WGRZ VIDEO NOW ONLINE

The video from Daybreak's live broadcast from Confer Plastics is now available on WGRZ's website. A big thanks to Kevin O'Neill for always highlighting the good things going on in the area on "Celebrate WNY":

http://www.wgrz.com/news/daybreak/CelebrateWNY/article/136664/198/NT-Manufacturer-Excels-in-Plastics

PETE MILLER JOINS THE 20 YEAR CLUB

Pete Miller in 1992

On September 18th, Pete Miller became the 24th member of Confer Plastics’ Twenty Year Club. Pete started here as a young buck of 19 years of age. He worked on all 3 shifts as a machine operator before making the move to secondaries where he spent a couple of years finishing voting booths for Sequoia. That was not an easy task as each console needed more than 90 holes drilled and over 70 inserts installed.

His handiwork and background in automotive mechanics showed that he had what it takes for set-up, where he was tutored by Carl Hartzfeld, John Cleary and others. He quickly learned - and mastered – the tricks of the trade, learning everything about hydraulics, electrical and blow molding.

About 7 years ago he assumed the responsibility of plant manager, capitalizing on his knowledge of everything production and process related and his ability to work with people to make the most out of his, their, and our potential. He oversees everything on the production floor (personnel, process, and equipment) and has maintained that role at CPI longer than anyone before him.

20 years is a long time. How long ago was it? Look at what happened in September 1991:

• The Buffalo Bills began their second Super Bowl season with Jim Kelly throwing 6 TDs against the Steelers
• The Soviet Union dissolved
• A grease fire broke out at Imperial Foods in North Carolina, killing 25
• Deion Sanders was playing baseball with the Braves
• Manuel Noriega’s trial began
• REM was the big winner at the MTV music awards
• “Commish” was the big TV debut of the month

KEVIN O'NEILL FEATURED CONFER PLASTICS IN HIS "CELEBRATE WNY" SERIES

On Wednesday, September 21st, WGRZ TV 2's Kevin O'Neill broadcasted live from Confer Plastics' as a part of his ongoing "Celebrate WNY" series that is a part of WGRZ's morning show, DayBreak.

Three 5-minute snippets about CPI ran during the 2 hour newscast.

Kevin and our own Cliff Hoover educated the viewers about blow molding and introduced them to our wide variety of custom and proprietary products. Viewers were also able to see two of our 75-pound blow molding machines in operation.

KEVIN O'NEILL TO BROADCAST FROM CPI THIS WEDNESDAY

Kevin O'Neill is famous in the Buffalo area for his entertaining and informative "Celebrating WNY" broadcasts that appear on WGRZ TV 2's DayBreak. The morning show runs from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. and Kevin makes two live appearances during DayBreak, as he broadcasts from a Western New York business, non-profit or special event, highlighting the people and places of our area.

Kevin will be broadcasting from Confer Plastics this Wednesday, September 21st. Be sure to watch DayBreak. If you miss the show you can catch highlights at WGRZ's website:

http://www.wgrz.com/news/daybreak/default.aspx

NO PARKING FOR THUNDER ON NIAGARA

As much as we'd like to be a good neighbor, parking in the Confer Plastics lot is not allowed for this weekend's Thunder On Niagara jet boat race at the adjoining Gratwick Park. Our lot is closed to those who do not work here due to liability and risk and production taking place this weekend. Also, parking on the roadway coming into our property is limited to the south shoulder as we need the roadway open for tractor trailers and our workforce.

NATIONAL GRID & CONFER PLASTICS TEAM-UP ON LIGHTING PROJECT

Confer Plastics is in the process of replacing the lighting at our facility which last saw an upgrade in the late-1990s. The project began last week and the energy-efficient lights have already had a huge impact: Our workforce came back from our annual plant shutdown week to a very bright production facility. It was like walking into a new factory!

Further results will appear soon as markedly-lower electrical bills.

This project would not be possible without the financial assistance of our electrical provider, National Grid. The power company paid for one half of the project!

National Grid's energy efficiency programs are designed for mid-size and large commercial & industrial customers to provide financial incentives and technical assistance to encourage the installation of high efficiency energy measures. Innovative electric technologies are available to replace inefficient equipment or systems in existing buildings which will help business owners reduce operating costs, increase productivity, and remain competitive and profitable for future growth and sustainability. For more information contact your National Grid representative.

THERESA RETIRES AFTER 32 + YEARS

Make sure you say “good bye” to Theresa Fronczak this week.

Friday will be her last day at the plant after 32 years of service to Confer Plastics and our customers. She may be back for a few days in late August to lend a hand, but for all intents and purposes she’ll be joining the ranks of retirement at week’s end. She’s looking forward to spending quality time with her army of cute grandkids.

Theresa started at Confer Plastics on March 22nd, 1979 back when we operated out of the old Roblin Steel facility off of East Ave in North Tonawanda (and Bob Confer was just over 4 years old).

She started as a machine operator (she still has her knife!) and soon moved to the front office where she’s been ever since. Her duties consist of preparing a variety of correspondence for our custom clients, ranging from letters to reports to quotes to invoices. She has been an important part of our administrative/customer relations functions -- and the Confer extended family -- and she will be missed.

Here is a classic Theresa photo from 1986 when we just moved into the Witmer Road facility…

FORSEY JOINS 20 YEAR CLUB

The Twenty Year Club welcomed its 23rd member this Monday when Annette Forsey celebrated two decades of employment at Confer Plastics.

The LaSalle High graduate, who now calls North Tonawanda home, started working here on July 25th, 1991 after stints at Solar Drape in Tonawanda and Finishing Enterprises at Wulitzer Park in NT. To put that era into perspective, her wage at Finishing Enterprises when she left there was $3.85.

Annette was a machine operator for a while before making the permanent move to the secondaries department where since 1992 she has packed swimming pool ladder hardware and done other tasks. In a typical year, she and her partner in crime Vicki might pack between 50,000 and 60,000 hardware bags. So, over her 20 years, she helped pack nearly 1 million of them!

How long ago was July of 1991? Ponder this glimpse at the history of that month:

• Serial killer Jeffery Dahmer was arrested after the remains of 11 men and boys were found in his apartment
• Mike Tyson was arrested for raping a Miss Black America Contestant
• The United States and Soviet Union signed the first ever START Treaty, limiting nuclear arms
• India announced its New Industrial Policy, setting it on the path to total economic reform
• Boris Yeltsin began his first term as the first elected president of Russia