I'm breaking topic today and going to blog a bit about my work in Puerto Rico.  I want to recognize the professionalism, dedication and amazing individuals I've been blessed to work with over these last few months. 

As is public knowledge Sun/former Storagtek had a large manufacturing and repair facility in Ponce, Puerto Rico.  The facility manufactured and repaired highly technical and complex storage equipment.  The average seniority in the plant was 20 years, with many people approaching 30 years of service.  Sun made the decision to close this facility about a year ago, and outsource this work to lower cost areas.  I was given the opportunity to manage the Services piece and have been acting as the Senior Transfer Manager since May. 

I had mixed feelings about this role.  It was highly visible, challenging and would put my skills to the test with the opportunity to learn more than you might in a year over just a short period of time.  The other side of the equation is that shutting down a factory is serious, not from a customer service and dollars/cents stand point for Sun, but from the individual and personal impact.  People have dedicated their entire professional lives to this operation, and are like family.  Now, the family is being disbanded and livelihoods are being seriously impacted on an island with high unemployement. 

I was uncertain of what to expect when I made my first trip to the plant in May.  Would this be a safe environment for me?  Would the animosity be so palpable that I would want to run and hide?  While I know this is "business" I am an extremely empathetic individual, how would it feel to be openly hated?

The reality of the matter is that I was welcomed with open arms by the people.  Yes, I was here to execute on the plant move.  Yes, certainly stuck out like a sore thumb being about a foot taller than most of the women here sporting a shockingly white complexion.  Yes, they were all loosing their jobs.  But no, somehow these amazing people were capable of separating the "business" of the plant shut down from "me as a person". 

And, the commitment they demonstrated to the move and shut down.  I can only marvel at the dedication and hours worked to make this as smooth as possible.  They want the move to be successful even though they have no future with it.  Just humbling.

I now have people in Puerto Rico I call friends.  We've worked side by side for two months, solving problems, laughing, complaning and just plain working hard.  While I cannot recognize each individual, I want to salute some of the people I've worked most closely with - Ismary, German, Sampol, Osvaldo, Betsy, Beverly, Jose, Ana, Carlos, the Roberto's, Wegberto - in addition to friendly faces that greeted me each day as I walked the floor with an Hola, Buenos Dias, along handshake and kiss on the cheek. 

One thing I know for sure is that What Goes Around Comes Around, which to me means my Puerto Rico friends are going to be blessed with rich, full lives.  My life has been enriched 10 fold by the opportunity to know each of them....blessings to you all.

ps.  Further evidence of the attitude  - this sign was hanging up in the plant....we should all be this wise.