Dec 31 2008

John Denny Retires After 35 Years of Service to Umpqua Dairy

A DAIRY ICON RETIRES! MR JOHN DENNY.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamara Osborne, 541-672-2638 ext 121

On December 31, 2008 after 35 ½ years John Denny retired from Umpqua Dairy.

Before coming to work for the Dairy, John worked at AAA Auto Parts in Sutherlin. He also worked ten years for the JC Penney Auto Center servicing cars. On April 16, 1973 John started his career at Umpqua Dairy when Bob Feldkamp hired him. When hired John was hoping for a position as a mechanic but Bob told him to be patient and perhaps something would come up. During his career John has worked in a number of positions. He started in the Cooler Checkstand loading trucks with one other employee, Frank Husak. He has moved to numerous positions in this order, Route Sales, Ice Cream Room, Cottage Cheese Room, Back to Ice Cream Room, Relief Worker in Butter, Mix and Milk Room, weekend worker in Maintenance, back to Ice Cream Room and then Ice Cream Room Supervisor.

For the last 6 ½ years he has held the position of Plant Purchasing Supervisor. This position entails the purchasing of all raw ingredients for our finished products, plastic and paper container products, cleaning compounds and housekeeping supplies. John has developed great relationships with our vendors. He has high standards, but can be very frugal when negotiating the prices we pay to these vendors. He is not afraid to ask for the best deal. He has been on the forefront in helping to develop new formulas and flavors and has a fine palate for discerning what will and will not work.

Greg Admire has taken over John’s position. He was asked how he feels about this. He said he has big shoes to fill and looks forward to learning all aspects of his position.

John is highly regarded by his co-workers and they were asked to comment on their time working with John. Here is some of what they said:
-He has a very good memory and an eye for detail.
-He is definitely old school, no short cuts, show up for work early, work hard, do a good job, and no grey area.
-John never ceases to amaze all of us with his kindness. He is always sending thank you gifts to us ladies and brings fresh items from his garden & orchard every year.
-Nice man who epitomizes what a good worker should encompass.
-He will be missed, doesn’t get any better than John.
-I admire the affection and respect he shows for his spouse.

When Johnw was asked about his retirement plans. He commented that he has enrolled in a Master Gardner and Steelhead Fishing Class at UCC. He also spend time pursuing one of his favorite hobbies of restoring classic cars, as well as riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

When asked about memories at Umpqua Dairy John said one of the highlights in his career was winning 1st in Ice Cream and Lite Ice Cream at the National Quality Chek’d meetings in 1996 and 1998. He is amazed at how the Dairy has grown from when he was hired as 45th employee to 243rd employees we have today.

John wants everyone to know and I quote, “he had the pleasure to work for and know Bob Feldkamp and is sure he would be very proud of his sons and the success they have made of his small Southern Oregon Dairy.” John finishes by saying, “I came to work here in 1973 hoping for a mechanic job. Bob told be to be patient something would come up. Thirty-five years later still no mechanic job.” As everyone here at the dairy knows, his talents were put to better use. John was presented with a gold watch for his retirement gift from Umpqua Dairy.

Congratulations John!