Faces of Manufacturing

Dickinson
Years in MFG: 18

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Tyler awesome? Tyler started at Baker Boy as a truck driver and eventually became our Transportation Coordinator. With that, Tyler was responsible at scheduling all of our truck stops at customers locations and coordinating drop off and pick up. Then Tyler got promoted to Transportation & Shipping Manager! Tyler has jumped in with both feet to the new challenges in his new position and has excelled with his leadership skills!

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? What I enjoy most about working in the manufacturing industry is a sense of purpose and real tangible results. Getting to see raw materials turn into finished product and the delivery thereof to satisfied customers gives a real sense of accomplishment.  I also appreciate the continuously changing and fast-paced environment. We’re seeing constant innovation and ingenuity to increase quality and efficiency. It’s a real pleasure to watch new ideas come together and launch into success through different teams with diverse skillsets.

Gwinner
Years in MFG: 51

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Dennis awesome? 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.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? I enjoy working in manufacturing because it involves so many different aspects—from the steel coming into the factory to driving the Bobcat product out the door. I'm part of the Product Engineering Department but I reside at the manufacturing facility working alongside quality control, tooling, and the manufacturing engineering teams. My job is to help manufacturing resolve issues on the factory floor. Every issue is different, which keeps my work interesting—especially when I see my changes go into production. 

Jamestown
Years in MFG: 23

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Kari awesome? 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.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? What I like best about working in manufacturing is that I have a great combination of purpose, progress, and people. I come to work everyday and have a purpose I’m creating quality products and improving processes; this gives me a sense of pride seeing something tangible come from your work. Progress, in an ever-evolving world, we are constantly adopting new technologies and improving our processes, I get to collaborate with skilled, passionate individuals—from operators to engineers to quality experts—who all bring unique strengths to the table. It’s a community that supports and challenges you.

Grand Forks
Years in MFG: 23

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Jamie awesome? Jamie has been in manufacturing and part of the Cirrus team for over 20 years. In that time, Jamie has performed about every role a manufacturing technician can perform and has worked his way up to the Production Manager. Jamie is an outside the box thinker and sees problems as opportunities that can be fixed. As a long tenured Cirrus employee, Jamie has been a part in the incredible growth the Cirrus has experienced over the last decade. No doubt Jamie played a major role in meeting increased delivery rates while always keeping the focus on quality and keeping his employees safe.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? The thing I like most about Manufacturing are the people. Manufacturing brings people with a wide variety of knowledge, skills, abilities, and passions together. Whether you are working as part of a team or developing and driving a team towards a collective goal, working with people in manufacturing is both very challenging and satisfying! I also like the variety of opportunities Manufacturing has. Whether it’s general labor skills, working with your hands, Leadership, Training, Safety, HR, Supply Chain, Computer/Data, Quality Assurance, Lean and Continuous Improvement, Engineering, these are all among the variety of paths available that Manufacturing can offer you.

Mandan
Years in MFG: 5

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Sara awesome? It is a privilege to recommend Sara Irizarry for recognition. She exemplifies a rare combination of technical expertise, leadership, and a 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 day one, she earned respect with her confidence, curiosity, and drive—eagerly engaging with production operations and applying her academic background to real-world challenges.
After her internship, Sara became Supervisor of our newly launched Snack Stick and Fully Cooked Bacon business. She helped build foundational systems from the ground up: writing SOPs, setting quality limits, and documenting training protocols. Leading a cross-functional team of shared personnel, she helped convert many of those roles into dedicated positions. She also collaborated with managers and customer-facing teams, supporting some of our most complex client relationships. Her technical aptitude stood out as she introduced training sessions on label compliance and thermal processing, bringing meaningful technical education to the organization.
Recognized by mentors and 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 formalized our product development program and recently became Director of Food Safety & Quality Assurance (FSQA), now overseeing both FSQA and R&D. She’s remained a steady leader—coordinating meetings, overseeing policies, and playing a critical role in securing major customer accounts.
Sara will soon return to our home campus, and I’m excited to see her shop-floor leadership reunite with the technical expertise she’s developed at UW–Madison. She is already a transformational leader—one whose impact will only continue to grow.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? I love that no two days are ever the same. There’s always a new challenge to solve, and I appreciate that I get to work with people from all areas of the company, which keeps things interesting and helps me learn something new all the time. I take a lot of pride in being part of a team that makes high-quality products that I’m proud to share with my friends and family. It’s a fast-paced, hands-on environment where I also get to support conflict resolution as a leader and see relationships grow, especially in a family-oriented business like ours.

Wahpeton
Years in MFG: 51

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Vicki awesome? Vicki is our longest-tenure employee with over 49 years of employment at this facility.  During this time, she has evolved to be a pillar of knowledge and leadership on the factory floor.  Her dedication and work ethic is second to none.  She is oftentimes in the factory on weekends for support, even though she is a salary employee.  The employees she supervises know they can always count on her for an answer to their questions.  She constantly coaches and challenges her people to stretch and grow in their capabilities and thus career potential.  Responsible for scheduling work orders for dozens of employees across all 3 shifts of fabrication production, she ensures that we are completing our orders on-time to delight our customers.  She is a rock that we all lean on.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? I started part-time back in 1974 while still in high school, and I’ve been here ever since. Growing up on a farm, I’ve always liked hands-on work, and factory life just made sense to me. I really enjoy seeing how all the belts come together. It's satisfying to be part of something that’s built from ground up.

Jamestown
Years in MFG: 2

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Jacob awesome? Jacob graduated from NDSCS with an associate's degree in precision machining.  He competed in the regional and national Skills USA competition and won a silver medal in CNC machining at the national event in Atlanta, GA.  He was hired to fulfil the lead machinist role and has since engaged in all aspects of the metal fabrication industry while embracing the elements of lean manufacturing.  Additionally, he is involved in the community and was recently certified as a volunteer firefighter with the Jamestown Rural Fire Department.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? I've always been intrigued by creating, and building. However, my favorite part of the industry is all of the opportunities. I entered this field around 4 years ago as a machine operator. I attended NDSCS for Precision Machining Technology. Since then, my employer (MidMach) has challenged me to learn and tackle other skills including: Precision Inspection Programmer, Robotic Welding Programmer, and Lead Machinist. Outside of my normal responsibilities, I also try to help out the team wherever I am able to (Forming, Laser, Paint Shop, etc.). These other opportunities may open doors in the future. That's why Manufacturing is Awesome!

Jamestown
Years in MFG: 28

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Chris awesome? 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 Newman Signs, but more importantly it's customers, and employees is impressive.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? Working in the manufacturing industry is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Every day presents new problems to solve; but knowing that our efforts result in a high-quality product that contributes to public safety—like the traffic signs we produce that guide and protect drivers on our roadways—makes it all worthwhile. One of the most satisfying parts of the job is watching a raw piece of aluminum go through the process and come out as a finished stop sign. That transformation never gets old.
What makes it even more meaningful is knowing that the product doesn’t leave the building without the dedication and hard work of our employees. Over my career here at Newman Signs, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside many talented individuals who take pride in what they do. That sense of teamwork and shared purpose is a big part of why I enjoy being in this industry.

Fargo
Years in MFG: 3.5

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Alejandra awesome? During the past year Alejandra transitioned from the assembly team lead position to her current position of running our day to day operations of our warehouse. She took on this change head first and has excelled in every way possible. With a very short turnover time Alejandra was able to not only learn all the processes, she has excelled in every aspect of this area. She has made our team more efficient with creating new ideas and ways to complete tasks. With her creative thinking and mindset, some tasks could take up to a month to complete, now it only takes just 1 week. During the time she took over we had 3 people working in the warehouse now she is my only full time team member. She has been able to with the help of another department keep up with all her duties and and responsibilities that in the past took 3 people to complete. So if I was to sum up Alejandra with a few words. ROCK STAR in every aspect of her job.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? Working in a supportive and inclusive company has inspired me to face daily challenges in manufacturing with passion, competitiveness and enthusiasm. I’ve learned to turn complex issues into opportunities for growth and to consistently give my best in every aspect of my work. Each day brings something new and exciting, each day is another chance to take pride in the products we create and the experience we deliver to our customers.
As a Team Lead, I take responsibility in nurturing my team’s development. Together with my colleagues, I’m committed to providing a safe environment, where everyone has the resources they need to thrive. Our goal is to ensure that every product we deliver meets the highest standards of safety, quality, and efficiency. It’s not easy, but it’s what we work hard for every day.   
I feel genuinely fortunate to work in manufacturing with the incredible leaders I have now, and to be part of the amazing team we’ve built together.

Fargo
Years in MFG: 3+

FROM THE NOMINATOR
Why is Oleksandr awesome? Anyone who’s had the chance to work with Oleksandr 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. Oleksandr 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 Oleksandr 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, Oleksandr adapts quickly and contributes wherever he’s placed. In his relatively short time at TrueNorth Steel, Oleksandr 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.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS
What do you like about working in the manufacturing industry? I enjoy the sense of accomplishment that comes from creating something tangible, the constant problem-solving, and the teamwork it requires. Manufacturing is fast-paced, innovative, and always evolving. I like that my job is a real craft where a lot depends on me. Welding is not just hard work, it’s skill, responsibility, and even a kind of art. I see the results of my work, and that’s motivating.