What qualities separate an artisan from a DIY’er?
It all comes down to doing things the right way.
A typical weekend warrior may understand the basic concepts of a project, but they lack an artisan’s years of practice, patience, and outright dedication. The artisan, meanwhile, is the definition of honoring the craft. They never cut corners, they’re always consistent, and they’re as reliable and precise as a Swiss watch.
September’s Employee of the Month is what we’d call a true artisan at Kris-Tech, and not just because of the work they do with their hands. Their dedication extends far beyond doing the job well—they set the tone for their entire team while finding ways to complete tasks without sacrificing quality or the bottom line.
With that said, we’re excited to announce that Maintenance Mechanic Darrick Findlay is your Employee of the Month for September!
Keeping Kris-Tech’s machines up and running is a critical task, and one Darrick doesn’t take lightly.
He’s constantly seeking opportunities to improve the company’s systems, processes, and himself. At the same time, Darrick serves as the company’s gatekeeper for repair and maintenance spending, using his expertise to ensure every dollar is spent appropriately. This eagle-eyed approach to his work has paid dividends numerous times, with Darrick identifying several cost-saving alternatives that don’t sacrifice product quality or reliability.
His dedication to doing things correctly has also made him an excellent partner to the Maintenance, Finance, and Operations teams.
Darrick isn’t just a great mechanic—he’s a team player who makes every single person around him better.
His positive and constructive approach to work resonates across every shift and department. He’s always approachable and fun to be around, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where everyone on the team thrives. At the same time, he works tirelessly to earn the trust of his teammates and make processes better for everyone.
And when issues pop up, Darrick is ready to find creative solutions. He takes feedback well and thoughtfully turns it into action.
“Darrick’s mix of integrity, cost-consciousness, and team spirit makes him indispensable,” VP of Finance Bob Pagano said. “He protects Kris-Tech’s assets, drives savings, and uplifts those around him. He is a clear choice for Employee of the Month.”
While we’re celebrating Darrick for all the amazing things he does for Kris-Tech, we had several other nominees vying for September’s Employee of the Month, including:
Jarret Iannotti – Jarett is a jack-of-all-trades for Kris-Tech, taking on mentorship opportunities on the production floor. He’s a flexible team member who works well across multiple departments and is more than willing to share his years of knowledge with others. Recently, he also began taking leadership classes through MACNY to further grow and develop his skills.
Scott Beckwith – Scott has been the glue holding the operations and sales teams together, surprising our customers in the best ways possible. Not only has he been instrumental in the company reaching a near-perfect on-time rate, with some production orders completed in three days or less. Finally, he played a vital role in commissioning a new machine on the production floor.
Check back next month to see who joins Darrick, Nadine, Alfonso, Justin, Kristy, Thomas, Charles, Kelly, David, Justin, and Drew as our 2025 Employee of the Year nominees!
