August 2022 Volume 4

OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT

Michelle Riedel –Manager of Executive Office Operations

one another, and they feel confident we’ll do the same when working with them.” Aside from serving customers, she takes her role of mentoring the next generation seriously. She feels we owe it to past employee owners who worked hard to make Scot Forge what it is today, and if we don’t take the same approach, the next generation won’t see the same culture and level of success. Kelly Harland – Shipping Coordinator, Certification Creator &Production Control Backup

Michelle has been an employee owner for 21 years. Her days are filled with collaborating with our Chairman and CEO to meet the needs of our employee owners, our partners, our community and our customers. She also focuses on building relationships with those from outside the company whether it be a community partner,

For 12 years, Kelly has been an employee-owner at Scot Forge. She knew when she interviewed that Scot Forge was a special company and a place she could retire from one day, as well as find enjoyment in her daily work. Like many of our employee-owners, Kelly does multiple jobs to help our customers and company succeed.

Director from our Board or an elected official. The variety of work and activities keep her engaged and learning. Michelle is passionate about managing workspaces that are collaborative, friendly and exude service to our customers. She said, “I realize the importance of our company’s customers, but my internal customers, the employee-owners, are very important to me. Building rapport with my fellow owners and understanding what they need to be productive while enhancing our company culture is at the heart of my responsibilities in this role.” Michelle notes that she was blessed to have known and worked closely with our founder, Pete Georgeson. She had a front row seat to witness the foundational values of our culture through Pete’s passion for manufacturing, metal shaping, hard work and sharing in the rewards of that hard work through employee ownership. “Our culture is really special, and I knowmany people say that, but at Scot Forge it really is. Not only do you see it in the plaid we wear, but you feel it as well. The commitment the employee-owners have to serve our customers is like nothing I have seen before – from the owner who answers the phone to the owner banding the parts on the truck to be shipped. In addition to that, having people around me that I get to do life with, people that really care about me and my family in a genuine way is amazing. I’m so blessed to be a part of this unique culture.” Sara Pekny – Sales Segment Lead-Bar Industry Specialist

Kelly mentioned that with all the job openings in manufacturing, finding more talented women to fill the positions is a natural place to look. Women are currently outpacing men in getting degrees, so whether skilled labor or corporate positions are open in manufacturing, women often possess the skillset to fill those roles. Kelly stressed how important the focus on safety is within the Scot Forge culture. Safety is number one – every owner takes care to ensure their fellow owners go home safely every day when they leave. The culture of looking out for one another, keeping each other safe and sharing information with fellow owners has kept Kelly at Scot Forge. Loretta Boutot – Chief Financial Officer

Loretta has been at Scot Forge for three years and although she has been at multiple large, multinational manufacturing companies in her 30-year career, she explained that she has never experienced anything like the environment at Scot Forge. It is also the first ESOP she has had the pleasure to work for. From her first visit to the main plant in Spring Grove, she could sense a difference. She met with the Director of HR on a Saturday morning for a tour, and they talked with machine operators,

For four years, Sara has been responsible for the strategy and growth within our forged bar segment. When interviewing, she was attracted to the culture. Sara said, “Over the years of my career, I have never experienced a culture like we have at Scot Forge. Everything from the plaid

we wear to the ESOP to the company events makes us one big family who are in it together. Our culture sets us apart, and I feel that customers see how we treat each other like a family and look out for

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