Faces of Manufacturing Nomination Form 2025 Directory
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| Meadowlark Aircraft Company | ||
| Ned Tabat | ||
| Grand Forks, ND | ||
| CEO | ||
| ned.tabat@macnd.com | ||
| He truly has a hand in everything the company does- from marketing to operations to HR. | ||
| US made drones :) | ||
| Since day one- so a little over a year now! | ||
| I think this is their first venture in manufacturing, but they�ve been working for over 30/40 years. | ||
| Ned Tabat is a fantastic leader because of his resilience and deep commitment to building not just a company- but an amazing culture in our community. As the CEO of a growing startup, he leads with remarkable vision and never lets the challenges slow him down. In a field often driven by speed and competition, Ned brings steadiness and inspiration, making Meadowlark a great place to work- where great ideas and great people can thrive. | ||
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| Cassidy Will | ||
| Meadowlark Aircraft Company | ||
| cassidy.will@macnd.com | ||
| (701) 321-2919 | ||
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| Newman Signs Inc. | ||
| Chris Rathjen | ||
| Jamestown, ND | ||
| Chief Operations Officer | ||
| crathjen@newmansigns.com | ||
| Chris is the leader of all operations within not only the Traffic Sign Division of Newman Signs, but all divisions of Newman Signs. Her role is critical in the production, sales, and distribution of our traffic signs all over the United States. | ||
| The Newman Traffic Sign Division serves as one of the leading manufacturers of federal, state, municipal, and custom traffic signs. Rated in the top 10 in the nation. Chris leads the charge to keep production flowing smoothly, to make sure all equipment is used and maintained properly, and that all employees are working safely everyday. | ||
| 28 | ||
| 28 | ||
| Chris's dedication and passion for Newman Signs is amazing. She started at Newman Signs 28 years ago in an entry level accounting position and has worked her way up to Chief Operations Officer. She did this through hard work, endless effort to help the company succeed, and a genuine interest in how the company could grow and thrive. Her commitment to do what is best for the Newman Signs, but more importantly it's customers, and employees is impressive. | ||
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| Jeff Schipper | ||
| Newman Signs, Inc | ||
| jschipper@newmansigns.com | ||
| (651) 755-9128 | ||
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| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| Bryan Madrid Rodriguez | ||
| Mandan | ||
| Warehouse Manager | ||
| bryanmr@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| The Warehouse Manager is responsible for the efficient and safe operation of the plant warehouse, including receipt, storage, and dispatch of product. Key duties include managing inventory, supervising warehouse staff, ensuring safety and compliance standards are met, optimizing space and logistics, and maintaining accurate records. This position is responsible for meeting schedules, deadlines, and ensuring that all SOPs are adhered to, as well as developing new procedures that will enhance the process. | ||
| High-quality, flavorful meat products | ||
| 11 years | ||
| 14 years | ||
| Bryan Madrid - What I have been most impressed with is his continued growth here at Cloverdale. Bryan had worked here before and then moved out of state. When he came back he was eager and willing to work anywhere. He worked in RTE as a foreman for a bit, then when needed he came to bacon and performed the same role. His leadership has grown significantly from the foreman roles. He has very clear expectations for his team and departments he works with. He communicates very well, always willing to help, and knows when to ask for help. He has been huge for the warehouse when bacon was pushing 800k pounds per week and is now just as instrumental with the increase in our snack sticks production. | ||
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| Myles VanCleave | ||
| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| mylesvc@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| (701) 663-9511 | ||
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| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| Adam Fricke | ||
| Mandan | ||
| Maintenance Technician | ||
| adamf@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| The Maintenance Technician ensures maximum operating efficiency, maintenance and repair of machines and equipment in production and facility, be it preventative or immediate needs. | ||
| High-quality, flavorful meat products | ||
| 14 years | ||
| 14 years | ||
| Adam Fricke - If it wasn't for Adam I never would have stayed here at Cloverdale. He was instrumental on getting me to work AM shift and was a great trainer. When I moved to bacon, another new hire was given to Adam. He did the same thing by putting the new hire under his wing and training him on all the stuff he knows. When it comes to maintenance there is a difference between a mechanic and a technician. A mechanic is someone who is skilled in being able to replace parts. A technician is someone who can diagnose what part is the issue and can also replace the part. Adam is the definition of a technician. He continues to hone his electrical skills as more and more machines become automated and complex. He is also a dedicated employee who has been with Cloverdale for many years. | ||
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| Myles VanCleave | ||
| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| mylesvc@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| (701) 663-9511 | ||
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| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| Christian Terreforte Rivera | ||
| Mandan | ||
| Foreman | ||
| Christiant@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| Manage a safe, efficient, continuous operation of the plant production and packaging areas. Lead the team while executing the instructions of upper management and promoting company culture through behavior. | ||
| High-quality, flavorful meat products | ||
| 12 years | ||
| 12 years | ||
| Christian Terreforte- Over the past 12 years with Cloverdale, he has grown from an entry-level production worker into a highly respected bilingual foreman, consistently demonstrating strong leadership, technical knowledge, and a deep commitment to quality. His ability to communicate effectively in both English and Spanish has been instrumental in bridging gaps between management and frontline employees, fostering a cohesive and productive work environment. Christian has a deep understanding of bacon processing operations, and he leads by example with a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and dedication to continuous improvement. His loyalty, experience, and people-first leadership style make him an invaluable asset to the bacon team. | ||
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| Myles VanCleave | ||
| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| mylesvc@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| (701) 663-9511 | ||
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| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| Carson Svalen | ||
| Mandan | ||
| Production Supervisor | ||
| carsons@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| The Supervisor supports the development and management of multiple projects in a fast-paced environment while overseeing staff. Key responsibilities include ensuring safety, quality, productivity, cost reduction, continuous improvement and the implementation of 5S practices. | ||
| High-quality, flavorful meat products | ||
| 1.5 years | ||
| 1.5 years | ||
| Carson Svalen, a Production Supervisor at Cloverdale Foods, is a shining example of leadership, adaptability, and innovation in North Dakota’s manufacturing sector. Carson has been instrumental in the successful launch and expansion of the company’s new snack stick lines - a major step forward in Cloverdale’s product growth and modernization efforts. In the midst of significant operational change, Carson not only embraced the challenge but helped lead the way. He took charge of training and mentoring his team through a period of radical growth, ensuring that employees were prepared, confident, and aligned with the company’s evolving goals. His ability to foster team buy-in, maintain high production standards, and ensure smooth transitions under pressure speaks volumes about his dedication and skill. Carson’s leadership style is hands-on, and people focused. He’s earned the respect of his crew by being present on the floor, tackling issues head-on, and always putting safety and quality first. His efforts have not only impacted day-to-day operations but also strengthened Cloverdale’s long-term success by building a resilient, knowledgeable team. | ||
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| Justin Zimmer | ||
| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| justinz@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| (701) 663-9511 | ||
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| Collins Aerospace | ||
| Melissa Kastet | ||
| Jamestown, ND | ||
| Operations Site Lead | ||
| melissa.kastet@collins.com | ||
| Melissa is the Operations Lead for the Cargo Systems business, overseeing the entire manufacturing operations for the site. Including overseeing 350+ manufacturing employees across machine shop, process line, paint shop and assembly and all the supporting functions (planning, manufacturing engineering, NC programming, etc.), Melissa has a big responsibility in ensuring that our complex operations meets the needs of our aerospace customers. | ||
| Cargo Systems in Jamestown designs, tests and manufacturers Cargo Loading Systems for airplanes. The complex systems include thousands of components that are machined, processed, painted and assembled so that both Cargo and Passenger airplanes can load cargo effectively and efficiently. | ||
| 20+ years | ||
| 20+ years | ||
| Melissa works to drive a customer focused mindset and culture across the organization, desiring our facility to be a best in class manufacturing facility. Her background in supply chain and materials gives her a perspective and understanding of how our suppliers operate to support our business. Melissa has grown with the business from a buyer to procurement manager to materials manager and now to Operations Manager and so she understands and sees the importance of how everyone contributes across the business to allow the operations to run effectively. | ||
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| Blaze | ||
| Collins Aerospace | ||
| blaze.culliton@collins.com | ||
| (701) 253-7558 | ||
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| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| Sara Irizarry Rodriguez | ||
| Mandan | ||
| Director of Food Safety Quality Assurance | ||
| sarair@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| The Director of FSQA is a key leadership position responsible for ensuring that all products meet the highest quality standards, comply with regulatory requirements, and are produced in a safe, hygienic environment.. Maintain and enhance our best-in-class processes, ensuring compliance with all relevant local, state, and federal food regulations. This role leads and manages our food manufacturing plant's food safety, quality assurance, and sanitation programs. | ||
| High-quality, flavorful meat products | ||
| 3 years | ||
| 5 years | ||
| It is a privilege to recommend Sara Irizarry for recognition. Sara exemplifies the rare combination of technical expertise, leadership, and commitment to continuous improvement that drives progress in our industry. Sara began her journey with us as an intern from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, while completing her Engineering and Food Science Degree. From the very beginning, she commanded respect across departments with her confidence, curiosity, and drive. She was never afraid to engage directly with production operations and quickly applied her academic background to real-world challenges on the floor. Following her internship, Sara stepped into a leadership development role as Supervisor of our newly launched Snack Stick and Fully Cooked Bacon business. In this role, she helped build foundational systems from the ground up—writing standard operating procedures (SOPs), establishing acceptable quality limits, and documenting training protocols. She guided a team that initially consisted of shared personnel across departments, and through her leadership, many of those positions became dedicated and permanent. Sara’s ability to cross-functionally lead and influence others was further demonstrated as she worked directly with peer managers and customer-facing teams, supporting some of our largest and most complex customer relationships. Her technical aptitude was equally clear—she introduced educational sessions on topics such as label compliance and thermal processing, bringing meaningful technical training into the company. Recognized by academic mentors and industry peers alike, Sara was invited to pursue a Master’s degree in Food Science at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. While completing her degree remotely, she continued to lead internally—formalizing our product development program and, most recently, stepping into the role of Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA). She now oversees both FSQA and R&D, ensuring alignment between quality systems and innovation efforts. Despite the demands of her graduate studies, Sara has maintained steady leadership—coordinating meetings, overseeing policies, and staying engaged with her team. She has played a critical role in securing major snack stick customer accounts and continues to apply both her advanced education and real-world experience with clarity and purpose. Sara is slated to return to our home campus soon, and I am incredibly excited to see her shop floor leadership reunite with the high-level technical expertise she’s cultivated at UW–Madison. She is already a transformational leader—and one whose impact will only grow from here. I offer my strongest recommendation for Sara Irizarry to be recognized for her leadership, technical excellence, and outstanding contributions to manufacturing and food science. | ||
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| Sam Towner | ||
| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| samt@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| (701) 663-9511 | ||
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| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| Kevin Seda Collazo | ||
| Mandan | ||
| Planning Manager | ||
| kevins@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| The Schedule Planning Manager is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the company’s production scheduling, capacity planning, and resource allocation processes to maximize manufacturing efficiency and meet customer demand. This role involves managing production schedules, integrating maintenance planning, ensuring alignment with demand forecasts, and driving continuous improvements in capacity utilization. The position requires collaboration across departments to develop data-driven solutions and mitigate scheduling challenges, ensuring that production targets are met while optimizing resources, reducing downtime, and improving operational efficiency. | ||
| High-quality, flavorful meat products | ||
| 5 years | ||
| 6 years | ||
| It is with great enthusiasm that I recommend Kevin Seda for recognition through a manufacturing excellence award. Kevin first joined our team as an intern, traveling from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, with a strong academic background and a clear interest in Supply Chain Management. From the outset, Kevin distinguished himself through his eagerness to learn, his comfort with the complexity of manufacturing environments, and his hands-on approach to understanding processes—never hesitating to engage directly with shop floor operations. One of Kevin’s most remarkable qualities is his deep fluency in our ERP system. He has invested countless hours mastering its capabilities and has become an expert in the full integration of inventory, demand planning, scheduling, and production. His unique ability to translate system data into meaningful, process-aligned insights has made him a vital contributor to our operations. In our fast-paced, perishable goods environment, Kevin has proven himself to be a highly skilled and strategic scheduler. He routinely manages complex workflows with precision, balancing demand, lead times, and production capacity like a master chess player. He is often the voice of reason in challenging situations—analytical, calm under pressure, and always focused on finding the right solution. Kevin is a quiet leader—curious, driven, and always willing to help others. He recently completed his Master’s in Supply Chain Management from Penn State, all while maintaining an intensive full-time workload. His ability to pursue continuous learning while contributing meaningfully every day speaks volumes about his commitment to excellence. Today, Kevin is not only a key member of our production team—he is a senior contributor whose impact is felt throughout the organization. His contributions are both measurable and deeply appreciated by his colleagues. Kevin Seda exemplifies the qualities of a manufacturing leader: knowledgeable, dependable, solution-oriented, and genuinely dedicated to improving the systems and people around him. He is incredibly deserving of recognition, and I offer my highest recommendation for his consideration for this award. | ||
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| Sam Towner | ||
| Cloverdale Foods Company | ||
| samt@cloverdalefoods.com | ||
| (701) 663-9511 | ||
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| Cardinal IG | ||
| Daniel Mawa | ||
| Fargo ND | ||
| Assistant Team Lead | ||
| danielmawahakim29@gmail.com | ||
| Daniel has the ability to be able to do every function of the production line. From feeding single lane lites of glass on the production line, assembling spacer to glass which leads to making an insulated window, has an eye for quality and has the ability to take care of finish product. He also has been transitioning into lead which he has really been excelling at. | ||
| Daniel is part of production line that is one of the top producing lines in the company. There are 13 Cardinal plants around the US with 29 production lines that are similar to Fargo. Daniel plays a big role in the continued success of making insulated Windows safely, with great quality, and at a high speed to please our customers demand. Always with a positive attitude! | ||
| In total 8 years | ||
| 8 years | ||
| Daniel started at Cardinal 8 years ago just dripping with jet fuel. He needed a plane to take off though. He was young and wasn't sure what he wanted to do so he didn't l realize his true potential. He left Cardinal for what he thought was greener pastures but quickly realized he made a mistake. Fast forward to this last year when he rejoined Cardinal as an Assistant Team Leader. He willingly went on to do some additional training through Dale Carnegie which he really excelled at with winning an award and in the same month won a employee of the month award at Cardinal. He is building his plane and really starting to figure out how to fly it. Being nominated for this award is a huge achievement but having the chance to win it would really go along ways in continuing to build his confidence. | ||
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| Dave Meske | ||
| Cardinal IG | ||
| dmeske@cardinalcorp.com | ||
| (701) 306-9880 | ||
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| Marvin Composites LLC | ||
| Sheila Pearson | ||
| Fargo, ND | ||
| Production Shift Supervisor | ||
| Ensures maximum safety, quality, and productivity during their shift by devleoping associates and distributing work assignments for maximum effectiveness and productivity. Facilitates the progression of associates through the Skill Level Development progrma thereby developing a high-performance culture. Key Responsibilities: 1. Actively Develop and manage the cultrue of your team to align with Marvin Composites' mission and values, as measured by survey scores, turnover, retention, and other key culture metrics 2. Help create a safe working environment by holding associates accountable for safe behavior and leading by example 3. Perform root cause analysis, identify and communicate opportunities for improvement and implement solutions 4. Ensure information that impacts associates is communicated effectively 5. Lead in development, training, and mentoring of direct reports. Develop and encourage self sufficiency of associates by teaching them the skills they need to be successful and encouraging continuous improvement 6. Hold associates accountable to performing to the expectations of their position and promptly address deficiencies | ||
| We design, engineer, and maufacture custom pultruded and extruded fiberglass components for windows and doors. | ||
| Since January 30, 2006 | ||
| Since January 30, 2006 | ||
| Sheila Pearson is one of our exceptional production supervisors at Marvin Composites – Fargo. Not only does she oversee one of our overnight crews to work safely and provide top quality product to our customers while working as efficiently as possible, but she also celebrates and recognizes her team, resulting in a high level of engagement and others feeling valued and supported. She organizes activities, such as potlucks or pizza parties, brings in treats using her own money for birthdays, work anniversaries, and retirements, and sends holiday and birthday wishes through text on off days. Her dedication to making people feel valued and supported even resulted in her recently being honored with the Patriot Award from the National Guard. She sets a great example of what it means to lead with heart. | ||
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| Amanda North | ||
| Marvin Composites LLC | ||
| anorth@marvin.com | ||
| (612) 910-0346 | ||
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| TrueNorth Steel | ||
| Oleksandr (Alex) Melnyk | ||
| Fargo, ND | ||
| Welder | ||
| Aleksandr.melnik87@gmail.com | ||
| Alex is currently a fabrication welder in TrueNorth Steel's Corrugated Steel Pipe department, but he’s no stranger to supporting other areas when needed. He’s stepped in to assist with Tank and Bridge projects, consistently making a strong impression wherever he goes. Just last week, after helping out in another area, the feedback was clear: Alex is always willing to help out, and his work ethic and adaptability don’t go unnoticed. | ||
| Alex plays a key role in fabricating Corrugated Steel Pipe (CSP) detention systems, beet pipe, and a wide range of other CSP components. In addition to his primary work, he’s lent his skills to Bridge and Tank projects, and most recently supported the Capital team with welding work. | ||
| 1 year, 9 months | ||
| 3+ years | ||
| Anyone who’s had the chance to work with Alex will tell you the same thing—they’d take him on their team in a heartbeat. He brings a positive, can-do attitude to every job, no matter the challenge, and consistently goes above and beyond what’s expected. Alex doesn’t just complete the task—he looks for ways to do it better, faster, and more efficiently, all while maintaining a high standard of quality and safety. What truly sets Alex apart is his eagerness to learn and grow. He actively seeks out opportunities to expand his skillset and takes initiative to support other teams whenever there’s a need. Whether it’s Corrugated Steel Pipe, Bridge, Tank, or Capital projects, Alex adapts quickly and contributes wherever he’s placed. In his relatively short time at TrueNorth Steel, Alex has already built a reputation as someone who can be counted on—a reliable, hardworking team member who leads by example and brings out the best in those around him. He’s a valuable asset to the company and a great representation of what TrueNorth Steel stands for. | ||
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| Lexi Goulet | ||
| TrueNorth Steel | ||
| lexi.goulet@truenorthsteel.com | ||
| (701) 404-4567 | ||
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| Cavendish Farms | ||
| Kari Butterfield | ||
| Jamestown ND | ||
| Operational Excellence Manager | ||
| Kari.butterfield@CavendishFarms.com | ||
| • Identify through data analysis, work required in critical areas to drive improvement and efficiencies (i.e., initiatives/processes that reduce oil waste), provide recommendations on process settings). • Visit the production floor, to investigate issues with the subject matter experts (SME) to assist in resolution (troubleshooting). • Bench-mark best practices with industry leading competitors and internal manufacturing plants to assist in new process implementation and providing recommendations to facilitate transitions or improve efficiencies. • Customer contact including troubleshooting quality complaints, responding to various inquiries and customer visits as required (reviewing product cuttings). • Create processes to improve productivity, while reducing plant waste. • Coordinate with Engineering, Production and Planner/Scheduler on special projects as required. | ||
| Cavendish Farms manufactures French fries and potato products, tater tots and crowns for restaurants. | ||
| 23 Years | ||
| 23 Years | ||
| Kari has been a leader and innovator at Cavendish farms for more than 20 years. She has led the charge to streamline systems and workflows that reduces, both material and labor. A project she is currently undertaking will enable the plant to save $1,000,000 in contract labor and raise throughput by a quarter million pounds of product per year. Her team is responsible for an upgraded training regime that has lowered human error related downtime by 10% while helping to raise retention rates of new employees by 25%. Over the past three years she has led 10+ improvement teams that enabled the plant to reduce waste and increase productivity by over $100,000. While Kari is second to none in reducing waste, she is a consummate collaborator who makes the Cavendish team better. While her improvements to the workplace make the company more profitable, the frontline worker feels the real value of her contribution. In the face of the aging of the American workforce, Kari’s contributions to ergonomics and the workers job satisfaction cannot be overstated. When Kari is not busy leading her team at the Cavendish Farms plant, she is an ardent volunteer at her church, where she has been an active member for more than 10 years. | ||
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| Wade Allred | ||
| Cavendish Farms | ||
| allred.wade@cavendishfarms.com | ||
| (208) 749-8788 | ||
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| Bobcat Company | ||
| Dennis Dahl | ||
| Gwinner Main Office/Factory | ||
| Engineering Specialist Sr. | ||
| Dennis is responsible for creating and maintaining engineered designs of assigned products, systems and components, ensuring Bobcat remains competitive in terms of functionality, manufacturability and marketability. Additionally, he develops innovative design solutions aimed at enhancing manufacturing efficiency, product margins, and overall quality. | ||
| Plays a key role in the production of Bobcat Skid-Steer Loaders, Compact Track Loaders, and Toolcat™ Utility Work Machines. | ||
| 51 years | ||
| 51 years | ||
| Dennis has been a dedicated and invaluable member of the Bobcat Product Engineering Team for over 51 years. Throughout his distinguished career, he has actively and consistently collaborated with operations employees to enhance manufacturing efficiency. Dennis is known for his proactive approach in seeking input, suggestions, and feedback from operators to develop design solutions that improve ease of assembly, ergonomics, and address quality concerns. His commitment to excellence and innovation has earned him the respect and admiration of his cross-functional peers and Bobcat leadership. | ||
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| Jenny Hagelstrom | ||
| Bobcat Company | ||
| jenny.hagelstrom@doosan.com | ||
| (701) 476-4250 | ||
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| Bobcat Company | ||
| Scott Hansey | ||
| Wahpeton | ||
| Cylinder Tube Machinist - Lead | ||
| Manufacturing parts for Bobcat Loaders | ||
| Plays a key role in the production of Bobcat Loaders | ||
| 12 years | ||
| 30 years | ||
| Scott consistently exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated, reliable, and hard-working individual. He consistently strives to reduce setup time and minimize downtime, always thinking ahead to ensure the team’s success. Scott leads by example, often managing multiple areas simultaneously and displaying a strong work ethic. His unwavering commitment and willingness to do whatever is needed make him an invaluable team member. | ||
| | ||
| Jenny Hagelstrom | ||
| Bobcat Company | ||
| jenny.hagelstrom@doosan.com | ||
| (701) 476-4250 | ||