Steelcase, the largest employer in Athens, is celebrating 40 years as an Athens manufacturing facility.

Steelcase Inc. first began manufacturing furniture panels and storage products here in 1979.

Athens plant manager Al Long of Tanner said he started at Steelcase in 1983 as a temporary worker on the paint line. He was 16 years old. He’s been the plant’s operations leader for about six months.

“We are celebrating 40 years of operations here in Athens,” Long said. “The plant opened in 1979 and now we are celebrating our 40th anniversary of doing business.”

On Wednesday, the plant at 214 Durham Drive took a break to enjoy some food and fellowship.

Long said Steelcase’s secret is its people. The Athens facility currently has 860 employees and they’re still hiring on second and third shifts.

“We’ve got some really good people,” he said. “We’ve been really fortunate to have some great leadership here.”

He said Steelcase plans to continue to be a part of the community for years to come. In fact, the plant is experiencing growth in some of its product lines and is continuing to look at the Athens operation for other opportunities, Long said.

Steelcase Director of U.S. Operations Bob Hendriksen said the Athens plant is a “good portion of Steelcase’s total revenue.”

“It’s a very strategic plant for us making panel systems and floor-to-ceiling walls,” Hendriksen said. “There are about 1,000 employees and it’s one of our two biggest plants of 13 in the world.”

Hendriksen said the Athens team is “amazing” in terms of its focus on the customer and what the team will do.

“I love coming down here and working with Al and the team and seeing them continue to get better all the time,” Hendriksen said.

He told employees he looks forward to “a long future together.”

Back to its roots

Bob Ballard Sr. was the first plant manager and opened the Steelcase facility in Athens. His son was also a plant manager at the location.

The senior Ballard talked to employees Wednesday about their future.

“Are you going to be here 40 years from now?” he asked to joking replies. “There are 17 people here who were here when the business started back in 1979. They didn’t think they were going to be here either.

“Is this plant going to be the flagship plant it is today in 2059? You can make that happen,” he said.

“What you do makes a difference.”

Ballard said it’s important to get up every morning and do the very best you can.

“You folks have your destiny in your hands,” he said. “What happens in this plant from this day forward is up to you. Think about your future.”

Ballard said those who are new to the facility are a part of a great operation that is settled.

“The business is strong,” he said. “The business makes money. The business is growing. The reason that happens is because of people like you.”

Bobby McCown, the first employee hired at Steelcase in Athens, was also at the celebration.

McCown said he thought Steelcase would be around as long as it has, but he didn’t think he would stick with them so long. Although he retired in 1999, he still cleans up around the facility. He said Steelcase was good to him.

Charles Durham was also at the celebration Wednesday. Durham was part of a team that helped land Steelcase in Athens 40 years ago. Back then, he said, economic development wasn’t the same as it is today. The Jaycees were organizing economic development and support at the time. Durham was the coordinator.

“I just agreed to do it temporarily until they could get somebody,” Durham said. “Thirty-five years later, I told them they better get to looking.”

The Steelcase facility was first set up to be a General Fireproofing facility, but was later bought by Steelcase.

“We felt good about Steelcase because they’re a Cadillac in their industry,” Durham said. “They had such a reputation as a Top 10 employer in the United States and stuff like that. We had other companies interested, but we wanted Steelcase because of the reputation they had. So, we were able to make it happen.”

He said it’s rewarding to see where Steelcase is today.

“I was just a person carrying a water pail,” Durham said. “The public sector has to make these projects happen. As a rural community, we’ve been blessed.”

Giving back

Steelcase not only employs many in Limestone County, but it is also known for giving back.

“Steelcase is a good neighbor who has reached out to support disaster relief, community events and causes,” United Way Director Kaye Young McFarlen said.

In the 40 years Steelcase has been in Limestone County, the good works of the company and its employees have been bountiful, McFarlen said. “The employees have given of their time, talents and financial support to United Way of Athens and Limestone County and other areas agencies.”

In those 40 years, the company and its employees have invested in financial donations and material support of more than $1 million, she said.

“If you calculated the hours of volunteer support in the 40-year span, that dollar figure would add up to $5 million in additional support,” McFarlen said. “The current rate to use by the Department of Labor for an hour of volunteer time is $23.46.”

McFarlen said United Way is grateful to the employees and management for all the ways they have helped improve the lives of the citizens of Limestone County.

“We are happy to be able to celebrate with them during their 40 years of manufacturing excellence in Athens and Limestone County,” she said.