Crest Ink - Volume 27 - Number 01

In 1991, after having worked at my previous employer for 15 years, a restructuring left me, and many others, with out a job. That was quite a low point in my life. I ended up at an Out Placement Service, where I found a small add for “Quality Manager” in the Chicago Tribune, placed there by Crest’s resident PhD. Way back then, that was the primary way to look for employment. I answered the ad and was invited to come to Ashton to interview. I showed up on a Monday, me in my 3 piece suit, and Jeff Meiners in blue jeans and tennis shoes. I was a little wor ried because I learned that there had been a number of QA Managers on the Contract side in a relatively short pe riod of time. I told Crest that I was looking for long term employment. They assured me that they wanted the same thing. I was offered the job, and my Out Placement Advisor suggested that I accept and get a feel for the company. The week I started, Crest was having their annual Managers’ retreat that following weekend. That did it for me. When I saw the comradery and respect that everyone had for each other, I knew I had made the right deci sion. That’s the history, and now comes the thanking. No one can be successful without the support of many others. I have been blessed to have great people in the QA and Sanitation departments that make things happen every day. There are a number of key people in both departments (you know who you are) that will run through a wall to get the job done. Without them, I would be lost and am eternally grateful. I am also extremely thankful to the Meiners family, for giving me the chance to begin with and supporting me through all these years. I have made many friends here at Crest Foods, and also with the countless customers of Crest throughout the years. I will miss you all, but it’s time that Cyndi and I begin a different journey. Our two daughters, and 6 grandchildren, live in Surprise, Arizona. We decided that it was time that we are there too, since in the end, family is all that mat ters. To our friends, come see us if you can – and again, many thanks to everyone. Thanks for Everything (A love letter to Crest Foods) by Marty Barclay

This year, we started two new traditions for the long-time employees of Crest Foods. We’ve had 10 Year Trips and 20 Year Rings as rewards for employment anniversaries for years, but hadn’t quite established anything of- ficial for 30 and 40 Year employment anniversaries. We are very fortunate to say that we have had 57 employees reach their 30 year anniversary with Crest 30 Year Employment Wall

Foods. In fact, 43 of those employees are still working at the company today. That’s many many years of knowledge, experience and dedication to the company that we can only begin to say thank you for. In order to recognize this accomplishment, we have made a “30 Year Wall” outside of the main entrance at the Main Plant. Each employee’s name is en graved on a black stone with the year that they started at Crest, and we will have a handful of employees to add to this wall every year going forward. Thank you again for all of the employees who have bricks on this wall – for the foundation of our company is built on the shoulders of our 30 Year Employees.

January, February & March 2015 Crest Ink 9

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker