A REVOLUTION IN STEEL

Lab Crew Leader, Nucor-Yamato Steel

Hometown: Blytheville

Age: 42

Years with Nucor: 13

JAMES JONES: My dad was one of the first people who helped to implement the design of the Nucor plant in Blytheville; he was a fabricator. When Nucor came to town my dad was one of the people who reviewed the plans and made the adjustments for real-time operation.

My dad was one of the first teammates at Nucor Yamato Steel. From the very beginning, he was able to provide our family with a good living and provided us with a lot of things that he could only dream of.

JJ: The people here care about you and treat you well in times of need. When my father was dying, my team said, “You do what you’ve got to do, and we’ll take care of everything else. You don’t have to worry.” I was able to spend time with him during his last days. Nucor wrapped me in an envelope of friendship and family so that it didn’t hurt as bad when I went back to work. So, yes, I have a little bit of heritage with this company and working here, it’s a personal thing for me.

Safety Coordinator, Nucor Steel Arkansas

Age: 53

Years with the company: 26

BLUEPRINT: Where did you grow up?

RANDY HENDERSON: I was born and raised in Mississippi County, Arkansas.

BP: What brought you to Nucor?

RH: Like some in this area, I had a strong work ethic and limited skills. Nucor was willing to take a chance on me. I was hired in an entry level position, and I basically worked my way up from the bottom. Once I established myself within Nucor, my manager began to help push me out of my comfort zone to help me grow.

BP: Where did you start your career at Nucor?

RH: I started out as a shipper loader in the shipping material handling department. Before I knew it, 26 years had passed. I have held many different positions within Nucor, each a step up from where I started. I have also been involved in promoting and recruiting for Nucor within our hometown, as well as at many twoand four-year colleges. I am where I am today because Nucor allowed me the opportunity to grow, not only as a person, but as a leader for Nucor and our state.

BP: What helped you advance over that time?

RH: First and foremost, I had great Nucor mentors, people who took the time to help me and provide guidance. Second, the company presented me with a clear pathway to getting an education and reimbursing me for college courses. I went back to school and got my Associate of Art degree in technology and then, a year later, I got my undergraduate degree in technology. When I graduated, I had zero college debt; Nucor funded that 100 percent.

BP: Now that you’re a supervisor, what are some pieces of advice you give to new teammates about working here?

RH: I tell them the most important thing is your attitude. Attitude determines everything. With the right attitude, Nucor offers unlimited possibilities. That’s part of the Nucor brand, and I talk about that all the time. That is what I think makes Nucor stand out from the rest!

MAYRA GONZALEZ

Coil Wrapper/Handler, Nucor Steel Arkansas

Country of Origin: Mexico

Age: 38

Tenure with Nucor: 5 months

BLUEPRINT: Tell me about your background. MAYRA GONZALEZ: I’m a 38-year-old single mother of two teenage girls. I was born and raised in Mexico, but I have been living in Missouri for the last 23 years.

BP: What did you do before you joined Nucor?

MG: For 12 years I worked as a case manager for a federally funded nonprofit through the Department of Labor. One day I decided that I no longer had the passion for it and resigned. Shortly after that, a contractor company was needing a toolbox person to work during outages at various steel mills and keep inventory of tools. I obtained the job and worked my way to learn the proper tool names and got familiar with the steel mill environment.

BP: What do you like about Nucor?

MG: I like the learning opportunities. The company pays for your training and pays you while you train. In a short period of time with Nucor, I’ve taken advantage of the training and opportunities the company provides. I became a First Responder and a cab crane operator, and I got the opportunity to visit two Nucor plants in Kentucky for a Redline Audit.

BP: What would you tell someone looking to forge a career at Nucor?

MG: My advice for others is to never give up. Nucor encourages you to explore other jobs within the plant and move up and if you want to relocate to a different plant on another state, that is an option too.