Travis Castle

Position: Project Engineer

Date of Hire: 6/27/10

Other Positions Held / Length of Each: Assembly Assistant – 7 months; Production Quality Assistant – 1 year, 4 months; Material Handling/Warehouse Assistant – 5 months; Quality Auditor – 11 months; Quality Technician – 1 year, 4 months; Project Technician – 5 Months

Favorite Story / Memory during Time Working at Team 1: Travis said that he doesn’t really have a single favorite story or memory from the years that he has been at Team 1 Plastics. However, he mentioned how much he has enjoyed each of the Team 1 parties that he has attended. Travis said that each party is fun in its own way and gives him an opportunity to “loosen up a little and get to know the other employees,” sharing about non-work related topics and spending time with Team Members whom he doesn’t see on a regular basis.

How has Team 1 helped your Personal and/or Professional Development? Travis has taken advantage of Team 1 Plastics’ educational program to pay for schooling for its Team Members. He has taken several courses, such as Advanced Product Quality Planning at MMTC (Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center) and “Blueprint Reading” at the RMTC (Regional Manufacturing Technology Center) at Kellogg Community College. These courses have qualified Travis to work in several different positions at Team 1 Plastics, including his current position as Project Engineer. The training is, in Travis’ words, “How I got to where I am today.” And his experience in working in these different positions at Team 1 has “been very helpful in the position that I have now.”

Favorite Aspect of Working at Team 1: “It’s a great atmosphere. There’s a lot of willingness to help each other out, and the Managers show that they care about each other and all the Team Members.” Travis said that he also likes that Team 1 promotes from within and pays for the schooling to improve your skills.

What do you want to share about your life outside of Team 1? Travis is married and has three children – a daughter who will turn nine in September, a daughter who is six, and a son who is two. He said that he enjoys hunting and fishing, getting a chance to “go fishing every now and then.” A highlight of his family life occurs each year around the holidays when he and his wife join their brother- and sister-in-law in Springport to pass out gifts for needy people in the local community. Plans are already underway for their third annual event this coming December 2017.

Piece of Advice and/or Encouragement for Future Team 1 Team Members: Travis said, “Because Team 1 promotes from within, I encourage future Team Members to take advantage of any opportunity for training that is offered and to apply for any open positions — whether you’re qualified or not.” Team 1 Plastics, he added, “will help you get the qualifications you need for the job if they think you’re right for the position.”

Random Question: Why is “Rock, Paper, Scissors” so effective? Travis laughed as he said, “I love the random question that you gave me.” And, he did admit that he does use “Rock, Paper, Scissors.” He said that “it’s a good alternative for a coin toss for decision-making.” And, because he wanted to know more, Travis did some research on it. “I was kinda curious about it.” He learned that “the effectiveness is, actually, to teach someone to observe another person’s behavior – to understand what the next action would be. It’s gone back many years. I believe [the origin] was an Asian country – China or something.”