When Adam Scott interviewed for a job as a welder at Sentry Equipment, he was immediately impressed by the employee-ownership business model. More than six years later, he knows he made the right decision to join Sentry.

“I have a long family history of entrepreneurship, and employee-ownership gives me the same satisfaction of owning something versus just having a job,” he says.

Adam Scott

Welder

If he could do or be anything else, what would it be? “As a kid, I wanted to grow up to be a dairy farmer. Now if I had more time I would like to study and practice continuous improvement and environmental engineering.”

Three things he’d take on a deserted island: “Notebook and pencil, knife, and matches or a lighter.”

What is his favorite weekend activity? “My wife works weekends, so I’m super-dad to my two kids. I like to take them fishing and hiking, and I tend to my hobby farm. My favorite place to visit is Lake Superior.”

Efficiency Driven by teamwork

Adam starts his day with a team meeting in the shop, where he and his colleagues discuss upcoming projects that need attention, as well as review recently completed projects. These meetings drive his day, determining how tasks are delegated, who needs to collaborate, and where extra help might be necessary to get the job done.

“The welding department is one of the most organized and tightest teams in the company,” he says. “A lot of that is due to my manager, Tom Degrandt who supports this culture of teamwork and collaboration.”

Currently, Adam is working with a group to design and build a new part-catching cart for one of Sentry's machining robots. This is to improve the quantity of parts that can be made during our "lights out" time at night and prevent unnecessary damage to parts. Adam says this will improve the overnight process and reduce equipment damage from items falling off the cart. “I enjoy being able to work on Continuous Improvement projects to help the shop be more efficient,” he explains.

This attention to detail and focus on continuous improvement is just one of the reasons Sentry is a good fit for Adam.

“Sentry is a detail-oriented company, and that focus is something I value because it helps me work efficiently,” he says.

In the shop, efficiency is crucial. It helps the time-strapped fabrication team not only manage their projects but also find opportunities to work with the front office. Adam says communication with their office colleagues can be challenging, as the shop has a lean staff that’s deadline-focused, which can limit the amount of time they have to communicate with employee-owners outside the shop doors.

Despite the challenges, Adam loves welding, his job, and his colleagues. Knowing he gets to work with a talented and driven group of people keeps him going, as does Sentry’s employee-owned business model. Sentry employee-owners share in an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), so we all share in the benefits of our hard work, positive results, and continual improvement and innovation.

 “Sentry’s people make the difference. I love what I do, I learn something new every day and I enjoy working with my team,” he says. “I like the employee-owned business model because there’s more opportunity for growth as an individual.”

 He advises anyone joining the company: “Don’t give up. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Learn as much as you can.” He anticipates this mindset will help him continually learn about Sentry products, processes, and procedures – something he expects will support his career for years to come.

“Sentry employees focus on our culture and strive to continuously improve the way we do business,” he says. “The sky’s the limit!”

Employee-Owner Profiles is a regular feature that highlights members of our team. As an employee-owned company, Sentry Equipment believes that employee ownership makes a difference. Our employee-owners are dedicated to hard work, positive results, and continual improvement and innovation to provide our customers the highest quality products and services.