Nancy Gleissner (QA Wetlab A) Twenty years ago, I answered an ad in the Rochelle News- leader. Crest Foods was searching for people willing to participate in job sharing. At the time I thought it was quite progressive. (I still do!) The concept was perfect for me, as I was already employed at two area K-8 buildings as an art consultant. I worked Tuesdays and Wednesdays at one building and Fridays at the second building. My children were in school full time, and to be able to fill my week was perfect. Mondays and Thursdays became my Crest Foods days! The other three days an employee participating in the College Program was responsible for the position. At the time, I did not give it much thought as to how long I
would work at Crest Foods. The great people and the opportunities are why I am still here! I will be forever grateful to the kind and patient women on line #3 who gave me tips on packing! (Don’t try to count! Measure, you will get the feel for it!) Also to Harold Harmon, who taught me everything I needed to know about stacking. To all of you in production, who make the job look effortless, I still appreciate your time. Your job is not easy! When business got slow, I was temporarily laid off. Gary Guenther was kind enough to keep me posted on a regu- lar basis. My husband took another job and I left my art positions after 10 years as insurance was not affordable for our family. Being able to work at Crest full time was HUGE! Opportunities opened up for me here at Crest. I have spent time working on the Wileys Displays at the warehouse and currently work under the direction of Dawn Summers in the QA Department. So many changes over the years! (I am 20 years older!) I did not have to wear a skirt, but have been here long enough to hear about it. I am so grateful Crest and Ashton survived the tornado! Thank you Crest for the great opportunities and the wonderful people.
Jim Shuck (Maintenance Supervisor A) Well, where to start? I came here right after High School because my parents told me to get a job. I was never planning on being here when I first came. I was also going to night classes at Sauk Valley Community College to learn to work with my dad as an auto mechanic in the family’s Auto Repair Shop. I was working here at Crest Foods and also helping my father out in the shop. I ended up quitting work at Crest. I soon realized that working with family is way harder than most think. So the opportunity came around and I could come back to work here at Crest Foods. I took the job but was working on 3rd shift before coming to the day shift.
In the 20 years there are a lot of moments that you could say stick out in my mind with all of the changes that have happened here. But most of all I am surprised I am still here with all of the headaches and problems I stirred up over the years. I am sure all the managers and the Meiners could say the same. I always said you only have to smack me once and I learn and then moved to something else so there was never a dull moment for them over the years. In the beginning, because I was fresh out of high school, I did not much care about other’s thoughts except mine and I did not express my opinion in a very politically correct way. So after saying that, I probably wouldn’t change much else. I have to say a big thanks to all who stuck with me and guided me through some of it so I that I am where I am now. And I can definitely say to the ones who have helped out – you all know who you are without me going into too much detail! Thanks again.
Lola Paul (Shuttle Driver A) When Lola started work at Crest Foods in 1996, it was her second stint here. For the first several years after her return to Crest Foods, Lola worked at the West Warehouse then transferred into the main plant to work as a shuttle driver. As Jeff Meiners said during the presentation of her 20 year ring, there is not much that gets past Lola in the warehouse. She is right on top of the comings and goings of products and keeps things running like clockwork. We thank her for her 20 years of service to Crest Foods!
4 Crest Ink January, February & March 2017
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