Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 14: Thanksgiving 2023
41 Plays1 year ago
Thanks to everyone who makes HFW the business that it is! Happy Thanksgiving!
Recommended
Transcript
Thanksgiving and Team Gratitude
00:00:10
Speaker
All right, and welcome back to the HFW Shop Talk podcast. This is Jack Watson, and this is also episode 14 in our Thanksgiving edition. So for this special Thanksgiving version of the Shop Talk podcast,
00:00:29
Speaker
I wanted to take some time to express how thankful I am to be a part of our team at HFW and to get to work with each and every one of you every day. We really do have such a fantastic group of people and I think HFW is really what
00:00:48
Speaker
America's all about these little moments of ingenuity each and every day whether it's in the engineering office or in the shop or everywhere in between.
00:01:02
Speaker
To get to work with such a hard working group of people that turns out high quality equipment is something I'm very proud of and grateful for. I know I've probably said this to many of you, but one thing that our sales team always hears over and over again when talking to our customers and when visiting with our customers
00:01:25
Speaker
is how great HFW is to work with and how high quality our work is. And that's a testament to every single person. And I just want to take a moment to say thank you. So I don't want to get too sappy, but I do think it's important to express my thanks. And with that being said, I want to take a moment to appreciate each person in our business.
Welcoming New Team Members and Celebrating Milestones
00:01:53
Speaker
So I'm going to start with Ronnie, who is our newest employee. Ronnie, thanks for joining the team. Hope everything's going well so far, and I appreciate your work to this point. A little bit over a month and a half you've been with us, and I appreciate you feeling an important role in shipping.
00:02:13
Speaker
Next up, I want to talk about Rich Hender, who has been with us for almost 10 years now. Rich, you're a great person to talk to. I always enjoy our conversations and your experience and your hardworking attitude and your ability to work through problems is very much appreciated. So I'm very grateful for it. Thank you.
00:02:36
Speaker
Next up, Carlos. Carlos, I appreciate your hard work. I know you're back in the, in the spray booth all day, pounding out turbine shafts. And I appreciate that. I know that's a, it can be a hard job, a hot job. And, um, I appreciate you and the good work and you've come such, such a long way and, um, everyone's very grateful for your work. So thank you for that.
00:02:59
Speaker
Next up, Andrew Masters. Andrew, thanks for your hard work. I've been with us almost a year now, which is, um, seems like yesterday at times really flown, but, um, you know, all the guys rave about how far you've come and in the work here, you're already able to do with, um, with the experience you've gained. And, um, we're very appreciative to you, obviously, uh, filling an important role next to Mark there. And I just want to say thank you. Appreciate everything you do.
00:03:28
Speaker
Next up, Mark Zach. Mark, I know you feel an important role too, coming in and having the mastery on all these roles that seem to run right through your machine, like clockwork. So thanks for your hard work. You've been with us for quite a while and we appreciate it. So thank you.
00:03:51
Speaker
Next up, another Mark, Mr. Mark Sherman. Mark, thanks for being a great representative of HFW. I don't think I've ever met one of our customers that hasn't loved working with you. And that's a testament to all the work and effort you put into our relationships. So thank you for that. Here's to several more good years.
00:04:18
Speaker
Next up, we have Sean. Sean, thanks for all your hard work and kind of, uh, you know, the utility player back in the spray and weld shop. Uh, thanks for, thanks for being a great guy and, um, really being able to do what's needed, whether it's welding or spraying or even coaching some of the younger guys, appreciate all your hard work. Uh, and thank you for your service as well to our country. You're a good man. And we appreciate having you at HFW. Thanks.
00:04:47
Speaker
Next up, Peter Sanisiero. Peter, really enjoy having you on. Um, you're another guy like Andrew, uh, who the guys are raved about how far you've come and pretty short amount of time. And, um, we're grateful to have you back. Thanks for coming back. Um, I really enjoyed our podcast earlier, earlier this year. Uh, so if anyone wants to go listen to that, go check that one out. Um, but Peter, thanks for all your hard work. Hope you have a happy Thanksgiving.
00:05:17
Speaker
Next up, Devon. Devon, thanks for helping everyone at HFW look good. Um, really kind of helped take us, uh, into the digital world, um, and really expanded our presence online, which, uh, of course is very important. So, um, that's a big job and I know it can be a little bit intimidating coming around out of school and working in a, in a machine shop, but I appreciate all the hard work you've done and, um, you've made HFW look good. So thank you.
00:05:48
Speaker
Tate, next up, I want to thank you. You are really fast and quickly becoming one of our great grinders, working alongside some of the other great guys we have in the small shop there. You have such a bright future ahead of you and we're excited and thankful to have you on board. So thank you so much.
Recognizing Individual Contributions
00:06:15
Speaker
Next up, Bob Bress. Bob, thanks for all your hard work, your pleasure to work with. You keep the work environment light and funny, and I appreciate your great work, both in engineering and with our customers as well. So thank you for that.
00:06:33
Speaker
Zilgo, I wanted to thank you. You're obviously just such an important player in what we do at HFW, running especially our older equipment, just that old school utility player who's just an incredible asset to our team at HFW. And we're very appreciative for the work you do.
00:07:01
Speaker
I think a lot about our guys like you who can just build anything and do anything. And that's why we're bringing some of these young guys on to hopefully learn from the guys like you and Fred and others who have this tremendous amount of knowledge. So thanks for all your hard work. We're happy to have you on the team.
00:07:25
Speaker
Scott, I wanted to thank you. I learned so much from almost every conversation we have. One of the smartest guys I know and I really appreciate you taking on a difficult role, but a role that I think you're handling with a tremendous amount of grace. And like I said, super happy to have you and I look forward to continuing to learn from you in the years to come. So thank you for that.
00:07:52
Speaker
Next up, Dan Ackerman. Dan, thanks for all your hard work. I know all you inspection guys have it tough at times. Sometimes it seems like you're probably in between a rock and a hard place, but we appreciate all the hard work you guys do. And especially you, Dan, I know being one of the younger guys down there, um, you know, it can be intimidating, but I think you're doing a great job and, um, grateful for you guys for upholding our high quality standards, HFW. So thank you, Dan.
00:08:23
Speaker
Next we have Jacob Salmon. Jacob, thanks for all your hard work. I appreciate all your wisdom at, you know, at such a young age. And I look forward to the future of our business with you in it. And so I'm super grateful for everything you're doing. Keep up the great work. Thank you.
00:08:43
Speaker
Next up, Darlene. Darlene plays a pivotal role in our business and sometimes a role that I think doesn't get the love it should, but Darlene, I appreciate all your hard work. You're the perfect person for the job and we want to be where we are without you. So thanks for all your hard work.
00:09:02
Speaker
Next up we have Josh Goodwin. Josh, you've come a long way obviously since being here, doing a great job. We're excited to see where you go in the future and we're happy to have you here and kicking some butt. Thank you.
00:09:18
Speaker
Next up, we have Jason Newman. Jason, thanks for taking on a tough job in the engineering department, but a job that's sorely needed and a very important job. Appreciate all your work and both in engineering and then also with obviously taking on our safety role. So thank you for that. Appreciate your hard work and your effort each day to make HFW better.
00:09:42
Speaker
Next up, we have John Bjork. John. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so willing to take on the dirty jobs and really appreciate that. That's obviously a very important role and we're grateful to have a guy like you on the team. So thanks for all your hard work.
00:10:01
Speaker
Next, we have Tom Andrews. Tom, I learned so much from you each and every day. I appreciate working with you and all the great ideas you bring to the table. HFW is lucky to have such a great business mind as part of our company and I'm very grateful for everything you do. So thank you.
00:10:23
Speaker
Next up, Mark Petronsky. Mark goes without saying, but I wouldn't say it anyway. Thanks for the hard work. Obviously, a very pivotal player to what we do at HFW, especially with your new role as lead man. I think that's a role that you've done a great job embracing.
00:10:43
Speaker
We're super lucky to have a guy like you in that role, both running machines and teaching the next generation. It's guys like you that make this company what it is, so thank you so much, Mark.
00:10:56
Speaker
Next up, Mike Okea. Mike, thanks for all your hard work in the CNC office. I know there's a lot of challenges and a lot of new guys, but I think you've done a nice job and appreciate you taking on a challenge and running with it. And we're a better business because of good people like you. And I appreciate that. So thank you.
00:11:23
Speaker
Next, the one and only Fred Niedemeyer. Fred, if we could clone you and make five more of you, that'd be helpful, but they're still working on how to do that. So for the time being, we're so happy to have you. You're another guy I learned so much from every day. And I'm so grateful to your many years of service to HFW and look forward to continuing to learn from you. So thanks for everything you do to make this company great.
00:11:53
Speaker
Next, I want to thank Dan Armetta. Dan, really appreciate having you on the team. You do a great job in the back. Really, we have a small but great crew in the back and want to make sure I appreciate you guys and give you guys the love that you deserve. And Dan, you're a big part of that. And we're so lucky to have a person like you on the team and look forward to the bright future that you have here. Thank you.
00:12:23
Speaker
Next up, I want to thank Bobby Newman, another utility player at HFW. I feel like I say that a lot, but it's because it describes pretty much everyone at HFW. But Bobby, thanks so much. It's really incredible how far you've come in grinding and then obviously going back to spray when you need to as well. So thanks for all of your hard work. We really appreciate it. And we're lucky to have you on the team. Thank you.
00:12:50
Speaker
Mr. Kevin Nation is up next. Kevin, I appreciate you heading up a tough department. Again, you know, inspection. No one's really happy when inspection shows up to their, their office or their workstation, but it's an important job and I think you're a good person for the role. And I appreciate all of your hard work and your wisdom over the years. So thank you and look forward to many years to come.
00:13:15
Speaker
Next, I want to thank Bob Luns. Bob, thanks for all your hard work. We're deeply grateful for our long and developed grinding knowledge, and that's a big testament to guys like
00:13:30
Speaker
you and Doug and others and just want to thank you for all the hard work and working with guys like Bobby and Chris as well. I know that's a big part of the role you're taking on. So I want to thank you and I'm very grateful for all the work you do. So thank you, Bob.
00:13:48
Speaker
And since I mentioned his name, uh, Doug, Doug, I want to thank you, um, and the master of turbine shafts. Appreciate your steady, steady hand and, um, not alone grinding, but also working on working with Tate, uh, and others, uh, really appreciate it. Um, you know, we're, we're very indebted to people with the years of experience like you and Bob and others have. So thank you so much.
00:14:17
Speaker
Next, I want to take the time to thank Eliza. Eliza, I learn a lot from you each and every day, and I love hearing your story and how you've built yourself and built a nice life and career. And I appreciate everything you've given to HFW over the years, and I look forward to working together in the years to come. So thank you.
00:14:40
Speaker
Mr. Chris Owens is next. Chris, you're genuinely good guy and a good grinder and appreciate you joining HFW and being just a really great addition to the team and someone that I always look forward to having a conversation with. So thanks for all your hard work, Chris.
00:15:01
Speaker
Next, I want to thank Clayton. Clayton, thanks for all your hard work. You really come in and embraced the HFW culture and I appreciate, you know, the overtime you work and coming in and helping get things out the door when we need to. So thanks for all your hard work.
00:15:20
Speaker
Brendan, I want to thank you. You're one of our newer guys, obviously, but you're a super hard worker. I appreciate you coming in. And again, shipping is probably not as easy as I think it looks. And I think you've handled it with grace and really grown a lot and helped us. And I appreciate what you've given to the business and I look forward to a bright future ahead. So thanks for all your hard work, Brendan.
Honoring Longevity and Experience
00:15:47
Speaker
Wilfredo, I want to thank you. You keep the shop looking nice and clean. Appreciate all your hard work. Appreciate your words of wisdom every day. And I want to say thanks for doing a less than glorified job, but a job that's important and that I appreciate very much. So thank you.
00:16:08
Speaker
Mr. Ron Goodrich, I want to say thank you. I appreciate your hard work and your consistency. I enjoy our conversations and I enjoy everything you do to make HFW great. And I am very grateful for your hard work. So thank you, Ron. Edwin, I want to say thanks, man.
00:16:32
Speaker
I really appreciate your work. Like I said, you guys in the back in the spray shop, it could be a hard job, dusty, hot, both. And I think guys like you and Dan and Carlos and others have really done a great job and really embraced the role.
00:16:53
Speaker
I'm taking over from guys who are doing it from decades and learn very quickly and I'm super grateful to where you've gotten to today and appreciate all your hard work and again look forward to building a great company with you guys. So thank you Edwin.
00:17:09
Speaker
Next up, Davey Newman. Davey, thanks for your hard work. I appreciate all of our conversations. Um, usually telling me which way to bet if I was to ever bet, um, which I'm trying not to, but if I ever need betting advice, I'll come to you. Thank you. Appreciate all your hard work.
00:17:31
Speaker
Ms. Lori, I want to thank you next. You are the smiling face that people see when they first come into our business and I'm very grateful to you. You handle a job that can be tough at times and you have multiple people coming to you in different directions and you handle with a ton of grace and very appreciative to you for setting a great example and always being a light of positivity in the office. Thank you.
00:18:00
Speaker
Next, we have Mr. Anthony Sercone. Anthony, you've been a great addition to the team. We really enjoy having you and you have such a bright future ahead at our company. Super excited to have you and thanks for jumping on board and look forward to a great future. Thanks.
00:18:20
Speaker
Chuck, I want to say thanks to you. You've been a great recent addition to our team and I hope, hope you're settling in nicely. I think you are and, um, hope everything's going well. Really appreciate your contribution so far and look forward to a bright future ahead. Thanks, Chuck.
00:18:38
Speaker
Mr. Peter Kloss is up next. Pete, very grateful to you. Been here almost 30 years, which is older than I am. So probably just made you feel old, but I'm sorry. I really appreciate all of your hard work. You're a great person to work with and work for. And we're very grateful to have a guy like you on the team. So thanks for all your hard work, Peter.
00:19:05
Speaker
Lauren, thanks for your hard work. I enjoy working with you and I think you play an important role working with all of our vendors and making sure that everything's squared away in some of our accounting and other back office processes. Something that doesn't get a lot of attention, but it's very important. I appreciate it. So thank you, Lauren.
00:19:27
Speaker
Tim Sibylo is next. Tim, you're always smiling, always laughing, and I think that's infectious in the workplace. You do a damn good job in inspection too, so appreciate all your hard work. Thanks, Tim.
00:19:43
Speaker
Dana, I have to thank you. I appreciate all of your hard work for putting up with me all my different crazy ideas. It's a pleasure to work with you. Thanks for your many years of experience and work and making HFW a great place. Thank you, Dana.
00:20:03
Speaker
Ben Niedemeyer. Ben, you're a lot like your dad. You know almost every inch of the shop. And, you know, the HFW world would not be what it is without the Niedemeyer clan. And you're a big part of that. Super excited about the roles you're taking on here at HFW and what the future holds. So thanks for all your hard work, Ben.
00:20:29
Speaker
Dennis, I want to say thanks to you. Um, a job that again, like a couple other jobs, I think, you know, a lot of people maybe don't see you day in and day out doing the job you do. Um, but it's very important to what we do. And I've heard from so many different people how detail oriented and meticulous you are in your work. And I really appreciate that. And I really, really appreciate your many years of service to HFW. So thanks, Dennis.
00:20:58
Speaker
Jayden, I want to say thanks to you, man.
Reflections on Personal and Family Gratitude
00:21:01
Speaker
I appreciate all of your hard work. We're very excited to have you. You've already been a very impactful player to us at HFW, and I look forward to many great years and helping to build a great company. So thanks, Jayden.
00:21:18
Speaker
Joe Opila, Joe, um, you're another guy, keep the workplace light. Um, and another person who's incredibly smart and I'm very privileged to work with and learn from, and I appreciate all of your hard work. HFW is, um, not.
00:21:40
Speaker
Not what it is today without you. And, um, you're just a huge player in what we do. And I appreciate all of your hard work and, um, just knowing our customers and knowing all of this stuff. And you're another person like most people at HFW, if we could clone, we would, but, um, until then I'll try to learn everything I can from you. Thanks for all your hard work, Joe.
00:22:05
Speaker
Andrew Newman. Andrew, thanks for all your hard work. Um, another guy who's all over the shop, but I appreciate your willingness to help in help with whatever's needed and getting a good job done. And, um, you're a hard worker and I appreciate the great things you do at HFW. Thanks Andrew.
00:22:26
Speaker
Mr. Pete Keebler, I want to thank you next. I appreciate your candid feedback and your great work. You do a job that's needed and necessary. And I'm grateful to have someone with the wealth of experience like you in our, in our grinding department. So thanks, Pete.
00:22:46
Speaker
Mr. Sam Caffey. Thank you, sir. I appreciate all of your hard work. I enjoy our conversations that normally have something to do with college football. Um, you're a good guy, a good person, and I'm very grateful to have someone like you on the team. Thanks, Sam.
00:23:06
Speaker
Trisha, I want to say thanks to you. Um, not the easiest thing to jump into a role where you're replacing someone who had been doing it for almost 30 years. And I appreciate your willingness to learn and, um, you're doing a great job and I appreciate it. Thanks, Trisha.
00:23:26
Speaker
Jonathan, I want to thank you. Your ability to master grinding a specific customer's job has been very much appreciated. And you're another person who really appreciate your willingness to help out where it's needed and be a great value player to HFW and a person who makes our company what it is.
00:23:51
Speaker
Um, I always enjoy our conversations too. You're a fun guy to have around and I appreciate it. Thank you, John. Connor. I want to thank you, man. Um, another one of our great additions this past year. Uh, we're super grateful to have you on board and we're so excited to see the amazing things you're going to do in the future. Um, and that you're doing now, I should say. Um, so thanks Connor. I can't wait to see what the future holds.
00:24:19
Speaker
And last but not least, we have my dad, Matt, who I'm very grateful to, to work for. Um, I couldn't ask for a better boss. I enjoy each and every day. Um, and I appreciate, uh, my dad's my feedback and.
00:24:38
Speaker
just having a person that I can talk to and rely on each and every day. I'm lucky to have such a good boss and my dad and I think all of us are and I want to thank you dad so thank you. And then
00:24:52
Speaker
Last but not least, actually this time, I want to thank my grandfather, John, who's obviously, um, he's the reason we're here today. Um, and I think, uh, someone who's been my hero for my entire life. I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to get to work with not only my dad, but my grandfather as well. And I'm very grateful for that opportunity.
00:25:19
Speaker
So thanks for providing this business for everyone, Grandpa, and I look forward to continuing a legacy.
00:25:27
Speaker
And that's it.
Closing Thanksgiving Wishes
00:25:29
Speaker
Uh, thank you again to each and every person. You are so appreciated and I want each and every one of you to know that. Thank you. Uh, want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving. Hope you enjoy the time with your family and friends. And I look forward to a bright future with a great team. So with that, have a great Thanksgiving and I'll see you next week. Thanks.