THE RIGHT PEOPLE ARE KEY TO COMPANY’ S SUCCESS
Organizations succeed through the performance of their people. Being the best employer and hiring the right people are the most important things an owner and / or manager can do for the business. Businesses that nurture their employees by providing opportunities for their growth know they are making a wise investment that leads to success for all.
DAVE KUEHL Robotic Press Brake Programmer Du Fresne Manufacturing
As a young boy growing up in a small town near Detroit Lakes, Dave Kuehl dreamt about becoming a pilot. His deafness, however, blocked that path to ���������������������������������������� first, to Washington, D. C., to study IT at Gallaudet University, a private university for the deaf and hard-of-hearing; then, to a technical college in Tampa, Florida, to study electrical engineering.
Kuehl began working with Du Fresne Manufacturing about 14 years ago, setting up and operating a Pemsetter – a machine that inserts hardware into precision metal parts. A few years later, he trained in and quickly mastered the operation of press brakes, which bends material into different shapes. Du Fresne’ s customer base is diverse in the areas of defense, industrial, hi-tech, medical and telecom; Kuehl and fellow employees manufacture products such as enclosures for X-ray equipment, radar systems and high-end computers.
After applying for his current position – Robotic Press Brake Programmer – he had second thoughts, thinking he would have to sit in an office, so he withdrew his application. His employers quickly addressed that concern, and today Kuehl trains fellow employees in operating the state-of-the-industry Amada robotic ���������������������������������� them sign language. Training for his new position was challenging at first because of communication issues, so Du Fresne hired an interpreter. Du Fresne has two Amada machines, and Kuehl and two other employees are among a handful in North America that can program them.
Kris Diemer, Du Fresne’ s VP of Human Development, says,“ College-educated engineers who apply at Du Fresne are usually not as qualified as Dave because they don’ t have his experience, skills and knowledge of the sheet metal fabrication industry. We’ re very proud of his accomplishments and glad he’ s on our team.”
LARRY EVANS Auto Body Technician Fairway Collision and Automotive
Larry Evans knows he’ s one of the lucky ����������������������������������������� job that’ s also his passion. When he isn’ t working on cars, he’ s at the car shows admiring them:“ It’ s always interested me how the car has evolved over the years. How‘ old technology,’ as simple as it may have been in the past, worked very well and fulfilled the needs back in the day. Nowadays, cars have multiple computers, different types of metals and / or plastics, and safety features from airbags, parking sensors, cameras, structural design, etc. There are even self-driving cars!”
His passion began when he was young:“ My Dad was the only one who worked on our cars, and I learned by helping him.” After graduating from White Bear Lake High School, he immediately entered the 18-month program at Northeast Metro 916 Career and Technical Center:“ Opportunity knocked, and I answered.”
Opportunity knocked a second time for Evans, when Mike Lund – founder of Fairway Collision and Automotive – stopped in at the 916 vo-tech school and asked an instructor who his best students ��������������������������������������� Lund says,“ The instructor said Larry was one of his top students, and he certainly turned out to be a top-notch body man. Larry learned quickly and has constantly strived to better his quality. He’ s been a big factor in the success of Fairway Collision.” continues on page 31
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