Photos courtesy of Dramm
After a combined 47 years with The Dramm Corporation, General Manager Jeff Bucher and Shipping Department Supervisor Wendy Ansorge are both retiring.
Bucher spent 23 years with the company. His last day in the office was Aug. 27, but he will remain a Dramm employee through Dec. 31 and will be working at upcoming retail trade shows.
When he began his career with Dramm in September 2003, the company employed 55 people. Today, it employs more than 90 people and has grown to six times the sales volume.
"As I reflect on my career, I am thankful to the Dramm family for the trust and freedom they gave me to lead," Bucher said. " That trust allowed me, along with an exceptional team, to focus on what mattered most: continuous improvement. I have always believed a company is ultimately about its people, and I am especially proud of the relationships built along the way. My goal was never simply to lead a successful business operation, but to create an environment where people could grow, take ownership, challenge the status quo and take pride in what we accomplished together.
"The work of building a better company is never finished, and I am proud to have been part of that journey," he continued. "I am grateful for the opportunities, challenges, friendships and lessons that shaped my career, and especially for the people who make it so rewarding. As I look toward retirement, I do so with pride in what we have built together, confidence in those who will carry it forward and gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the Dramm story."
During retirement, Bucher plans to spend more time traveling and with his family and grandchildren.
"As general manager, Jeff has played an important role in Dramm's day-to-day operations and growth. He works closely with employees across the company to continuously improve quality and efficiency. As a leader and member of the Dramm team, Jeff has focused on teamwork and Dramm's commitment to providing quality products and solutions to customers," the company said in a news release. "The Dramm family extends our sincere thanks and appreciation to Jeff for his great organizational skills, team-building efforts and eye toward continuous improvements."
Ansorge worked at Dramm for nearly 24 years. Her last day was Aug. 27.
When she joined the company in September 2002, the shipping department was made up of four employees: Susie, Wendy, Ann and Tammy. The team called itself "SWAT," inspired by the first letter of each employee’s name.
As Dramm continued to grow, so did the Shipping Department. In 2007, Ansorge was promoted to shipping department supervisor, overseeing a team that has grown to nine employees.
Her husband, Al, worked at Dramm for a time as a machinist, making the Aluminum Water Breaker Nozzles. He continues to build Dramm's shipping crates. Her daughter, Jena, has also worked at Dramm, and her son-in-law, Jeremy, is the production/automation manager.
"The Dramm family is an awesome family to work for," Ansorge said. "I’m very grateful for my time here and for all the people I’ve had the opportunity to work with over the years. I’m so thankful for my team and all the years we’ve worked together.”
In retirement, she looks forward to spending more time with her family and grandchildren.
"Throughout her career, Wendy has been an important part of Dramm's growth. As a member and leader of the shipping department, she has made sure Dramm products are packed correctly, shipped on time and delivered to customers around the world," the company said in a news release. "The Dramm family extends our sincere thanks and gratitude to Wendy for her conscientiousness, thoughtfulness and positivity during her 24 years of service at Dramm. She has truly been an important part of this team."