Appointments Made at Schafer Gear

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Schafer Gear has appointed Paresh Shah as vice president of engineering and business development. In this role he oversees all engineering-related functions. He also works with executives and sales representatives on business development. He had previously been Schafer’s engineering manager. In the past he has worked for a number of gear manufacturers in the United States and holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, as well as a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. In making the announcement Schafer President Bipin Doshi said, “Since Paresh joined the Schafer team he has been instrumental in formalizing and updating critical engineering procedures. He has also worked very hard on new projects and business development. Our customers appreciate his in-depth knowledge of their markets.”
Tricia Robertson has been named customer relations specialist at the company’s South Bend production facility. One of her primary responsibilities will be to serve as a direct point of contact for customers. A graduate of Purdue University, Robertson holds a bachelor’s degree in consumer and family sciences. Prior to joining Schafer Gear she was employed by Mercury Switches. “Due to recent business development initiatives, Schafer Gear has been positioning itself to manage unprecedented growth,” says B
ipin Doshi. “The addition of Tricia will significantly enhance our ability to provide the best possible customer experience as our company continues to grow.”
Dennis Sharp has been appointed production manager, and Ryan Finfrock as senior process engineer. Both will work at the South Bend production facility. Sharp’s primary responsibilities will include leading the production department. Finfrock will be responsible for new part quoting, process development, process improvement, and tool design. He also supports the manufacturing floor and quality areas.
A graduate of Indiana University South Bend, Sharp holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing. Prior to joining Schafer Gear he was employed by Affinia, where he was plant manager. Finfrock holds a bachelor of science in technology degree from Purdue University and is currently pursuing his master’s degree in business administration at Indiana University South Bend. He was previously employed by Fairfield Manufacturing. “These two individuals provide the right mix of production and engineering experience to enhance our growth and our ability to serve our customers’ needs,” says Robert Doshi, operations manager. “Their skill sets have allowed them to jump right in and make immediate contributions to the success of the company.”
Mary Howie has been named human resources specialist for the South Bend production facility. She has assumed the primary responsibility for all Schafer personnel related activities including administration of hiring, payroll, and benefits. Prior to joining Schafer she served in the HR department of Gaska Tape in Elkhart, Indiana. According to Schafer Executive Vice President Stan Blenke, “Having Mary Howie in our human resources department expands our ability to serve the needs of our growing employee base,” he says. “Mary brings a wealth of experience to this critical position.”

Three more appointments include Becky Zumbrun, who has been promoted to the position of production supervisor; Michele Copper, who is moving up to the role of shipping and receiving supervisor; and Clayton Steele, who has been appointed manufacturing engineer in the gear production area. Zumbrun’s responsibilities include the direction and coordination of daily production department activities, processing materials flow and product quality.  She also administers employee training and safety programs. 
An eight-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps, she previously worked at Scott
 Brass in Mishawaka, Indiana. In her new role she will be responsible for scheduling, recording, and distributing all incoming and ongoing shipments at the gear production plant. Prior to assuming her current role whe was a driver for Schafer Gear. Steele is a graduate of Purdue University where he majored in agricultural and biological engineering with a focus on machine systems design. He also worked at Schafer Gear during the past four years as an intern, where he gained hands-on experience through his work with multiple production machines.
Founded in 1934, Schafer Gear Works is a leading producer of high-precision, custom-engineered gears and machined parts. An ISO 9001:2000 company, Schafer has production facilities in South Bend and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Rockford, Illinois. For more information go to [www.schafergear.com].