My Involvement with the Car Industry...
Admin Emeritus
Joined: Dec 1997
Posts: 11,157
From: Nashville, TN area
Dan,
I am sorry to hear of one more. You are right, we all need to hang together. No one can watch this happen from any safe distance.
Hang in there, the pendulum has to start swinging back the other way soon.
I am sorry to hear of one more. You are right, we all need to hang together. No one can watch this happen from any safe distance.
Hang in there, the pendulum has to start swinging back the other way soon.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,180
From: Yadkinville, NC USA
Sounds likie you have the right attitude.
Sometimes things happen for a reason - maybe we don't understand.
On a positive note, I have had many of my subordinates yanked from under me over the years, and damn-near every one of them ended up better for it in the end - in some way or another.
A really nice young lady in our Vermont facility (that is being closed completely) was scared to death when she found out she did not have a job in a few months... ONLY to have found another job that paid almost $20k/year more money and with a company that is actually is growing a bit in this economy. Just talked to her last week and she is happy as a lark - says this job is even more rewarding than her last one.
As for me - I think I'm fine - they still need me as bad or worse than I need them. However, I am seriously thinking about starting my own consultiing business. I just found out that my former employer (PPG Industries) offered packages looking for 80 volunteers for early retirement. They never found a qualified candidate to do my old job, so it's still open, and they are making a play to get me back (2 years after I left). They are preparing to make me an offer to come back, and I am trying to decide if i want to go back again or just start on my own and consult for them. I know they will use me if I consult. Decisions decisions.
'Nuf bout me and my worries.
I wish you the best, and don't be a stranger here just because you are getting more edumacated!!!
Keep a good attitude - that's 90% of the battle.
Sometimes things happen for a reason - maybe we don't understand.
On a positive note, I have had many of my subordinates yanked from under me over the years, and damn-near every one of them ended up better for it in the end - in some way or another.
A really nice young lady in our Vermont facility (that is being closed completely) was scared to death when she found out she did not have a job in a few months... ONLY to have found another job that paid almost $20k/year more money and with a company that is actually is growing a bit in this economy. Just talked to her last week and she is happy as a lark - says this job is even more rewarding than her last one.
As for me - I think I'm fine - they still need me as bad or worse than I need them. However, I am seriously thinking about starting my own consultiing business. I just found out that my former employer (PPG Industries) offered packages looking for 80 volunteers for early retirement. They never found a qualified candidate to do my old job, so it's still open, and they are making a play to get me back (2 years after I left). They are preparing to make me an offer to come back, and I am trying to decide if i want to go back again or just start on my own and consult for them. I know they will use me if I consult. Decisions decisions.
'Nuf bout me and my worries.
I wish you the best, and don't be a stranger here just because you are getting more edumacated!!!
Keep a good attitude - that's 90% of the battle.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,376
From: Sarasota FL
Good luck Dan...I wish you the best. While you were on the auto parts end of the business, I'm on the complete opposite end, trying to huck this stuff over the curb. It isn't easy...anywhere. We're surviving...not thriving. I seriously hope things turn around sooner or later. I've considered working somewhere else as well, but even with the downturn in sales, I'm still making as much or more than I could in another field at my age (28) and experience. But even I've been looking around...but its hard right now.
Wish you weren't leaving the board, but I wish you the best.
Wish you weren't leaving the board, but I wish you the best.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,979
There are only a handfull of Optometry schools in the country. Less than 20. Ferris is one of the best.
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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 16,176
From: Chicagoland IL
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,650
From: Indianapolis, IN
I thought that was cool when I read that. I hardly ever go to the eye doctor (I've always had 20/20 or better, though lately my right eye has drifted toward 20/25 - left is still better than 20/20). But when I did go (back in college!), I thought it was quite interesting, and was something I could see myself doing if I ever wanted a change.
Again, good luck Pacer!
Again, good luck Pacer!
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,043
From: Shelbyville, IN
Good luck dude. Look into the Power Generation industry (i'm involved in it). Our sales are actually about 15% higher this year over the year before and still going up. Everybody needs power.
I know of a few companies in Michigan that are involved in this industry so feel free to shoot me a PM and i'll let you know if there are any openings.
I know of a few companies in Michigan that are involved in this industry so feel free to shoot me a PM and i'll let you know if there are any openings.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
... officially ends today.
I've spent... gee whiz... 15 years working on cars, and due to a layoff, will be returning to school to get my doctorate in an unrelated field.
It'll be a tough row to hoe for a while, the wife and I will be giving our house back to the bank late this summer, and moving to northern Michigan so I can attend school at Ferris State.
I've met some nice folks here that are in the industry, and wish for the best for you. My hope is that you guys weather the storm and come out on the other end even better than you already are.
There are still some dark days ahead, and will be some more bad news coming. That being said, sooner or later it will end, and in some capacity the industry may return.
To those outside the industry who post here, I ask you to remember your neighbors in your next purchasing decision. Give them the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the day, you'll be doing yourself a favor at the same time. We are all entertwined, from the baker to the doctor to the line worker to the automotive engineer, to the financier... all the way to whatever you are and whatever you do. We either hang together, or we will surely all hang separately.
I'll be popping in and out, and will see you guys from time to time here.
Good luck and God Speed.
I've spent... gee whiz... 15 years working on cars, and due to a layoff, will be returning to school to get my doctorate in an unrelated field.
It'll be a tough row to hoe for a while, the wife and I will be giving our house back to the bank late this summer, and moving to northern Michigan so I can attend school at Ferris State.
I've met some nice folks here that are in the industry, and wish for the best for you. My hope is that you guys weather the storm and come out on the other end even better than you already are.
There are still some dark days ahead, and will be some more bad news coming. That being said, sooner or later it will end, and in some capacity the industry may return.
To those outside the industry who post here, I ask you to remember your neighbors in your next purchasing decision. Give them the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the day, you'll be doing yourself a favor at the same time. We are all entertwined, from the baker to the doctor to the line worker to the automotive engineer, to the financier... all the way to whatever you are and whatever you do. We either hang together, or we will surely all hang separately.
I'll be popping in and out, and will see you guys from time to time here.
Good luck and God Speed.
I'm not too thrilled when I hear about people I know who are affected by what's happening to the US car industry, but you seem to have goals set and a plan layed out (though you might want to try someplace other than frozen Mich).
I hope you still stay in touch here on the site, and I would still love to drop me an e-mail once in awhile.
Good luck, man.
And I think you got Dan mixed up with Proudpony.
He's worked on.... lets say a bit more than just doors, hinges, or machines to produce them.... quite a bit more than that.
It's up to him if he ever wants talk about what he did in the industry here, but I suspect some of the things Dan has worked on would likely drop your jaw pretty darn hard.
Last edited by guionM; Feb 1, 2009 at 12:54 AM.
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 3,123
From: Melbourne, Australia
Usually, the specialists carve their own niche in the workforce but it shows just how vulnerable the auto industry really is... says he, thinking out loud.
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Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 2,413
From: Marlton NJ
