Don Hughes, Sheet Metal Team Leader

Q: What do you like best about your job?

A: I like working with the team. They’re a fun group, and they all mix really well together. And fabricators, just like any other department, get along really well. They work off each other. They help each other. They have fresh ideas. We take it seriously, because we have a job to do, but we have a good time doing it. It’s really a great good of people, and that’s why I love it here. I also love Vermont. I moved my family here from the suburbs of Detroit to continue my career with Dynapower, and I’ve been here for 33 years—42 years total with Dynapower.

Q: How would you describe the company culture in three words?

A: I think the company really cares about its people. The company is very generous, and very kind, and it’s a great place to work. I haven’t used three words, but you get the point!

Q: In what ways do you influence the quality of the products here at Dynapower?

A: I don’t want to fix something after it’s been completed. I want it to be right the first time. So, if the dimension is specific, and it’s off by an inch, make it right. And the team knows that it has to be right, because it’s got to be safe, it’s got to be clean, and it can’t have sharp edges, right? It’s got to be functional, and you can’t have stuff in the way. If you have to fix it after the fact, it’s a bit of a mess and it takes time. So, let’s do it right the first time.

Q: What is something you do in your job that is innovative?

A: I work in fabrication, so everything we make is different. Everything is custom. It’s like building a house. Some might be a little bit taller, a little bit deeper, some might have a basement, some have this, some have that. I think that’s why a lot of customers come to us, because we’re a custom shop. So, in some ways, we’re innovating every time.

Q: What are some ways that you continue learning in your field?

A: With engineering always challenging us with different things to build, we have to come up with different ways of building them with different tooling. I will go online and find a special tool for the press break, or research what I need to bend something in a certain way. I also learn a lot from the team. They come from different places, and they do some things differently. We try new things and if they don’t work out, we won’t try them again. But I think a lot of people bring a lot of ideas to this place. There’s always room for improvement.

Q: What do you like to do for fun?

A: My house is my project, and I’m not afraid to try anything. I’m not afraid to put an addition on or bust out a window. It keeps me busy. I just got done remodeling one of the bedrooms. The older we get, the more we enjoy our time at home.