The KnowZone Newsletter
SQ Employee News: October 2025
SQ Employee Newsletter - October 2025
Open Enrollment: October 28th - November 14th
Save the date – 2026 Open Enrollment is October 28th – November 14th, 2025!
This is your annual opportunity to enroll or make changes to your benefits. You should also use this time to add or drop dependents, update your beneficiary, and/or set contributions for your 2026 FSA account.
Informational postcards will be mailed out to all eligible employees with QR codes to access your 2026 Benefit Guides. When available, guides will also be posted on the SQ Employee Dashboard.
This year’s open enrollment is active. We are happy to announce that we will be switching medical insurance carriers. To ensure your benefits align with your needs for 2026, you must log in and make your elections—even if you want to keep the same coverage as last year. No benefits will automatically roll over, including your flexible spending contributions. If you wish to participate in an FSA for 2026, you must make a new election during the enrollment period.
Please carefully review all available options, as the elections you make will be binding from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2026.
The SQ Benefit Service Center can be reached at (855) 892-0067 and will be staffed with benefits counselors to answer your questions and enroll you for 2026. New this year, you will also be able to make your changes and new elections on the ADP app or online dashboard in the benefits section! Please make sure you have your login information so you can access this enrollment option.
Eligibility
Full-time employees are eligible for benefits on the first of the month after 60 days of employment if they are averaging 30+ hours per week.
Benefit Cards
Employees who make new elections during open enrollment should watch their mail for new benefit cards by January 1st. FSA debit cards are good for 3 years. You will automatically be mailed a new card before the expiration date.
Have questions? Email benefits@stratospherequality.com
Employee Spotlight: Nola Shepherd
This month’s spotlight shines on Nola Shepherd, a remarkable team member whose story is rooted in family, growth, and a deep commitment to excellence.
Meet Nola
Born in California but raised in Indiana, Nola is a proud Hoosier who has built a life full of love and adventure. Married to Dave for 37 years, they’ve raised three children — two sons and a niece who became part of the family as a teenager. Their home is filled with joy, thanks to nine grandchildren (ages 2 to 16) and two 16-year-old chihuahua brothers. When not cheering on grandkids at school events or sports games, she and Dave enjoy traveling, especially to somewhere warm – like the beach!
A Career Built on Growth and Mentorship
Nola joined SQ in September 2012 as an Administrative Assistant at the Indiana location. Her journey has taken her through the Information Management team, into Payroll, and now she serves as Payroll Manager. Along the way, she credits incredible mentors — Scott Hellman, Amy Zimmerman, and Kim Brooks — for shaping her path
and leadership style.
Creating a Culture of Commitment
When asked about the work environment she values, she emphasized the importance of working with people who are passionate, committed, and possess a strong work ethic. Her ideal team is one that gets things done and supports one another.
Why SQ Feels Like Home
Supportive leadership, flexibility, stability, and a challenging yet rewarding atmosphere are what keep her motivated. She finds joy in her coworkers and the culture that SQ fosters.
Words of Wisdom for New QIs
Her advice to new team members is simple but powerful: “Always ask questions to understand and learn as much as you can.”
Thank you, Nola, for sharing your story. Your dedication and commitment inspire us and help keep our team moving forward every day. We appreciate the wonderful example you set!
Highlighting Our Employees
Faces of SQ
If you would like to see your team highlighted, send a picture to sqnewsletter@stratospherequality.com
**Please be mindful not to capture any customer names, customer employees, or parts in your pictures.
Courtney and Jermaine
“Courtney Bowling and Jermaine Hood celebrate SQ-Alabama reaching 500,000 miles driving to support Stratosphere!”
Courtney with "Hannah", Jermaine
- Courtney poses with her trusty sidekick, Hannah Honda, which was manufactured in one of our locations!
- Jermaine poses with his dependable ride, clocking 134 miles each weekday as he travels between job sites.
Alabama Team has Football Spirit!
Ready, set, SORT! This team in SQ-Alabama is in the football spirit.
Pictured left to right: Kathryn Jackson, Ivory Carter, Jessica Steiner, Demetria Milsaps
Promotions
Congrats to our employees who were promoted!
Nareicy O’Keefe (Project Intake Specialist → Customer Service Specialist)
Noah Geilow (Project Manager – Chrysler Detroit → Operations Manager – Illinois)
Aimee Dailey (Team Leader → Project Supervisor)
Britney Wells (Team Leader → Project Supervisor)
Clara Mitchell (Team Leader → Project Supervisor)
Favian Finley (Team Leader → Project Supervisor)
Jay Layton (Team Leader → Project Supervisor)
Meet Soni (Team Leader → Project Supervisor)
Carl Diefenbach (PM – Dayton → SOM – Detroit)
Adam Hazle (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Alecia Eason (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Aniket Shingala (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Catrina Roberts (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Crystal Owen (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
James Stephens (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Jonathan Higgins (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Kelvin White (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Latasha Scott (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Lillian Mitchell (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Lorenza Velasquez (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Odin Hayes (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Priyank Patel (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Robert O’Reilly (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Shanaya Lagunas-Gaspar (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Thomas Shear (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Tiffeny Bevels (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
Yolanda Moore (Quality Inspector → Team Leader)
| QI to TL | 18 |
| TL to PS | 6 |
| PM to SOM | 1 |
| PM to OM | 1 |
| Project Intake Specialist to Customer Service Specialist | 1 |
| Total | 27 |
Anniversary Service Awards
15 Year Anniversaries
Clark Acton – Corporate
10 Year Anniversaries
David Riedstra – Toronto Production
5 Year Anniversaries
Adrian Weller – Dayton Production
Daniel King – Lincolnton Staff
Steve Neff – Marysville Production
1 Year Anniversaries
Aimee Cicchetto – Mansfield Production
Anthony Santana – Northern California Production
Antonio Kent – Honda Alabama Production
Avery Millender – Honda Alabama Production
Britney Wells – Honda Alabama Production
Candrice Phillips – Honda Alabama Production
Cassie Lovell – Honda Alabama Production
Christopher Johnson – Illinois/Wisconsin Production
Daniz Motmaen – Toronto Production
David Dearsman – Mansfield Production
DeJavion Vaughn – Indianapolis Production
Divega Mercy Kunju – Toronto Production
Elizabeth Brock – Honda Alabama Production
Elizabeth Gooch – Honda Alabama Production
Faith Denkewalter – Marysville Production
Gavin Belden – Honda Alabama Production
Hannah Wise – Sidney Production
Hillary Pitts – Indianapolis Production
Ingrid Martinez – Marysville Production
James Arnold – Honda Alabama Production
James Campbell – Marysville Production
Jamhaal Lewis – Duncan Production
Jessica Small – Battle Creek Production
Jordan Solomon – Indianapolis Production
Juana Guerra – Alabama Production
Judy Blackburn – Honda Alabama Production
Kathleen Finnigan – Acctg/Finance
LeTerius Brown – Honda Alabama Staff
Leundrea Russell – Battle Creek Production
Logan Elkins – Honda Alabama Production
Lorena Baldelamar – Honda Georgia Production
Mckenzie Hewitt – Mansfield Production
Miguel Jerez – Illinois/Wisconsin Production
Nicko Stracqualursi – Alabama Production
Olga Galvan – Texas Production
Razieh Badragheh – Toronto Production
Rebecca Bruce Hester – Honda Georgia Production
Samantha Evans – Sidney Production
Sheree Furby – Kansas City Production
Stephanie Strickland – Dayton Production
We Love Our Pets!
Pets of the Month
We would love to see your pet, send in a picture and description to sqnewsletter@stratospherequality.com
Eris
Meet Eris, a 7-year-old Honduran Curly Hair tarantula! Don’t let her looks fool you, she is very gentle and easy-going. Her hobbies include snacking on crickets, digging holes, and web development. Eris has 3 other tarantula friends: a Green Bottle Blue (Octavia), a Salmon Birdeater (Tuna), and a Guyana Pink Toe (Ada). She’s a low-maintenance pet and a unique conversation piece!
Pet Parent: Amanda Perkins, Operations Manager, Duncan
“Set up and completion of sorting activities at a customer site went very smoothly. Excellent job!”
— Customer in Ft. Wayne, IN
Do you have a good story or example of an extraordinary project execution? Received positive customer feedback?
We want to hear from you! Send those examples to sqnewsletter@stratospherequality.com
Pumpkin Spice Cereal Treats
Contact Us
Have a question or need help? Here are the best ways to contact various departments within Stratosphere Quality.
Human Resources
877-224-8584 *Dial 5
hr@stratospherequality.com
Benefits
877-224-8584 * Dial 4
benefits@stratospherequality.com
Payroll
877-224-8584 *Dial 3
payroll@stratospherequality.com
IT Help Desk
317-288-3116
itrequests@stratospherequality.com