Donn Briskie

Position: Sales Support Technician

Date of Hire: 9/12/2011

Other Positions Held / Length of Each: Engineering Technician II – 6 years

Favorite Story / Memory during Time Working at Team 1: In his position as Engineering Technician, Donn was an administrator for Team 1’s Express Maintenance database. The database keeps track of the customer-owned molds that are at Team 1 Plastics, either being used to produce parts or that are being stored in Team 1’s Warehouse. Donn said that his favorite memory from working at Team 1 was the recognition that he received from one of Team 1’s customers. Linda Carter from II Stanley told Craig Carrel, Team 1’s President and Co-Owner, how helpful Donn was in locating II Stanley’s molds at Team 1. Donn also assisted her in obtaining information about the molds and attaching asset tags to them.

How has Team 1 helped your Personal and/or Professional Development? “After my kidney transplant in 2009,” Donn said, “Team 1 Plastics was the first company to offer me a job.” He explained that after his transplant, he had been unemployed and on disability for two years. He added that it was an uncertainty whether he would ever be able to work again. However, “Gary [Grigowski] and Dave Seedorf took a little bit of an interest in me and gave me a job. Letting me try was a good thing because it’s worked out well. I’m not unemployed nor sitting around the house. I’m back to work, and I’m supporting myself and my wife. They gave me a chance to get back into the workforce and still be useful to the community.”

Favorite Aspect of Working at Team 1: “I like all the people that I work with. Travis [Castle] is always really helpful, and the consideration of others is amazing!” Because of Donn’s health issues, he has to be careful being around people. He is immunosuppressed, and a cold could easily make him very sick and, potentially, lead to death. “All the people I work with – Travis and all the guys in Maintenance –go out of their way to help keep me healthy. Travis goes way out of his way to make sure he keeps his distance when he’s not feeling well. I give them a lot of credit for that.”

What do you want to share about your life outside of Team 1? Donn is married, and he and his wife occasionally read books together. Donn mentioned that he really enjoyed Tom Bodett’s End of the Road series about living in Alaksa. “With his comedic style, it’s just really funny to read his take on life in Alaska and the way things work.” Donn is a past member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. During his membership, he “really enjoyed traveling around the state of Michigan and taking tours of other manufacturing facilities and networking with Engineers.”

Piece of Advice and/or Encouragement for Future Team 1 Team Members: “If you don’t enjoy your job, go find something else to do.” That’s the advice that Donn would give not only future Team 1 Team Members, but anybody. “If you’re apathetic, chances are you’re not going to be as helpful or get as much done as other people, and that draws other people down – especially if you hate your job and are unhappy about it. You might as well be happy, and if you’re not, look for something else.” And Donn follows his own advice. He said that when he started working at Team 1 Plastics, he told Dave Seedorf, “I’ve come here to play, and the first day you make me work, I quit.” Apparently, it’s been all play for the past six years, because Donn is still employed at Team 1.

Random Question: What is the Loveliest Place on the Planet? Although Donn has not traveled the entire world, he knows what place he likes the best. “I know a little hidden knoll at what was my grandfather’s place –now my brother’s place – it’s a mossy little knoll next to the creek underneath a highway overpass. It’s got just enough shaded area from the trees, yet has a spot where the sun shines in and it’s warm. It’s a great place to lay in the summer time and take a nap and listen to the water run.” Donn said that this lovely place, which has tons of good memories for him, is near Olivet, Michigan.