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Employee Spotlight – Hari Menon

For this month’s employee spotlight, we’re excited to feature our new Quality Manager, Hari Menon! Hari brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with over 23 years with General Motors and as a former consultant with OM Group, LLC. Hari is responsible for the development of Operational Quality Systems, implementation of  International Automotive Task Force, Advanced Product Quality Planning and directing the quality assurance program.

His day-to-day responsibilities include working closely with suppliers to ensure they’re able to respond to customer issues in a timely manner, developing reporting techniques for data collected internally to management and to the production floor, developing and implementing quality assurance methodologies and processes along with ensuring process capability for future programs.

 A fun fact about Hari: He is the author of the book TQM in New Product Manufacturing. The book discusses how manufacturers can successfully and efficiently adjust to technological changes and touches on how both engineers and managers can systematize the adjustment process by using techniques to reduce variation, and thereby reduce cost. A great read written by a great mind!

In his spare time, Hari enjoys sharing his expertise with aspiring minds as an operations management professor at Oakland University. He is an amateur marathon runner and has participated in the Rochester Hills half marathon – “Brooksie Way” – for the past three years with plans to race again this year. He also has a love for the outdoors, spending his most recent hiking expedition climbing to the last two miles of Mount Evans with his daughter.

Overall, we’re thrilled to have Hari on our team and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together in the years to come.

Lucerne International 2018 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair Event Overview

The 2018 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair, the largest of its kind in the United States, held at Cobo Center in Detroit, MI was attended by over 3,500 attendees and included three days of robust programming, conference lectures and presentations. This conference is designed for Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs); senior executives and procurement representatives. The conference focused on partnering with other organizations whose missions align with the WBENC’s vision of expanding women’s business opportunities in the global marketplace.

Lucerne International was thrilled to be exhibitors at this year’s event alongside hundreds of other companies such as Google, Facebook, Delta and more. From automotive manufacturing to printing and retail, the wide range of women owned and WBE certified businesses at this fair made us proud to be among so many talented entrepreneurs and innovators.

Overall, our experience at the 2018 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair was one that we will never forget. We are already looking forward to next year!

Lucerne International Named One of Michigan’s Top 50 Companies to Watch

More than 400 companies applied and only 50 were chosen to be named as Michigan’s Top 50 Companies to Watch presented by Michigan Celebrates Small Business. We’re honored to announce that our team was one of the 50 selected by one of the most prestigious small business award programs in the state.

The program’s mission is to honor and recognize Michigan’s small businesses and the people that support them. It was a delightful moment to network with other business owners and top executives who share similar values, and dedicate their resources to giving back to Michigan’s economy. There were many conversations floating around the room, but the most important one was discussing ways we can continue to work with each other to help drive economic success now and in the future.

After an hour full of great conversations and getting to know other small business owners, we proceeded to take our seats for the award ceremony that followed. This ceremony truly showcased how big of an impact small businesses have on the Michigan economy. During the award ceremony, it was announced that the awardees had generated a combined $888 million in revenue in 2017 and had a combined 83% increase in jobs over the last four years. One by one the awardees walked down the red carpet to accept their awards, including our CEO Mary Buchzeiger, who accepted the award on behalf of Lucerne. After the last awardee joined the others on stage, the audience gave a huge applause that filled the room with a standing ovation.

The Lucerne family is proud to be a part of the small business community here in Michigan, and we only hope that we can make an even bigger impact in the years to come. We will continue to proudly serve you and give back to this great community that we call home.

Employee Spotlight – Shaquia Warren

We are excited to spotlight Shaquia Warren, Production Supervisor at Lucerne International. Shaquia Warren is best known for being an all-around team player. In 2014, she started her career at Lucerne International as a table lead and has worked diligently to advance in her career.  She has continuously proven to be a valuable team member to the Lucerne family by exhibiting dedication to the company, through her strong work ethic and her ability to encourage and uplift those around her. Her day-to-day responsibilities include, overseeing the manufacturing and shipping process to ensure maximum efficiency as well as delegating, managing, planning, scheduling and approving daily production workload.

At a young age, Shaquia found her love for manufacturing. Inspired by her mother and stepfather who both worked in the industry, she was motivated by their drive and admiration for the manufacturing field, and knew she wanted to explore the industry in her own right and follow after her family’s footsteps.

To the younger generation looking to begin a career in manufacturing, Shaquia encourages individuals to remain humble and be open to change. With advancements in technology and product materials, change in direction can occur at the drop of a dime!

Shaquia is the recipient of Lucerne’s 2017 President’s Award – an award given out to an employee to spotlight efforts taken that go above and beyond.

We are thrilled to announce her promotion to Production Supervisor – a role in which she has been active in for the past month.

Lucerne International CEO Discusses Value of WBE Membership on TradeshowLife TV

“The dream is free, the hustle is sold separately,” spoken by Lucerne International’s CEO Mary Buchzeiger. At the Women’s Business Enterprise National Conference (WBENC) in Las Vegas earlier this year, Mary sat down with reporter Lisa Jackson at TradeshowLife TV and discussed her rewarding experience being part of the WBE community for the past seven years.

Lucerne International Hosts Wuxi Tool & Mould Trade Association

Last week, Lucerne International had the pleasure of hosting members of the China Wuxi Die and Mould Trade Association, a nationwide, industry-based and non-profit social organization, at our headquarters in Auburn Hills. Mary Buchzeiger, CEO at Lucerne International, gave the delegation a tour of the warehouse and discussed day-to-day manufacturing operations, as well as what she envisions for the future of not only the company, but of the manufacturing industry.

Lucerne International Team Member Making Positive Impact on the Youth

Giving back to the community has always been important to Lucerne International, even down to each individual team member. One of those team members is the Director of Human Resources, Stephanie Jones. This year, Stephanie decided to partner with Winning Futures, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth to succeed through mentoring, strategic planning and workplace preparation.