Over the past decade, Todd Giese has seen ETE REMAN grow… a lot. In particular, the Machining Department grew from a lathe that no one was quite sure how to operate to a state-of-the-art facility with millions invested in machining technology.
Todd started out as a mechanic. He met Lawrence Loshak, our VP of Production, through the local street racing scene. Through that relationship, he became R&R Tech at our Engine & Transmission Exchange care center in south Milwaukee. Eventually, Todd would leave to follow his passion for machining.
“My dad was a machinist,” explains Todd. “I worked along side him for a while; a lot of people knew him. But, really, I just enjoyed the work. making stuff from nothing was what I wanted to do.”
So what brought Todd back? “I worked at one of the largest machine shops in Milwaukee. I did large scale machining on, like, cranes and mining equipment. What I worked on was awesome, but I felt like a number. That’s why I came back. I feel like part of the family here.”
He continues, “I started back when we still did engines. Even then, you could tell that this was Sam’s [our President and Founder] baby. I just fell in love with the family atmosphere.”
Over the past decade, Todd has seen and been instrumental in the growth and development of the Machining Department. But that growth hasn’t been without its challenges. “The hardest thing is finding qualified machinists. The good ones tend to stay with companies for 30+ years because those companies don’t want to let them go. We try to get around that by hiring from within. What our guys may not have in experience, they’ve shown through hard work, skill, and interest.”
So what keeps Todd at ETE REMAN? “It’s a great place to work. A lot of people here – especially in Machining – are easygoing and fun to work with. There’s lots of opportunity for growth and you can tell that management cares by how involved they all are. Again, it’s like a family.”
