The KnowZone

Stratosphere Quality Newsletter – Seventh Edition

Date: February 21, 2023

Seventh Edition - February 2023

Celebrating 14 Years in Business

Please join us in celebrating Stratosphere Quality’s 14th year in business! We asked a few people to comment on what it’s been like working with SQ since 2009 and here’s what they had to say!

Employee Spotlight: Alejandro (Alex) Inostroza

We’re very pleased to share Alex Inostroza’s Stratosphere story in the Employee Spotlight February issue. Alex is currently the Operations Manager in Nevada and has been with Stratosphere for almost four years.

Alex has a background in automotive, customer service, and quality. His previous employer used Stratosphere’s services in their plant. Alex had interactions with Nick Hairrell and the Stratosphere team. In June 2019 Alex moved from Chicago to Nevada. After being in Nevada for approximately a week he interviewed for and accepted the position of Project Supervisor with Stratosphere. Alex exhibited a great work ethic and learned the ways of Stratosphere very quickly. This led to his promotion to Project Manager in August 2019. Alex continued to demonstrate his ability to lead a team and deliver excellent customer service. In March 2021 Alex was promoted to Operations Manager.

Alex prefers a work environment that includes teamwork which he instills in his team. He believes that if we work together, challenge each other, and listen to each other’s ideas we will succeed. He empowers his team to be creative and provide input. Alex likes the variety of work at Stratosphere. Every day is different and provides new opportunities. He enjoys teaching and guiding those employees that are hungry to learn and looking to grow with the company.

What are some things you may not know about Alex?

Alex is newlywed, married last September. He loves spending time with his family and friends and the family dog, Rosco. He also enjoys travel and sports. Alex is a huge Cubs fan, but ironically not a Bears fan. ☺

What’s Alex’s advice for new SQ employees?

Show up for work on time. Ask questions, be open, and have a good attitude. If you follow this advice there is an immense growth opportunity with Stratosphere.

What world problem would you fix and why?

Give everybody the opportunity to learn. Reflecting on my recent trip to Mexico, I was given the opportunity to learn many new things.

Alex says Thank You to Charlie Ungetheim, Tammy McEwen, and Kyle Coffinger for the opportunity and their confidence in his abilities. He wants everyone to know how much he appreciates his PMs, David Germain, and Karriana McClure for all the help they give him and his team. Also, thank you to Desiree Brownell and Ahmad Mher for their support.

Thank you, Alex!!! We appreciate all you do.

10 Year Anniversaries

Bhargavkumar Patel – Brampton Staff
Cheryl Alltop – Marysville Staff
Heather Staples – Greensburg Production
John Trent – Lexington Staff
Kimberly Brooks – Payroll
Robin Woods – Indianapolis Staff
Tammy McEwen – Toronto Staff

5 Year Anniversaries

Edward Jones III – Duncan Staff
Frank Lee – Marysville Production
Gabriella Williams – Indianapolis Production
Monica Anderson – Honda South Carolina Production
Terry Woods – Honda South Carolina Production
Tinisha McQueary – Greensburg Production

1 Year Anniversaries

Alisia Ramos – Tennessee Production
Babe Bradley – Indianapolis Production
Brittany Frazier – Recruiting
Carlos Hernando Monsalve – Toronto Production
Carmen Jefferson – Recruiting
Charlene Moore – Mississippi Staff
Charles Boles – Tennessee Production
Charlie Isenberg – Alabama Production
Danas Martin – Marysville Production
David Morgan – Wisconsin Production
Delena Skaggs – Marysville Production
Derrius Lowe – Chrysler Detroit Production
Dominick Woolridge – Detroit Production
Hally Brown – Marysville Production
Jessica Gronas – Sidney Production
Jessica Siniard – Georgia Production
Jholainy Alvarez De La Cruz – Pennsylvania Production
John Comstock – Indianapolis Production
Kendal Cotten – Chrysler Detroit Production
Kodiac Brown – Nevada Production
Krista Browning – Sidney Production
Lavonte Neal – Detroit Production
Lilian Flores – Northern California Production
Mariah Cabrera – Texas Production
Melinda Winningham – Indianapolis Production
Mike Clever – Marysville Production
Nathaniel Turpin – Duncan Production
Ramon Rodriguez Zapata – Tennessee Production
Ricardo Quinonez – Northern California Production
Richard Caponetto – Kansas City Staff
Robert Gossage – Indianapolis Production
Rolando Marquez – Alabama Production
Saul Caraballo – Mansfield Production
Shelton Goff – Nevada Production
Stephen Keith – Mansfield Production
Tina Scott – Alabama Production
Tracy Dover – Alabama Production
Wyatt Kirchner – Chrysler Detroit Production

Pets of the Month

We would love to see your pet, send in a picture and description to sqnewsletter@stratospherequality.com

Tater

This is our spoiled, much-loved, little Frenchie named Tater! He turned 2 on February 11th! He is the world’s biggest suck and a ferocious guard dog of his humans at that same time. He is a fair-weather dog who doesn’t like it too cold, too wet, or too hot outside. We are not convinced he even knows he’s a dog. Loves being included in all family events including anything that involves a car ride or treats, even entertains costumes and dress up with patience. Pet Parent: Tammy McEwen • Chief Operating Officer

Promotions

Congrats to our employees who were promoted in December!

Role and Department changes in total:

26 QI → TL
1 QI → QT
1 QI → Driver
17 TL → PS
1 PS → PM
1 PSII → SOM

Aaron Pickard (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Adam Butler (Quality Inspector to Driver)
Amanda Kimbrel (Quality Inspector to Team Leader )
Andrea Martin (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Andrea Ragan (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
April Rosario (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Brandi Gottwalt (PS II to Site Operations Manager)
Cari Niessen (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Dalton Newsome (Quality Inspector to Team Leader )
Desiree Brownell (Scheduler to Recuiter)
Douglas Cathis (Project Manager to Supplier Quality Engineer)
Dustin Taylor (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Dwight Connie (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Gerhard Scheiderer (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Gurwinder Singh (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Jasmine Webster (Project Supervisor to Travel Coordinator)
Jeremy Frazier (Quality Inspector to Team Leader )
Kimberly Elliott (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Kimberly Martin (Project Supervisor to Transfer – travel tem)
Leslie Smith (Quality Inspector to Quality Technician)
Manavdeep Singh (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Michelle Pagaduan (Project Supervisor to Scheduler)
Myrakel Heard (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Nitquita Steward (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Norma Hernandez (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Probhjot Singh (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Puneet Maangat (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Ranada Walker (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Robert (John) Hanselman (Quality Inspector to Team Leader )
Roselyn Jones (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Ruben Sanchez (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Sanket Patel (Project Supervisor to Project Manager)
Shakela Randle (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Sharea Hayes (Scheduler to Quality Inspector)
Shelby Inman (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Thaddius Watkins (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Tiana Gaucin (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Trisha Kuhns (Quality Inspector to Team Leader)
Trista Taylor (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)
Utkarsh Gadaria (Team Leader to Project Supervisor)

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.

Snow Day

Donald Torrence's grandkids enjoying the snow and putting an old SQ vest to good use!

Randy Cutler is Retiring in March!

Randy Cutler, Project Supervisor II from Indiana, has been working at Stratosphere Quality since 2018 and he's going to be retiring this coming March 3rd, 2023. The team is going to miss him a lot. He's a good mentor and supervisor and we learn a lot from him.