Wooster Brush shows appreciation for employees at annual service awards dinner
WOOSTER − More than 470 employees, retirees and their guests attended The Wooster Brush Company’s annual service awards dinner at the Greystone Event Center on Saturday.
Awards were presented to 56 employees by Ben Maibach, company president, and Jim Smith, vice president of production. Stephanie Martinez, human resource manager, served as master of ceremonies. Trena Sheppard gave the invocation.
“Wooster Brush has a history of taking care of their employees through a multitude of benefits. Historically, however, it’s their employees who have taken care of the business and helped it to thrive through their dedication to learn and grow within the organization," Martinez said during the banquet, according to a news release. "Our dinner is a wonderful opportunity for us to recognize those who have achieved remarkable service lengths which contribute to the success and promising future for The Wooster Brush Company.”
Each person attending received a wooden cutting board engraved with the company’s logo.
At the dinner, 56 employees were recognized for reaching anniversaries of 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 45 and 50 years of service. In particular, the 25-year anniversary is a special milestone at The Wooster Brush Company, according to the release.
The newest members of the employer’s 25-Year Club are Barb Bischoff, Chris Fair, Ken Field, Jerelyn Hofstetter, Ed Holt, Brian Klett, Patty Mumaw, Steve Riley, Larry Schwartz and Crystal Zuercher. Thee new members bring Wooster’s active 25-Year Club member count to 119; the number of retired 25-Year Club members is 221.
As a special thanks, employees celebrating 25 years received an engraved watch or clock chosen by the recipient, an engraved paintbrush in a display case, a personalized paint roller, a certificate for a photo-portrait and a throw blanket with the Wooster Brush 25-Year Club emblem.
Wooster Brush also paid tribute to Deb Shearer for reaching the historic milestone of 50 years of service. The Wooster Brush Company has only had 10 presidents over the last 172 years; during Shearer’s 50-year career at Wooster Brush she worked with six of them. She is the 21st employee in Wooster Brush history to achieve the half-century milestone.
Three employees reached the 45-year milestone − Bob Huxley, Craig Leighty and Anita Polen.
The 35-year group awardees are Linda Badertscher, Mark Bates, Candy Brown, Mike Humrichouser, Kathy Randall and Wilma Troyer.
Celebrating 30 years of service is Trena Sheppard.
Twenty years of service honorees are Ron Brown, Sheree Brownson, Chris Clow, Lisa Drown, Marilyn Everett, Tony Giauque, Scott Hahn, Zeb Hall, Amy Harper, Josh Hershberger, Pat Jaquet, Jennie Jeffries, Scott Kantenwein, John Kaufman, Shannon Kaufman, Ea Kidd, Lisa McMillen, John Mendez, Bob Reed, Traci Rush, Kevin Schmid, Lyden Smith, Paula Smith, Dave Steinbach, Bob Tasker and Keith Whitman.
A group of nine people were acknowledged for their first Wooster Brush milestone of 15 years of service: Ben Barker, Danielle Hall, Josh Kapper, Jacque Lemmon, Jolene Sachara, Carl Steiner, Shirley Swinehart, Jennifer Weaverling and Kim Woosnam.
Roughly 620 people are employees of The Wooster Brush Company. The average length of service for all employees is 13 years.
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wooster Brush recognizes employee milestones at annual banquet
