Before moving into his current position, Roger trained the new plant manager to fill his previous position.  “All that experience doesn’t do anybody any good if I take it all with me when I step away.”

“My parents literally worked within a stone’s throw of the plant I managed, and much of what helped me succeed for so long at Copperweld are the characteristics and principles I learned from my parents.  From my mother I learned patience, humility, and adaptability. ‘Do what you say you are going to do,’ my dad would say, ‘give them a good day’s work and be on time.’   I learned to treat all people with respect, regardless of where they come from, and, I think, the ability to develop good relationships and handle people through different situations is how I have been able to prove my worth through the years.”           

Background

Roger’s experience is almost exclusively Copperweld – through and through. He worked construction at first, then saw an ad for a Lab Quality Inspector job at Copperweld, which was a position his uncle had vacated through advancement.  Roger applied, took the required math test, scored the highest, and got the job.  He improved quality by transferring ownership and responsibility to the operators and building personal pride in their workmanship.  After working as Quality Manager for a few years, he moved on to General Foreman, then Process Engineering Manager, where he created Bill of Materials, also overseeing the processes on the floor and looking for improvement in production, quality, and cost savings.  He served as a plant manager for many years.

Education

• Middle Tennessee State University, 4 years  
• Roger worked full time while going to school full time

Personal

Roger is married and has a daughter and three sons; two of his sons also work at Copperweld. He and his wife, Clara Beth, are self-described ‘stay-at-home’ folks, where they often take on DYI remodeling projects together.  His daughter, Mary Beth, currently serves as President of the local hospital, Lincoln Medical.