HAPPENINGS Latest News From Us, On The Road and In The Shop

New Danser team members add to the success and continual improvement of the company. (Pictured from left to right: Jerry Donahue, Tom Napier and Gary Pennington.)

Just three years ago Danser, Inc. employed around seventy people. Today, in the midst of an industry that outsources manufacturing to countries with lower working wages like China and Mexico, Danser has doubled its workforce to 140 employees. Among the new hires are craftsmen, engineers, draftsmen, and managerial positions.

Danser's most recent hire, Jerry Donahue, is the new Vice President of Operations. Previously employed by Miba Bearings as the Unit Manager for three years, Donahue was responsible for the entire manufacturing unit of high-volume bearings.

When asked why he decided to come work for Danser, Donahue replied, "I saw an opportunity to come to a successful, growing company."

Donahue brings structure and managing operations experience to the Danser team, and is also directly involved with the continuing efforts in Lean Manufacturing. "My main focus is to aggressively pursue Lean (Manufacturing) in the short term, and concentrate on managing operations long term," said Donahue. "I'm also striving to improve overall workflow."

Donahue has a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Akron University. He currently resides in Marietta, OH with his wife, Alison, and two sons, Garret (7) and Jared (9). When he's not busy saving American manufacturing at Danser, Donahue can be found spending time with his family or mountain biking the trials of the local Wayne National Forest. Donahue is also a Board Member of the Marietta YMCA where he teaches morning spinning classes.

Besides Donahue, Danser, Inc. added two new project engineers to the staff. Tom Napier and Gary Pennington, both graduates from West Virginia Tech with degrees in Mechanical Engineering, came to Danser in the fall of 2007.

After college, Benson International, a truck trailer and body manufacturing company, employed both Napier and Pennington for over ten years. Napier was the Engineering Manager for all Benson's facilities, while Pennington stood as a Project Engineer and ran the software for all bills and materials. When Benson wanted to relocate the two out of state, Napier and Pennington came to Danser for "a great opportunity and an alternative to stay in the area."

Napier now manages the Danser take-off team and all the engineering work before a project begins shop fabrication. "I bring design experience and management skills to the company. Also, 3D Inventor knowledge — something Danser hasn't seen before," said Napier. Pennington works in purchasing and keeps track of all the equipment and materials coming in and out of Danser. "I have years of experience at chasing parts," said Pennington. His purchasing qualifications and organization skills are a perfect fit for Danser's continuous improvement business model.

In his spare time, Napier spends time with his wife, Lavetta, and two children, Sonnet (1) and Wyatt (4). He also enjoys restoring old cars and attends car shows regularly. Napier's family lives in Mineral Wells, WV and is a member of the South Parkersburg Baptist Church. On the other hand, Pennington resides in Parkersburg, WV and is an avid runner, biker and swimmer. He sits as a Board Member of the River City Runners Club and is the Mountwood Park Race Director.