Rochester Retirees Luncheon

For several years now retirees and those who had worked at Rochester have gathered for a spring and fall luncheon. RiverCrest. Many of you will remember the meetings held there plus Nino catered our picnics at Addison Oaks where our luncheons are held. Over 60 were in attendance this spring and are looking forward to our fall luncheon. Joe and Marilyn Logan (Florida) planned a trip to Michigan around our luncheon date. No date for the fall get-together has been selected at this time. Thanks to Karen Hunter and Ramona Hepfner for making the arrangements. For more info, contact Ramona at: r.hepfner@earthlink.net

Budd -- A Place for Bonding, says Bondy

Hi Paul!

Thanks for a great e-mail and a great idea! It's hard to sum up 20 working years into a 'philosophy', but I think many of us share the feeling that the work we did each day was not just for a paycheck (although that was important!) or to further the company's goals, but because our fellow employees needed what we did, to do what they had to do. At least for me, it was a personal thing.

We may not have been able to articulate the company credo, but we felt what we did was worthwhile and necessary to someone. Ideas like The Budd Institute gave us a chance to meet employees all up and down the corporate ladder and establish ties we would not otherwise have had.

My wish for you and all the Budd gang on this day is health and happiness and a joyous 4th of July!

Karen Bondy

Hooray for the Red, White and Budd

LET'S HEAR IT FOR EDWARD G. BUDD...AN AMERICAN 'PIONEER'! His legacy left us filled with pride in a company born of one man's ingeniuity and skill and steeped in traditional patriotism and pride. I am one of many who remember the 'original' Budd Company. I am extremely proud to have contributed 25 years of my service, and I continue to be rewarded each month for my hard work and loyalty. My memories are many, which include the American flag that flew proudly out front, first in Philadelphia,and last in Troy. May God bless all of those who contributed to this wonderful company on this Fourth of July. Today, there is only ONE remaining soldier who fought in WWI. May we never forget all of our friends who served so that we can enjoy the freedoms we treasure today.

Lynne Wikarski, Indian River, MI (lynneupnorth@fastmail.fm)

Budd Family Loses Norm Freitag

Norm Freitag, the friendly engineer who worked at The Budd Company Technical Center, died June 26.

May 21 Budd Retirees Reunion

May 21 was a day of reunion for old and dear friends who retired from The Budd Company.

More than 60 Budd retirees met at the Rochester Chop House for lunch. In attendance were Budd people who retired 20 years ago and some that retired last year.

Thanks to Mercedes Godin for arranging the event. It may be an annual affair.

If you attended the Budd Retiree Luncheon and would like to tell us about your experience, please do so on Budd Company Blogs.

Remembering Pat McIntosh from Detroit Plant

From Don Ruedisueli,

I just received notification that Pat McIntosh passed away on Saturday, 3/22/08.

Most of the corporate elitists probably don't know Pat but he had been the Benefits Manager at the Detroit plant for almost 30 years until he was unceremoniously transferred to corporate in 1998 and relegated to answering the phones for the new benefits center which was established at the end of 1997.

In my opinion, Pat was the best manager ever to have worked for Budd and I am blessed with having been able to work for him for all the years that I did. He was not only the most knowledgable and caring employer I have ever had the honor of knowing but he also had unrivaled personal integrity. A trait which the Corporate HR staff was sadly lacking.

The way the corporate HR people treated him following his transfer to Troy in '98 was far beyond disgusting. I was greatly saddened when he developed his medical problems to the extent that he had to leave the company on disability but at the same time I was relieved that he no longer had to put up with such insulting behavior from his own managerial peer group.

Thank you, Pat, for leaving such a positive impact on my life and may God welcome you home and watch over your family. You will truly be missed............

Don Ruedisueli

The Budd Culture -- Executives Who Cared

In my 30 years with The Budd Company I was fortunate to work with many great executives. They were great because they cared not only about the company, but the people that worked there.

If an executive at Budd did not care about people, he did not last long.

This "people first" philosophy came from the top down. I knew three Budd Chairmen... Gil Richards, Jim McNeal and Sigi Buschmann. You noticed I said: Gil, Jim and Sigi. That's because they were your friends and they wanted to be addressed like one.

These three chairmen came from different backgrounds. Gil was the ultimate salesman. Jim was a manufacturing expert. And Sigi was financial savvy.

Yet all three were people oriented.

Gil Richards would routinely walk the halls of Budd in Troy asking secretaries, clerks and supervisors what THEY thought about the company, its products and its top management.

As part of the Public Affairs Department, I was honored to organize a "Breakfast with the Chairman" program for Jim and, subsequently, Sigi. Each month or so, the chairman would visit a company plant or facility to answer questions from the rank and file as well as listen to their concerns.

The first round of questions were formal, pre-submitted so appropriate responses could be prepared. However, the second round of questions were spontaneously and unrehearsed. Manytimes, information meant only for the Boardroom would be discussed in these meetings. Perhaps some of you participated in these breakfast meetings.

I was honored to know three of the six Budd chairmen in its 90-year history. How many of you knew all six?

Who was your favorite Budd executive...and why. Tell us about it in the Budd Company Blogger.

KITCHENER PLANT TO CLOSE NEXT YEAR

The news from the North is not good.

Google Blogs Alert for: MARTINREA
Martinrea to axe 1200 jobs with plant closureBy GREG KEENAN Industry woes and Canadian dollar cited in decision to halt work at Kitchener Frame in 2009, one of the largest factory shutdowns yet in the storm battering Canada's auto parts industry.The Globe and Mail - News & Comment News - http://www.reportonbusiness.com/news/

Last Budd Employees Depart

With the December departure of Tara Maliszewski, human resources manager, and Mike Carr, payroll supervisor, there are no longer any employees from The Budd Company. Several former Budd employees are currently working for ThyssenKrupp USA. At one time Budd employed more than 20,000 people.

Another Detroit Plant Manager Remembered

The plant manager prior to Roy Schucker was Bob Haberlien who came to Detroit from Philadelphia Plant in the early 60's. He was a wonderful man and set the stage for much of the improvements in the plant.

Bud Evans

P.S. We may be able to trace plant managers back to the 1920s when Budd purchased the plant from the Liberty Motor Car Company.