Kawneer has been creating opportunities for its employees for more than a century . Founded in 1906 , the architectural aluminum products company is recognized as the market leader for commercial building manufacturing in North America - and continues to grow globally .
Employees from around the world are proud to contribute to an organization that quite literally transforms where people live , work and play . Kawneer ’ s high-performance building systems were used in the new home of the Minnesota Vikings football team , the U . S . Bank Stadium , which will also host the 2018 Super Bowl , and locally at Bud Walton Arena and the Bev Lewis Center for Women ’ s Athletics at the University of Arkansas . From the storefront of Forever 21 , to the windows in the crown of the Statue of Liberty , people everywhere are able to experience the ingenuity and hard work of Kawneer employees .
Kawneer ’ s Springdale plant is home to more than 550 employees , and many of them have developed from entrylevel hires into managers , and beyond . One example is Jose Javier Arreola , who started at Kawneer as a temporary maintenance worker after he graduated from Springdale High School . He soon began learning window dimensions and how to use a computer controlled milling machine to cut precise sizes and shapes .
“ I ’ d never used that kind of machine at all ,” Arreola said .
However , Arreola ’ s experience with computers at Springdale High School came in handy . 52
“ Jose came in with good computer skills and picked things up quickly ,” said Roger Johnson , Fabrication Manager .
Arreola credits skills he learned from his coworkers with helping advance his career .
“ I ’ d been going from job to job ,” Arreola said . “ I decided to stay . Better pay and promotions are available at Kawneer . Be patient . Look for your opportunity .”
After being hired at Kawneer in 1994 to work in fabrication , Roger Johnson also worked his way up the career ladder .
“ I was mechanically inclined and I like that sort of work ,” Johnson said . “ I learned the machines . I became shift leader , then supervisor and now manager . I ’ ve been a manager for 15 years .”
The job has changed a lot during Johnson ’ s career , thanks mostly to computers . He has also seen changes in construction technology .
“ We used to make individual parts of aluminum and glass ,” Johnson said . “ We would box them and ship them to the job site . It would then take