Capital for a Day Highlights WheelPad Manufacturing Campus

As part of the “Capital for a Day” initiative, a tour of each of Vermont’s 14 counties over a 10-month period by Governor Phil Scott, state officials visited the WheelPad Manufacturing Campus in Wilmington.

Economic Development Interim Commissioner Brett Long and Housing and Community Development Commissioner Alex Farrell were joined for a morning tour of the campus by other state officials, town officials, representatives from BDCC, and Rep. Emily Carris-Duncan, who represents Wilmington, Whitingham, and Halifax.

Throughout the tour, the group was able to meet with many faces of the WheelPad team including Construction Manager Duane Farrell, Facilities Manager and Safety Coordinator Kendrick Waterman, Chief of Staff Luella Strattner, Director of Growth RJ Adler, and the two founders Julie and Joseph. 

Read below some excerpts and quotes from the WheelPad team during the visit - 

Chief of Staff Luella Strattner on company culture:
“It’s very important for myself and Julie to create a workplace we would feel comfortable working at,” said Strattner. “Which is not always the case in construction. My dad is in construction. I grew up with a lot of it and I’m very aware of what it can be like, and we did not want it to be like that. I’m happy to say it is not.” 

Construction Manager Duane Farrell on the manufacturing team:
“We’re getting stronger every day, learning to talk to each other and communicate,” said Farrell. “Nobody is afraid to look silly, so to speak, by asking questions. Every day we’re getting faster and better. Our quality is going up, our hours are going down. There is strength in diversity, and coming from a building family all my life, I wouldn’t have thought it. I’ve been proven wrong. This thing is working out great.” 

Facilities Manager and Safety Coordinator Kendrick Waterman on the mission and values being instilled in every part of the company:
“We are a small and growing facility,” said Waterman. “We’re focusing on building our culture, from the materials we use and products we produce as well as the team members’ well-being and health here at the facility.”

This story was first reported by Lauren Harkawik at the Deerfield Valley News. Read the full article on their website (paywall).