone that can do it, but someone that has the experience in the background that you do. I really appreciate that. I really appreciate
00:37:14
HFW Industries
and your willingness to to do whatever is needed. I know that sometimes you're moved around in the grinding department and I appreciate your willingness to um just get it done. And ah you're yet another person that i'm I'm thankful to have such a skilled team with experience. um I'm just an awe of tradesmen like you and I really appreciate all of your hard work. So thank you, Pete.
00:37:39
HFW Industries
Next up, we have Ron Goodrich. Ron, thank you so much for everything you do. um Like a lot of guys here, I know you're um working on a lot of different types of work um and usually and doing the doing the parts of the job, the the you know the finishing operations that make everything look good. And so that's a very important role, right? After everything apart has been through um to make sure everything's looking nice and is all dialed in as it gets ready to go to the customer. I'm very grateful for your your touch and your finesse. And I always enjoy talking to you. So thank you, Ron. I hope you have a Merry Christmas.
00:38:25
HFW Industries
How could I forget Wilfredo? Wilfredo, thank you for keeping everything clean. I know your wife is is coming in ah this year, so I'm excited for you ah as you begin a life here together in Buffalo. um Thank you for keeping keeping everything looking good. um Your enthusiasm is is always appreciated, so thank you, Wilfredo.
00:38:52
HFW Industries
Moving on to our welding department. um First and foremost, Sean, um thank you for everything you've done. um I'm excited to have you back after after the knee replacement. um and Thanks for working with all of our guys to to train and develop the next generation of Rockstar welders.
00:39:12
HFW Industries
Sam, thank you so much. I'm going to put aside the fact that you like Michigan. um And by the way, I'm recording this after Ohio State just won their first playoff game. So I'll just leave that there. ah But no, seriously, ah Sam, thank you so much. um Sam is is always willing to go above and beyond and work late, work overtime. um And just one of those guys that will do whatever it takes to get the job done.
00:39:40
HFW Industries
And I really enjoy working with you, Sam. So thank you. Next up, we have Davey Newman. Davey, thanks so much for all of your work. I know you work especially hard on the blades, and you know that that work is tough. um It's very physically demanding, and there's no better person for the job. So thank you, and and thank you for your willingness to train and and teach other people on on how to do that as well. um you know That's not something that's taken for granted, and and I really appreciate it. So thank you, Davey.
00:40:13
HFW Industries
Next up, we have our newest addition in the weld shop, ah Mr. Nolan Pijanowski. Nolan, thanks for for choosing HFW first and foremost, but then also um coming in each day and and doing your very best to learn and grow and develop. um I'm really appreciative, and I think that you have a bright future, you're a smart guy, a hard worker, and those traits will take you very far. So thank you, Nolan.
00:40:40
HFW Industries
Then moving into the spray shop. First and foremost, we have Bobby Newman, Bobby, ah one of the, one of the most mechanically inclined people ah we have here at HFW, that's saying a lot because we have a tremendous ah group of people.
00:40:56
HFW Industries
that think mechanically and and are able to do that. um But your ability to solve problems and and fix things that most people consider trash are no good anymore. um That's very much appreciated in your willingness to to figure things out. I remember we had we had a computers She's one of the the pieces of equipment. You went home and were able to solve it. um That's the kind of knowledge and know-how that um they don't teach in school. And I'm very grateful to have a guy like you on the team that can figure your things out like that. So thank you, Bobby. Next up, we have Eliza, who is our supervisor at the spray shop. Eliza, I really love working with you. You feel like family at this point have basically grown up. ah
00:41:44
HFW Industries
around the shop and around you. And yeah I really enjoyed working together and and ah obviously intensifying our our R and&D efforts. And you know you were in the most hardest working people I've ever met. um and I know I sound repetitive, but it's just so true. you know A guy like Eliza, ah one of the best solutions finders I've ever met. you know Eliza will never give up. He will always find a way Um, you know, maybe it's probably not the optimal way. It's probably not the, um, the way that if, you know, there were unlimited resources, you would choose, but he just finds a way to solve a problem no matter what it takes. He's always willing to go above and beyond. And it's people like that that are going to take HFW to the next level. So thank you, Eliza. I really appreciate it.
00:42:36
HFW Industries
Next up, we have Carlos. Carlos is, I feel like the definition of steadiness. um Very steady, very consistent. And those are great traits to have as a thermal sprayer. um So Carlos, you've come ah a tremendous way and in a relatively short amount of time. We're glad to have you here and I look forward to a great future ahead. Thank you. Moving on.
00:42:59
HFW Industries
We have Dan Armetta. Dan, thank you for all of your hard work. It's great to have you here on the team. um You're a very skilled, ah very professional guy. And I really look forward to a great future ahead. I think you're a key driver of that. So thank you, Dan. Merry Christmas.
00:43:22
HFW Industries
Next up, we have Edwin. Edwin's one of our most senior guys in the spray shop, just owing to a lot of the retirements we've had and um people moving on. And and so Edwin, in a short amount of time, you you've become a leader and I appreciate ah your willingness to to learn and grow and teach as well. So thank you, Edwin. I really appreciate that. Merry Christmas.
00:43:49
HFW Industries
All right, we got a couple more people starting with Mr. Mark Zach. Mark, thank you for all of your hard work. um you know Similar to Ron, doing a lot of the finishing operations and the um stuff that makes our work look good. And I'm very appreciative of that. I don't take it for granted. um you're also like You're also stripping rubber too, which is obviously can be a mess and isn't iss always the easiest. So thank you. um Appreciate guys like you that um do the work to make the job look good. So thank you, Mark. Next up, we have Chris Kupal. Chris, it's been a pleasure having you on this summer. I look forward to having you on in the spring and then full time after you graduate. and You are a tremendous leader, a great mind.
00:44:41
HFW Industries
and someone that I think is going to be a a tremendous force in our business moving forward. I'm very grateful to have you here at HFW and I look forward to working together to build a great future. So thank you, Chris.
00:44:57
HFW Industries
And last but not least, we have the Watsons, my dad, Matt, and my grandfather, John.
Leadership Legacy at HFW
00:45:04
HFW Industries
um So I'll take them separately. So starting with my dad, Matt, um who obviously, as I as had spoken about earlier, has ascended to the presidency earlier this year. um Something that I think it's it's been an adjustment, but you know i'm I'm always just so inspired and and um
00:45:27
HFW Industries
I don't even know the right word. um I guess just to give a little bit of backstory on my dad. My dad's one of the smartest but most soft-spoken and humble people I've ever met. um you know he's just He's incredibly thoughtful, um very intelligent. He's always reading and always trying to learn. And hopefully that's where I've gotten some of that from. um And he's just you know he's he's not always the the most vocal leader.
00:45:56
HFW Industries
right you know There's different types of leaders and um everyone assumes that the the best leader is the one that's talking the most or the loudest or whatnot. And I don't think that's my dad. I think my dad is more um leading by example, leading with his thoughts and and um leading by um doing the little things each and every day to build a winner. And so I'm privileged to get to work for him. And I think we're all privileged to have him as the leader of our business. So thank you, Dad.
00:46:33
HFW Industries
And last but not least, we have my grandfather, John, who is the reason we are all here right now. He's been with HFW for over 55 years, which is obviously just an incredible amount of time.
00:46:49
HFW Industries
And more than that, I think his his business philosophy and his ah philosophy when it comes to life and family and business um is why the business is here today. um Business was started ah by his father, Harold, in the late 40s after World War II. And my grandfather,
00:47:13
HFW Industries
After taking it over quite young, he was only a couple years older than me, which is really scary ah to think now. um He's managed to turn the business into um the epitome of of steadiness, consistency, high quality, and a company that thinks for the long term. And that's something that I look to to embody and I look to um take on as I develop. and my journey at HFW and in my leadership journey. um And that all stems from my grandfather. And so I just wanted to, I guess, give a little bit of the backstory as well as um express my deep, deep gratitude to, I think, the man that largely made any of this possible today. So thank you, grandpa. Very appreciative for everything you do.
00:48:09
HFW Industries
And so that is a wrap on our 2024 here at HFW. Again, it's been been a ah year that, of course, has had had its up ups and downs. I don't think any year doesn't. But I still remain incredibly optimistic. And I think we're certainly heading in the right direction. We're making a lot of the the changes I think are necessary to adapt to ah the environment over the next 5, 10, 15 years.
00:48:38
HFW Industries
um Namely, really developing a strong internal training function. That's not something that's going to happen overnight. and It's not something that we're going to wake up one day and suddenly have solved. um But I think we're really making some great progress there. You know, when we look at sales, we're building on our sales team, we're building on our engineering team, obviously building out the team in the shop. These are all longer term initiatives.
00:49:01
HFW Industries
I wish we could solve them in a week, but we can't. um But I think it's putting in the work each and every day, making sure we're focused on the bigger items that will really move the ball forward. And when we step back and and look at that, I'm very excited. I think we've got just a tremendous group of people here as as I've just gone through. And when i you know this was this was a fun exercise for me, too, um going through and just thinking of all the great things that people are doing.
00:49:29
HFW Industries
um you know the versatility we have the skill and the wherewithal to just get the job done it's not always pretty um i know we've obviously with the transition um and having a younger workforce now ah with that comes a lot of learning and a lot of money spent on learning um but i when i look back at what we've done over the last year. I think we're moving in the right direction. We're making sure we're system systemizing things. We're building processes around it so it's not just um going and doing whatever we feel like. And I think that will really sustain the change and the the growth moving forward. It's all about that growth mindset. That's what we're really focused on. And I'm very optimistic that if we do that, we have a great thing here.
00:50:18
HFW Industries
So thank you for listening as always. Thank you for your partnership. And I look forward to a great year in 2025. All right. Thank you.
00:50:31
HFW Industries
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