Fontaine trainees prepare to be leaders

Jan. 1, 2011
The inaugural class of Fontaine Modification Company's Management Trainee Program is starting to make a real impact as its members move into management

The inaugural class of Fontaine Modification Company's Management Trainee Program is starting to make a real impact as its members move into management positions.

To prepare for growth and expansion, the company launched a management training program in 2009. Through the program, Fontaine hires recently graduated mechanical and electrical engineers, who then undertake a series of short-term assignments. Everyone in the program starts as an hourly technician modifying trucks on the production floor. After 90 to 120 days on the production floor, trainees rotate through various assignments in areas including quality control, process engineering, sales, and operations.

Four people with mechanical engineering degrees are in the program:

  • Shelby Simes, a 2009 graduate of Lawrence Technological University, was promoted to corporate procurement manager.

  • Ivan Barnes, a 2009 graduate of the University of Arizona, was put in charge of Fontaine's newest modification center in Laredo TX earlier in 2010.

  • Chris VanDeWiele, a 2007 graduate of the University of Michigan, is serving as Fontaine's inventory control manager.

  • Mike Knisley, a 2009 graduate of The Ohio State University, is an engineer dedicated to Fontaine Modification customer Hino Trucks.