O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS)- Indianapolis, IN

Rickey Banks- Machine Lead

O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS)- Birmingham, AL

Walt Brittain- Director of Safety

O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS)- Greensboro, NC

Vladimir Sychev- Maintenance Technician

What is your job/role at OMS?

1st Shift Maintenance Technician. My priorities are to keep any machinery running in the plant. My primary focus is to keep the lasers running at all times. 

What does a typical day at OMS look like for you?

The Maintenance Department starts the day with a meeting first thing in the morning. We receive the updates on machine status from the previous shifts. Our work gets prioritized and assigned to the Maintenance Technician who can best service the machines. We all focus on any breakdown or preventative maintenance that is needed to keep the operation going. 

Where is your hometown?

I’m originally from Agawam, Massachusetts. I moved to North Carolina in 2018 for a change of scenery. In Massachusetts the weather is bad and there’s a high cost of living. I attended a 2 year vocational school focusing in automotive. My main source of employment was an operator at a laser/welding cutting facility in Massachusetts. I also had a garage working on cars for about 6 years as a side hobby. 

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I have a carpentry shop at my house, building nightstands and doing trim work. I have personally made floating tensegrity tables. Tensegrity tables are tables that have a top and bottom and they look as though they are not connected. They are held together by a thin wire giving the appearance of a floating top. Also, my wife and I like to ride dirt bikes. This is how me and my wife met.

You’re happiest when…?

I’m happiest when the tasks are not repeated. With Maintenance, every day is unique. It really doesn’t repeat itself. I like to do a variety of different things. I have a desire to continuously learn something new; it’s just refreshing. 

What’s your favorite quote?

A man’s heart plans his way. But the LORD directs his steps. – Proverbs 16:9

What are three words that best describe you?

I say I’m hard working. I’m always doing stuff around the house even when my wife tells me to stop working. However, my wife says I’m proficient, loving, and organized. 

What advice do you have for prospective OMS candidates?

Don’t let a little dirt keep you from joining a great company. It’s not hard to get recognized here. Management is always looking out for their employees. Great place to work, good health insurance, good time off and great people to work with here at O’Neal Manufacturing Services. 

Thank you Vladimir for being a valuable member of our OMS family!

O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS)- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Jennifer Burns- Production Scheduler/ Inventory

What is your job role at OMS?

I create work orders for the saw, lasers, plasmas, and oxy tube lasers going by the customer sales requests. After the work orders are created, I attach the appropriate paper work and then put them in a schedule by customer request date and distribute to the machines. 

How long have you been with our company?

I have been with the company for 26 and a half years.

How has OMS helped you in your career development?

I started my career at OMS as a district clerk which was shipping, receiving, safety, inventory and human resources. Then I became a Maintenance Planner and Plant Purchasing Agent. Currently I am a Production Scheduler/Inventory. 

What have you gained from working at OMS?

I have gained experience and knowledge in many different areas of the company.

What is your proudest moment at OMS?

My proudest moment at OMS was when I became the Plant Purchasing Agent. When I took this position there was not a procedure in place, so I created a system as to how items were to be ordered, received, and inventoried. After I established this procedure money was saved and things were organized. 

What does true leadership mean to you?

True leadership to me is knowing what tasks need to be accomplished and being able to guide your employees on how to complete the task. A true leader also needs to be patient, a team player, have excellent communication skills, have a positive attitude and always willing to jump in and help with all situations. 

What drew you to OMS originally and how has OMS changed since then? 

I was brought into O’Neal as a temporary employee through a service. 

I have been a part of many changes since I started here. Several machines have moved, left, and new ones have come in the doors. I have also watched the change of different types of material we have sold and the many processes and customer changes. 

What advice do you have for prospective OMS candidates?

My advice would be to come to work, be interested in helping build the company, and learn as much as you can about the businesses. This will benefit your future.

Thank you Jennifer for 26.5 years of service and helping make OMS the best!

O’Neal Manufacturing Services- Louisville, Kentucky

James Oliveira- General Manager

What drew you to work for O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS)?

I work in Louisville, KY now but I started as a college intern in Birmingham. O’Neal has such a strong name in Birmingham so starting a career with such a respected company was an easy decision. 

What do you consider the most important cultural value for you and those close to you?

Pride in your work and always working to exceed.

What misconception about your heritage or country of origin would you like to correct?

We are not all the same. There are many countries/cultures that make up the Asian/Pacific Islander ethnicity. It is easy to fall into stereotypes. 

What does Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month mean to you?

This is an interesting question as Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month has been around for a while but not really celebrated in the mainstream until recent history.  I guess to me it means a few things.  I think of my mom and my siblings and it reminds me where my family came from and where we are now. 

What are you most proud of?

The life my wife, my son, and I have built together. 

Thank you James for your many years of service and dedication to the OMS family!

O’Neal Manufacturing Services- Houston, Texas

Danh and Danny Nguyen have a combined 51 years at O’Neal!

What drew you to work for O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS)?

We liked the family culture and we wanted to be with a good company for a welding job.

What do you consider the most important cultural value for you and those close to you?

For our family it is honesty, hard work, and our Buddhist religion.

What misconception about your heritage or country of origin would you like to correct?

People think we are very poor and we all look the same.

What does Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month mean to you?

It’s good because it shows how amazing Asian culture is and it is good representation for our people. 

What are you most proud of?

The opportunity to migrate to America and to have a good life for our family. Our parents came here with 5 children from Saigon, Vietnam.

Thank you Danh and Danny for your continued dedication to the OMS family!

O’Neal Manufacturing Services- Greensboro, North Carolina

Rensmay “J5” Lam- Quality Engineer

What drew you to work for O’Neal Manufacturing Services (OMS)?

I was recommended to this company by someone who thought I could contribute to the team. The more I looked into the company, it was easier to see how I could transition into the field. 

What do you consider to be the most important cultural value for you and for those close to you?

Acceptance. Sometimes the unconventional works and sometimes the traditional works. 

What misconception about your heritage or country of origin would you like to correct?

We are not a monolith. We have different feelings and complex emotions and values. It can be too easy to lean into the stereotypes and unconscious biases. 

What does Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month mean to you?

I believe it can lend a voice to those who would not normally speak up on issues. 

What are you the most proud of?

The fact that I can look over my body of work and see how it has affected the company as a whole. 

Thank you Rensmay for your hard work and dedication to our team!

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the same year, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 72. Neither of these resolutions passed, so in June 1978, Rep. Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This resolution proposed that the President should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” This joint resolution was passed by the House and then the Senate and was signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978, to become Public Law 95-419. Then in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Our first spotlight is Jason Chen, a Quality Technician at our Louisville, KY location!

What drew you to work for O’Neal Manufacturing Services?

I started with a random job search and have been working here at O’Neal for about 18 years. What draws me to come to work every day is the people I work with. Asian culture values inter-relationship among people and I feel comfortable and relaxed working in such an environment.

What do you consider the most important cultural value for you and those close to you?

1. Family comes first and respect others
2. Be sincere and work hard

What misconception about your heritage or country of origin would you like to correct?

Some people may think Asian cultures are all same. They can be quite different depending on different areas or countries.

What does Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month mean to you? 

It’s a reminder for me to stop from the hustle and bustle. To look back where I came from and think about how I can make myself better and send positive energy to people around me.

What are you most proud of?

My wife and my daughter.

O’Neal Manufacturing Services, Cedar Falls

What drew you to work at O’Neal Manufacturing Services? 

What drew me to Iowa laser was how many people I knew that worked here. The environment felt welcoming and for being a girl who would be the only one on the shop floor that meant a lot.

What woman has most influenced you in your life and/or career? 

For women in my life I’ve had many, but I’ve also had many men in my life who were a huge influence in my life and the career path I’ve chosen. The woman who stood out the most and still to this day is my sister she passed away 13 years ago due to cancer. But I remember her and live by her smiling everyday and making it the best it can be no matter what. It’s gotten me through some pretty tough time in my life. 

What advice would you give to a woman wishing to start their career in the industry? 

My best advice is to decide what you truly want in life. I didn’t pick my career based on the pay, the fact it was a male dominated industry, or the opportunities. I picked it cause it’s truly what I love doing. If you can find that in your career the rest will fall into place. 

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud that I’ve gotten as far as I have in my career in such a short time. There were many times and people telling me I either shouldn’t or couldn’t be a welder for one reason or another. I went through college top of my class and I’m now thriving in my work place and learning more than I could of imagined with not only welding, but also the other departments in the shop.

Thank you Shannon for your hard work and dedication to OMS!

O’Neal Manufacturing Services, Greensboro

What drew you to work at O’Neal Manufacturing Services? 

The challenge of something new. I was working in Supply Chain at O’Neal Steel and at one time, the purchasing team had certain people that bought for OMS. I remember hearing them talk about the material and the parts and it scared the heck out of me. I thought it was something I’d never understand. Thinking I couldn’t do it, made me want to do it even more. The opportunity later came open at OMS to be a part of their purchasing team, and I was excited to be a part of it.

What woman has most influenced you in your life and/or career?  

There isn’t just one. I have a big family of strong women. They’ve all influenced me and been a driving force to succeed. They rock.  I also had a manager when I worked at a bank that was a HECK of a woman. She really sparked a fire in me that is still there today. 

What advice would you give to a woman wishing to start their career in the industry? 

Don’t hesitate. I didn’t know the first thing about it when I started, and I’m still learning everyday. There is no better industry than Metal. Steel, specifically.

What are you most proud of?

I’m proud of myself for taking chances on things I knew nothing about. The steel industry, manufacturing, all of it. I took a chance on things that were unknown and out of my comfort zone and it’s been the best decision. I’m super thankful for my first position at O’Neal Steel and the transition to OMS. I take great pride in my job and the company I work for and I wouldn’t be where I am if I always stuck with what was comfortable. 

Thank you Amanda for your hard work and dedication to OMS!