EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: Glenn Schade
We’re so proud of our team; they make the difference in
everything we do. This year, we’re recognizing and celebrating our people with
a monthly spotlight that gives a little more insight into the individuals that
make up the JR Merit Family.
DECEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Glenn Schade
Glenn is a millwright with a long history in rugged and industrial environments, starting out in the logging industry. “In the small town where I’m from, you either went to work in the mill or in the woods. I chose the outdoors.”
He made his way to being a maintenance millwright in multiple foundries. He then joined the millwrights’ union. “At the foundry, I worked on a 750-ton carbon press for a few years. I’ve always liked the construction life and doing tough work.”
We recently celebrated Glenn’s 20th anniversary with JR Merit! Over the years, Glenn has worked on a variety of short and long-duration projects, including welding work and millwright projects in manufacturing facilities and hydroelectric plants. “I like the shorter jobs a lot, and I like to get in and do a good job. If I see something that needs done, I do it.”
One of Glenn’s most memorable project experiences was working on the dam in Coulee City in wintertime. “We had to throw I-beam steel into the water to break the ice, and we’d drop the air compressor hose in to bubble the water to thaw it out in order to work. This was a great project and we really connected with the local community. We had some great barbecues. They even threw us a party at the end of the work.
“When you go into the community to do a project, you don’t want to be the bad guy. You want to get to know folks and make sure they see the value in what you’re doing there. We have a pretty diverse grew, and we’re pretty likable people!”
Glenn has seen the millwright profession evolve over the years, with the advent of more automated equipment adding to the challenge of working with heavy equipment and in remote locales. “At some point, it’s all challenging. We have different environments, we deal with heavy weights, we calculate and guesstimate, we work with rigging…It’s always different drifting equipment in and out. Our crew hasn’t met a challenge we can’t overcome though. Whatever comes at us we can solve it!”
Outside of work, Glenn enjoys getting outside. “I love to hunt and fish, work in the yard. I’m outside as much as I can be. I love the outdoors.”
Glenn, thank you for 20 years (!!!) of dedication, hard work, and invaluable contribution to your crews. Let’s have another barbecue soon!