Employee Spotlight: Dave Stewart Got Inked!

Dave Stewart is the lead welder at A.O. Reed’s Sheet Metal Shop and has A.O. Reed pride beyond compare! Dave is a second-generation employee and has been at the company for 29 years. The Stewart’s history at A.O. Reed started with his father, Ron, who began his career in 1968. Ron enjoyed working at A.O. Reed and stayed at the company from his apprenticeship until retirement. His sons, Dave and Donald, were exposed to the company culture through their dad’s stories and family friends, who were also A.O. Reed employees. His children saw the positive impact A.O. Reed had on the family and their dad's professional growth, and the two of them both started their careers at the company when they came of age.

Dave knew the culture and people before stepping foot at A.O. Reed’s shop. When he officially started, he fit right in! Dave started the first two years as a technician at A.O. Reed’s sheet metal shop in 1996. From there, he joined the Sheet Metal Apprenticeship and graduated from the five-year program. He learned from Mike Favorite, Ed Locker, and his dad. Due to the welcoming culture and people, he was given the right environment to flourish. He knew a company like this was rare, so he was motivated to work hard to stay until retirement. He has learned all areas of shop fabrication but was drawn to welding. Now, 29 years later, Dave is the lead welder at the shop. He has fabricated magnificent systems such as fan walls, duct measuring 248” x 142”, and custom fabrication. He is passionate about the projects he has worked on and his craft. He currently trains apprentices at the shop. Dave also trained apprentices at the local union for 8 years on welding. Teaching the younger generation of welders gives him the satisfaction of knowing his craft and memory is being passed down.

One of the biggest fans of A.O. Reed’s memorabilia is Dave. As stated, “I start my day subliminally thinking about A.O. Reed when drinking from the company coffee cup. These cups are arguably one of the first produced stating A.O. Reed’s 76th anniversary.” Whenever we find old relics of the company’s past, Dave is always informed to see if he’d like to add them to his collection. Some of these include vintage shirts, hats, and a miniature sink magnet used for paper clips.

To Dave, A.O. Reed is a part of his identity and provides a second family. He has seen the company’s growth from when he was a kid to now as a 29-year veteran. Family and friends are blended as coworkers; and, to Dave, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Dave recently got a tattoo celebrating A.O. Reed’s and Local 206’s impact on his life. We are so proud that A.O. Reed has built such a strong culture and has had an impact on people’s lives. The company is set to achieve “Quality Behind the Name” in everything we do, including the relationships we build with our team members.