Reminding us of the importance of manufacturing in our community, we recently celebrated manufacturing week in the Yankton community from September 28-October 2 with tours, open houses and a Manufacturer Employee Olympics.
It’s no secret that manufacturing is crucial to Yankton, with it being one of four top major industries in the community and making up over 18% of our community’s workforce according to the Yankton Chamber of Commerce website www.yanktonsd.com. A company is only as successful as the employees behind it, and I focused on some of the dedicated women behind the scenes in the September/October issue of Her Voice. With such an array of devoted women in our community, I wasn’t able to focus on everyone in just one article so I am spotlighting some of the other dedicated women in the community.
Freeman Company
Founded in 1937, the Freeman Company manufactures precision-turned and machined parts used in general aviation, adding NC/CNC turning machining to its manufacturing capabilities in the 1980’s. The company grew from manufacturing small-machined standard parts to developing its expertise and becoming certified for the manufacture of “Flight Safety” and “Flight-Critical” parts, components and assemblies for the Aerospace industry (www.freemanmanufacturing.com).
Adeline Brown has worked for the Freeman Company just three years shy of 50 years. Though now part-time to enjoy retirement, she previously worked full-time for the company, starting at the company after her aunt and mother, both employees, told her about a job opening. She helps with paperwork and in shipping/receiving. Highly crosstrained over the years, she has worked in just about every department during her career, spending time in drill and deburr, inspection, paint, shipping and receiving, with CNC machines being the lone item not being trained in. Providing hand-written instructions, job routers and shipments back in her early days with the company, she remembers the days prior to computers, difficult for many to imagine with today’s technology.
Joan Suing, Quality Engineer, has been with the company for 35 years, starting with the company after word of mouth as Brown did. Cindy Thorkildsen started twelve years ago and is in the Sales/Contracts/Customer Service Department. She got her start part-time in the quoting department.
As a hobby, Thorkildsen loves camping with her husband and her dogs, including some dog training and hunting, while Suing also enjoys outdoor activities of walking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, kayaking and spending time with family. Now that Brown is working part-time, she has moretime to enjoy her hobbies of reading, gardening and working with flowers in the summer and when the temperature drops in the winter she likes to crochet, complete crossword puzzles and watch some game shows.
Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc
Kolberg-Pioneer, Inc. (KPI) manufactures equipment such as rock crushers, conveyors, washing equipment and portable stationary plants used for asphalt road building and aggregate processing. They have been located in Yankton for 50 years, employing more than 300 people locally.
Kathie Wieseler, Design Drafter, has been with KPI for twelve years. She moved to Yankton after her kids were out on their own, to be closer to her parents and sister. Her husband also worked in Yankton. Angela Mann has been a Technical Writer with KPI for nine years, getting recommended for her position by her fiancée (now husband) also employed with the company. Josey Lucht, Ship-Out Coordinator, has been with the company for eight years, finding out about job openings from her brother-in-law, also employed with the company.
Wieseler enjoys spending time with family and friends and especially her grandkids, stating, “Seeing my grandkids grow up is especially rewarding.” She also enjoys reading, making crafts, cooking and spending time outdoors. Mann also enjoys spending time outdoors with her three active Beagles, taking them for walks and to the dog park. I have to say that Mann’s Beagles are adorable! She also reads anything and everything and is actively involved in Toastmasters. Lucht is a runner, but most often ends up running after something for her two kids.
When this busy mom does have a little down time, she enjoys “growing roots” into the couch with a good book.
L & M Radiator
L & M Radiator is a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of large radiators used in mining equipment. Their two plants in the U.S. are located in Yankton and the headquarters in Hibbing, Minnesota, with worldwide locations in Chile, Mexico and Australia. The Yankton location opened in 2007 and has quickly evolved into a very efficient and strong team of employees, as explained by Janell Worm, Human Resources.
Alicia Smith, Back-up Supervisor, has been with the company for four years. When she moved to Yankton a little over four years ago, she found that L&M Radiator was paying a higher starting wage for female employees and appreciated the benefits they offered so she decided to apply with the company. She loves cooking, photography and watching her children play in sports.
Sabrina Poore has been an Assembler with the company for one year. A friend told her about the job and she applied online for the position. She had three interviews with the company and became hired on within the same month. A very active person, she enjoys the outdoor activities of hunting, fishing and four-wheeling. Like many women do, she also likes to go shopping. She also loves to play with her puppies. Who doesn’t love puppies!?
Wilson Trailer
As explained by John Kreber, Director of HR, “Wilson Trailer is an industry leader in the design, manufacture and sales of livestock, grain, belted, and flatbed truck trailers as well as pickup truck, gooseneck livestock trailers. Wilson Trailer began in the Dakota Territory in 1883. Founder Frank T. Wilson began manufacturing horse drawn wagons. By 1890, when he moved his carriage and wagon business to Sioux City, Iowa, Wilson Trailer was at the forefront of livestock trailer manufacturing.”
“In the early 1900’s Wilson Trailer started building stock and grain racks for motor trucks and by 1928, Frank T. Wilson’s son-in-law, Clarence A. Persinger, joined the thriving firm. Upon the untimely death of his father in 1952, C. Wilson Persinger assumed the management of Wilson Trailer where he guided the company through many expansions and successes. Wilson held the position of Chairman of the Board until his passing in 2010. The fourth generation of Wilson Family leadership is currently represented by Wilson G. (“Bill”) Persinger, Co-CEO and John Persinger, Co-CEO, of Wilson Trailer.”
“Today Wilson Trailer manufactures livestock, grain, flatbed, and gooseneck trailers and has manufacturing facilities in Sioux City, Iowa, Yankton and Lennox, South Dakota and Moberly, Missouri, with the home office located in Sioux City, Iowa. Wilson Trailer sells trailers to customers throughout North America and in some foreign countries. From the horse drawn wooden wagons of the past to the specialized equipment of today, we credit our success to loyal team members and faithful customers.”
Lisa Davis, Welder and Quality Control, has been with Wilson Trailer for 16 years. When she began working for them, she was a single mother of five children and looking to provide a good future for her family, she opted for the company because of their high wage. Having found her niche, she states, “I love working here.” Her children are still her main hobby, though now she has grandchildren that she can spoil.
She also manages to find time to shoot pool and travel. Vicki Otterman has been with the company for 15 years, nearly as long as Davis. She works the night shift as a machine operator for the Panel Machine. When Gurney’s was closing several years ago, they had a job fair and Wilson Trailer had a representative at that job fair who helped Otterman get her start with the company. She’s a puzzle buff, enjoying Soduku, jigsaw and crossword puzzles and she is also interested in new technology.
Stacy Barta, a Supervisor with Wilson Trailer, has been with the company for nine years. Knowing other people employed with the company, their good comments about working for Wilson Trailer intrigued her into applying. Highly involved with her children and family, they are her main hobby though she also bowls and follows the Kansas City Chiefs football team.
It is no doubt that Yankton’s success in manufacturing is from the remarkable staff and team of employees behind the scenes at the companies. These women are just an example of some of the amazing women in our community helping with the success of these businesses.
