Employee Spotlight: Mike Lendman and his 37 Years at Achilles USA
In 1989, Mike Lendman was looking for a new job when he drove past a sign that read "Kohkoku." He didn't know what a guard shack was, so he drove past it and went straight to the front door.
"As I walked in, security was on the phone with the receptionist. I was embarrassed," Mike says. "She asked me to have a seat, and I thought I was in trouble." He wasn't in trouble. The receptionist asked if he had time for an interview, and Mike sat down with the president and the plant manager. On his way out, he overheard someone say, "We got a good one." Mike turned around, smiled, and was hired on the spot. He started one week later. Mike is now the manager of the co-extrusion department, and he's been part of the Achilles USA family for 37 years.
Three weeks into the job, the president who had interviewed him stopped by, shook his hand, and greeted him by his name. Mike felt seen and knew that small gestures like that were a sign he was working with a great team. Since then, Mike has worked on nearly every line in the plant. He's completed two tours in the extrusion department and served as group manager for many teams inside Achilles USA. Mike has also been to Japan twice for training and to visit our parent company.
One of Mike's proudest achievements was developing a "ghost line" to produce two products simultaneously on the same machine. By ordering custom tools to run different roll widths at once and collaborating with other departments to record dual production, his team eliminated offline slitting with minimal investment. Demonstrating how shop-floor innovation thrives with company support.
A lot has changed since the Kohkoku days. When Mike started, there were only three lines. "We had a stencil to print our own roll labels by hand. No forklifts, just pallet jacks," Mike remembers. Today, our size, markets, and methods have all changed a lot, and Mike has been there for every step. This year, our co-extrusion line started running. "Every day we are learning, improving, and working as a team, and we have come a long way. I am fortunate to have four great crews on my team." Mike says.
Mike sums up the Achilles culture simply: "If a person is willing to learn and put in the effort, the company supports you and helps you to succeed and grow." His advice for new team members is practical—and something any manufacturing pro will appreciate: "Take notes, you will need them." "Manufacturing plastics is not always a smooth process. Every day we face different challenges," he says. "A challenge that you were able to overcome will most likely return someday, but you have the notes on how to take care of it. I still take notes every day." After 37 years, that's advice worth writing down.
Life Outside the Achilles
This time of year, Mike's weekends are all about softball. His granddaughter has been pitching in a league for eight years, and the family follows her to tournaments around the area, in Oregon, and in the Tri-Cities. This year there's at least one scheduled in Las Vegas. "I'll be on that plane," he says.
When he's not in the stands, Mike enjoys Saturday and Sunday mornings with a cup or two of coffee and a Netflix series with his wife, then heads out to the yard for some fresh air. He recently bought a smoker, so his next project may be a little tastier than a slitter upgrade.
Thank you, Mike, for 37 years of problem-solving, teamwork, and good notes. Achilles USA is a better place because you drove up to the front door that day!
