Most of my life I have led people and encouraged them. As a professional in my adult life and as a young adult through youth organizations. Starting my work career at 14 years old detasseling seed corn in the heat of summer to my current role as regional manager in the workforce development profession. I cut my teeth at General Motors as a production employee and worked my way to production supervisor. A unique opportunity was offered to participate in professional management training in coordination with the GM institute and I took it. After 10 years with General Motors the plant closed and I transferred to a Del-Phi plant where I worked until they downsized to a small crew. I transitioned to a production supervisor position at another manufacturer until they eventually retooled and eliminated the workforce. From there I went on to be a production manager at a tier 3 supplier to the automotive industry. It was only months before the production line discontinued and this plant closed. I still landed on my feet.
Bad luck or just more opportunity?
I would say both. I moved to Phoenix, AZ to take a job as an engineer with an Aerospace company in Mesa. This was an incredible opportunity and great experience. I designed and implemented systems they still use to this day. After a year in Arizona family drew my wife and I back to Michigan.
Even after transitions through shutdowns and closings, I worked hard and did what I had to do to provide for my family. After moving back to Michigan, I joined a manufacturing team where I was production manager in the gas fittings business. After three years with this company cuts and layoffs happened again and I quickly transitioned to a new career. I was offered an opportunity in the Life Safety Industry. I started with a small local company and eventually moved up to a larger company becoming general manager. I spent four years on the sales team in that corporation before filling the role of general manger. I met life time friends and worked with great people at all of these organizations. In my new role I have even helped them find new careers after layoffs, shut downs, closings. My experience and training in manufacturing, hiring, coaching, team building, motivating and more have taken a career full of unfortunate closings, layoffs, downsizing and turned it into a uniquely qualified workforce development professional. Lemons to lemonade. In most of these companies I had to fill the role of hiring manager, or human resources. I have coached and developed teams where more than 130 team members reported to me. People are my specialty and I enjoy helping everyone reach their potential through one-to-one appointments, or directing operations and setting company culture impacting lives across the organization.
Sam Dougherty 