In 2005, Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi coastlines.  Pope Benedict XVI succeeded John Paul II.  The Irish Republican Army declared an end to armed conflict.  And Penny Haight joined CasterDepot.

In the decade and a half since, Penny has worn multiple hats for the company, filling key roles that ranged from administrative to customer service to accounting.   Most recently she was the first voice you’d hear when you called our corporate offices.

A Michigan native, Penny grew up in (what was at the time) the small town of Grandville.  At just 19 years old, she enlisted in the US Army, a decision she credits with instilling her sense of direction and self-discipline.  Penny’s life changed drastically when her husband tragically passed at a young age, and she suddenly found herself raising her three young children by herself.  But her resolve and dedication ensured her girls were always taken care of.  To this day, family continues to be her priority, love and passion.

Loyal to a fault and always willing to help, Penny has been the epitome of what you would hope for in an employee and colleague.  When asked about why she loved working at CasterDepot, she replied, “I’m the tour guide; I lead people to what they need to know and where they need to go.  And I’m in charge of documentation, so in an odd way, I’m also the historian.”  Pretty cool.

Friday was Penny’s last day before retirement, and she is now looking forward to relaxing, schedule free days.  And while she may or may not join her daughter in Oregon to fill up the days with reading and whatever else comes her way, one thing is for certain.  She will always be CasterDepot’s tour guide.

It all started out with a Christmas tree on Joe Kaminski's (one of our Grand Rapids sales team members) desk.  It was small, but festive— working lights, ornaments, a star on top.  Well, Kristen Vereecken, our Sales Coordinator, decided her office should be festive, too.  So she strung up some lights and went back to work, content that all was right with the world.  A couple of days later, Joe’s monitor was encased in a wrap that made it look like a chimney.  The two red stockings that hung on either side were too much.  Kristen saw it as a challenge.  “Game on,” she told Joe, as she filled her office with more Christmas décor, more knick-knacks, and more holiday cheer.  It sure seemed that Kristen had gained the upper holiday hand.  There were high fives and celebrations.  But on the morning of December 16^th, she walked in to find a gingerbread house encasing Joe’s desk.  “Don’t compete with my Christmas Spirit,” said Joe.  Sorry Kristen, game over.

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Moral of this story: if we care this much about winning at something as ridiculous as holiday decor, think how much we care about helping find your solutions.  At CasterDepot, we go the extra mile to deliver on our “Expert. Easy. Every time.” promise.  And we just might throw in a little holiday magic for free.

CasterDepot is proud to announce our selection as a 2019 winner of West Michigan’s Best and Brightest Places to Work contest. The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For^® is a program that

provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work.

This award is based on information gathered from employee surveys, company reporting, and an independent evaluation. CasterDepot prides its self on promoting a positive, fulfilling work environment and strives to consistently deliver on the promise of customer service excellence.

Only companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative and thoughtful human resources approach can be bestowed this honor.

When it comes to attaching casters, a few styles are typically the most prevalent: top plates, threaded stems, grip ring stems, grip neck stems and expanding adapter stems.

Every once in a while though, we run into something that is a little less common. These uncommon caster mounting types include U-plates, holes-in-the-head, knurled stems and others. Recently, we came across a more unusual mounting option: a clamp-on. Continue reading →

After three nominations over four years and two years of being named a finalist, we are more than proud to announce that CasterDepot has won the 2017 Torch Award for Ethics!

The Torch Award for Ethics is awarded annually by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Serving Western Michigan to a company with the highest standard of business practices.

Continue reading →

If you own a Lang BBQ Smoker or other premium barbecuer, chances are that you love to grill. And when you love something, you take care of it.

Continue reading →

CasterDepot intern Grant Wedgwood featured in the GVSU Seidman College of Business Management Department Student Spotlights Success Story.

Grant Wedgwood    

Major/Minor:
Bachelor of Business Administration – Major(s): Supply Chain Management & Finance

Class Year: Graduating in April 2015

Hometown: Jackson, MI

What has been the highlight of your Grand Valley Experience?
The highlight of my experience at Grand Valley has been developing relationships with other students, faculty members, and industry professionals. After attending two smaller colleges, I worried that I might have trouble developing contacts at such a large school.  Fortunately, Grand Valley provided ample opportunities to get involved through student organizations, speaker events, and career fairs. I have also been very pleased with the mixture of full-time professors and those who teach while working in the industry.

How has the Management department helped you to obtain your goals?
The most significant contribution by the Management Department to my success has been creating the Management Mentorship Program.  The management department paired me with a professional in the Grand Rapids area that has assisted in building my confidence, developing contacts, and even setting me up with an internship at CasterDepot during the summer of 2014.  His guidance has been the most valuable experience that I have gained at Grand Valley for developing and conquering all of the goals that I set out to achieve.

Why did you choose Supply Chain as your major?
I knew that a career in business would facilitate my competitive spirit. A degree in Supply Chain Management interested me because it is a rapidly growing field that companies are beginning to put more emphasis on.  Specifically, Grand Valley’s SCM Major intrigued me because I wanted to be a part of pioneering a newer program.  I chose to dual major in Finance because I enjoy working with numbers, and I feel that it will help me make better fiscal decisions.

Why did you choose to take the APICS certifications?
Two of the required courses in Grand Valley’s SCM curriculum allow for students to supplement a CPIM exam in place of the final exam.  I had an exceptional professor for these classes who serves on the APICS Grand Rapids Professional Board. He really inspired me to want to further my knowledge in the fields of production and inventory management. I also wanted to challenge myself by completing the CPIM in six weeks.  The experience was very rewarding because it tested both my determination and academics.  I hope to stay involved with the APICS Professional Chapter and seek out more educational opportunities through them.

How would you advise students that want to take the APICS certifications?
My first suggestion would be for the individual to develop a timeline of when they wish to take each of the five tests.  I found that scheduling each test in advance motivated me to fully prepare before the exam date arrived.  The preparation time for each test and the studying approach mostly depends on the individual’s preferences.  I chose to the self-study approach and used the APICS Participant Workbooks for each module. I gave myself a little over a week between each exam, but I would not recommend this for the faint of heart.  If the individual prefers learning in a classroom setting, the APICS Grand Rapids Chapter offers courses for each module taught by knowledgeable instructors.  My final suggestion would be to keep a coffee pot nearby.

View Original Story Here: http://www.gvsu.edu/management/student-spotlights-74.htm

Position
Sales/Customer Service

Background
I started out working here 11 years ago, part time, in our warehouse assembling products. After doing that for a few years I moved to shipping/receiving, then to Production Manager and finally to where I am now in sales.

Favorite song to sing in the car or shower?
“Copacabana” by Barry Manilow

Hobbies
Anything outdoors. Camping, golfing, fishing, hunting, and softball.

Which celebrity do people say you look like?
George Clooney. I get that ALL the time.

Favorite CasterDepot interaction
Our 30th anniversary party and the chili cookoff we had here. It was fun meeting a lot of our customers in person that I talk to over the phone.

Interesting fact about Joe
I’ve been to 42 of the 50 states.

Favorite quote
“The best way out is always through” ~Robert Frost

Favorite Christmas present
Official Red Ryder Carbine-action two-hundred-shot Range Model Air Rifle.

Raised in a family of caster experts, Travis brings an in depth knowledge of casters and their applications, as well as 5 years of sales experience with CasterDepot.

Travis dedicates himself to the outdoors. He’s a fishing hobbyist, a fan of all-terrain vehicles, and enjoys boating under the sunset on Lake Michigan.

One of his favorite experiences at CasterDepot was, “going to the Promat trade show and interacting with all the characters. Afterwards, we had dinner and laughs with customers at the top floor of the John Hancock building”.

For indoor entertainment, he enjoys movies and music, especially Metallica’s song ‘Fuel’ because, “it makes me feel like a NASCAR driver”.

You can find Travis in the Detroit office throughout the week. He’s hard to miss. “I’ve been told I look like Prince Harry. Ha!”.

A genuine people-person with a thorough knowledge of the caster industry, be sure to stop by chat about everything casters. Like his favorite quote suggests, “the best way to predict the future is to create it”. ~Peter Drucke

Bill’s been told for years that he looks like Michael Rapaport, an actor that gained fame in the 1980′s. Perhaps by no chance at all, Bill’s favorite music, film, and artists also come from the 80′s.

Eddy Money, “The Goonies”, and “Don’t Stop Believin” by Journey  top his list of favorites. After 8 years at CasterDepot, Bill now has 3 more years with CasterDepot than his favorite show lasted on TV, “Sanford and Son”.

So how does Bill stay in the same shape as he was in the 80′s? By maintaining healthy hobbies and a good family life. Regarding his hobbies, Bill says, “I enjoy coaching my son Jonathan’s travel youth Football and Basketball teams, and spending every moment I have with my two amazing kids.”

Among his favorite CasterDepot memories, he lists CasterDepot’s 30th Anniversary and the CasterDepot staff’s visit to Albion Caster College. What does he like most about his job? Being able to interact with people on a daily basis.

Graduating high school in 3 years makes Bill an expert on graduating high school in 3 years. That’s in addition to his expertise in casters of course. After all, Bill’s favorite quote is, ”we are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit” ~Aristotle