Veterans Day
Veterans in Packaging: Mike Wells, VP of Operations at RRD's label facility in Osage, Iowa
Image courtesy of Mike Wells
PS: Could you tell us a little bit about your military background and what inspired you to serve our country in that capacity?
MW: I graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and served 12 years, mostly on ships at sea. In my family, military service was a tradition. That was just how you started adult life. I wanted to go to college and I wanted to serve, and the Naval Academy let me do both.
PS: What led to your decision to go into packaging and to work at RRD?
MW: When I left the military service, I knew I wanted to work with people in a leadership role and that I wanted to make things. RRD had a Manufacturing Management Trainee (MMT) program at the time, and it was a perfect way for me to accomplish my goals and learn a new trade.
PS: What specific training did you receive that ties into your current position at RRD?
MW: The RRD MMT program gave me exposure to many areas of print and finishing, as well as the inner workings and methods around budgets, monthly financial statement review, and forecasting. After that, I served in roles of increasing responsibility and scope until moving into my current position as VP of Operations for our Osage, Iowa, labels operation.
PS: What are some of the unique skills and perspectives that military veterans can bring to the work environment?
MW: I believe military veterans are best at working under pressure and staying focused on the goal. When situations and deadlines are the most intense is when you will see military veterans demonstrating the training they were provided in the military environment. They address the immediate issue with speed and some intensity, if needed, then calmly proceed to take care of the rest of the issues.
PS: What advice would you give to military veterans thinking about entering the packaging industry?
MW: I would encourage them and explain that their experiences in the military provide a firm foundation for handling the situations they will experience in the manufacturing environment. Every day is not a fire fight, thankfully, but you have to know how to remain calm in the storm. Military experience helps to teach that skill.
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