Newbern Fire Support

April 15th, 2009:

On Monday, December 1, 2008, at 8:35 p.m., the yard Power Products Group - Newbern Facility experienced a fire at the warehouse in Dyersburg, TN. Fortunately, all of the employees at the warehouse and the finished product inside of it were a loss. A large group of individuals throughout the organization were quickly mobilized to help everyone in Newbern devise and execute a plan to get back up and running.

By the following Monday, December 8, 70% of the employees were able to come back to work with two-thirds of the lines back up and running for production. Full production was brought back up to speed by December 22. Because of the speed of recovery and the dedicated group who worked to get the Newbern facility back to full production, there wasn't a negative impact felt by any of the customers to whom Newbern provides products and service.

The Yard Power Group would like to express their appreciation to the individuals and teams who rallied immediately following the fire at the Newbern facility. It was truly inspiring to see all of the Briggs & Stratton divisions and locations come tether as a group to get Newbern back up and running in short order.

Champions from the home and Yard Power team included Dave Mauer, Trey Haury, Dan Kennedy, Bob Spenner, Randy Ptacek, Sam Gerrits, Jenny Waugh, Larry Mingledorff, Rea Osborne, Don Schoonenberg, Dean Schaffer, David Paul and Vince Shiely.

A corporate resource team made up of Darin Goodwiler, Ann Hintz, Autumn Bachmann, Frank Sprtel, Patty Hanz, Laura Timm, Deanna Zabel, Troy Blewett, Randy Ballard, Jennifer Thompson, Todd Teske, Lorrie Morgan, Kent Seflow, Dan Kulbeck, Mary Lou Janowitsch, Yen Lin, Randy Rybakowicz, Mark Ciszek, Dave Klipstein, Doug Sowatsky, Kevin Trapp, Sandy Gast, Mike Donaldson, Arnold Jensen and Jay Howard were crucial to the process. These individuals were influential in understanding what needed to be accomplished, and worked swiftly to make it happen.

A very large group of departments and individuals were instrumental from each of the engine divisions as well. An overwhelming thank you also goes out to the Murray, Poplar Bluff and Auburn engine plants. Some individuals that worked very closely with the group to get everything back up and running include Scott Vaughn and Larry Hatt.

Without everyone's help and perseverance, we never would have seen such a quick turnaround in production, or have been able to bring everyone back to work as quickly. With all parties involved, it shows the organization as a whole that we are a team. We are the Briggs & Stratton family.

Written By: Power Pulse
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