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Foundation Makes Masks for All Associates Possible

The Kalas Foundation is proud to share their latest initiative in response to the outbreak of Covid-19.  In an effort to ensure the safety & protect the health of our valued associates, the Foundation has partnered with the local Lancaster Unit of Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) to offer free, handmade masks to all Kalas employees. The team of 20 volunteers from MDS has been producing 21,000 masks every 72 hours – and all complete while safely practicing social distancing!

The Kalas Foundation began distributing the masks Wednesday, April 15, right before the statewide announcement that face coverings would be mandatory to all Kalas facilities throughout Lancaster and Denver, PA. We are grateful for the prompt response and call to action of all the MDS volunteers: cutting fabric, sewing masks, collating orders and delivering masks to nursing homes, daycare centers, hospitals, businesses and private households.

Mennonite Disaster Service is a volunteer network that responds to provide relief to disaster events throughout the United States and Canada. The local Lancaster Unit is based out of their Lititz, PA location, but the mask effort extends throughout the country. For more information or to lend your support, visit https://mds.mennonite.net/covid-19-volunteers-in-action/

The Kalas Foundation is grateful to lend its support to MDS and extends HEARTFELT THANKS for the good work they are doing to keep people healthy!

Kalas Foundation Supports Girl Scout Junior Troop

The Girls Scouts is a global organization started in 1912 as an “inclusive, all-female environment…(that) creates a safe space where girls can try new things, develop a range of skills, take on leadership roles, and just be themselves.” The 1.7 million girls within its membership rely heavily on the annual Cookie Program, which funds the various programs, enrichment and experiences they plan each year.

The spread of Covid-19 created unforeseen challenges to the annual cookie sale. Cocalico Area Girl Scout Junior Troop 70514 received their allotment of cookies just as local business and retailers were being closed in compliance with state laws to keep residents at home and out of public spaces. Unfortunately, this also meant the Troop was left with more than eighty cases of cookies and no immediate outlet to sell them.

The Kalas Foundation saw the opportunity to lend support to a local agency in need. On Monday, April 6, they coordinated the purchase of (38) cases of cookies to distribute to their valued associates. This created a tasty solution to the cookie problem and satisfied customers on both sides of the deal! The Kalas Foundation is grateful to lend its support to Junior Troop 70514 and appreciates the investment the Girl Scout organization worldwide makes into building strong & confident female leaders for the next generation and beyond.

For anyone interested, you can lend your support to Girls Scout Council by visiting https://www.gshpa.org/

Celebrating Associate of the Quarter Janina Leid

Kalas embraces the opportunity to highlight associates who actively live the values and behaviors of our organization. Janina Leid, Manager of the Bulk Wire Account Management team, was our most recent honoree – receiving recognition as the associate of the year living our values.

Janina’s Story of Growth & Leadership

Janina joined Kalas in July 1994 and has held a wide range of responsibilities throughout her tenure. She worked within the ECPD (Engineered Cable Products Division) in cable assembly, shipping, and customer service. In 2013, she was promoted to her current role and transitioned to the Bulk Wire division, where she currently works today. Throughout all of her transitions and roles & responsibilities, she has remained an upbeat, capable, and positive teammate. Janina is known for her cheery disposition, customer-centric attitude, attention to detail, and infectious laugh.

Grateful for Her Career at Kalas

Janina is equally grateful for the opportunities afforded to her by Kalas and the ability to work closely with cross-functional team members to solve customer problems and improve internal processes. “I really enjoy our team interactions and the ability to continue learning and developing, so I can teach and train others that would love the opportunity to grow within the company.  Many relationships have been built over the years, not only internally but with customers as well. I really appreciate all the opportunities I have had and have learned that through hard work and dedication, they have enhanced my career.”

Living Our Values

When asked which company value – Caring, Integrity, Honesty, Respect, Rewarding, Giving – resonates most with her, Janina responded, “I appreciate and value all the behaviors but Giving stands out the most. In my eyes, this is teamwork and communicating openly, honestly and effectively with co-workers and customers. It’s about giving guidance and knowledge to others so they can also be successful.” Janina added, “Kalas has been a wonderful company to work for and I’d like to thank everyone who I’ve worked with over the years for giving me all the opportunities to grow and develop my career. I am grateful to be surrounded by so many talented people. Keep smiling and laughing!”

We are honored for the commitment and loyalty Janina has dedicated to Kalas throughout her 25 years of service. She embraces challenges, helps others, takes pride in her work, and does it all with a smile. Sincere thanks for all you, Janina!!

Kalas Wire & Cable Remains Open For Business

Updated as of 8:30pm 3-19-2020

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued an edict that all non-life sustaining businesses close their physical operations effective 8:00 PM Thursday, March 19, 2020 to slow the contraction of the coronavirus. Please note, Kalas Wire & Cable remains open for business with full operations in all locations.

We are able to continue our operations as a key supplier and manufacturer of products which serve as a lifeline to powering critical machinery in the following approved industry’s noted below:

  • Machine Manufacturing
  • Merchant / Durable Goods
  • Agriculture Equipment Manufacturers
  • Refrigeration and AC
  • Electrical Component Manufacturers
  • Plumbing Wholesalers
  • Transportation & Warehousing
  • Utilities
  • And Others

All associates at all facilities should continue to report to work as scheduled. We appreciate the ability to serve our network of strategic partners during this critical time. For a detailed list of Life-Sustaining Businesses as defined by the Pennsylvania Government, please see the link below.

That said, we are looking to ensure full compliance of the recommended practices detailed by the CDC to optimize safe working conditions at all of our facilities, to reduce headcount within our workspaces where possible and limit personal interactions with the expectation there is no change to our customer support or timely delivery of products to our customers.

Our Leadership Team is actively guiding our efforts as we navigate the path forward to ensure our market responsiveness while mitigating risk to our valued associates and their families.

View Governor’s Life-Sustaining Businesses Document

We appreciate your partnership in good times and certainly as we experience challenges. We are here to help! Please reach out with any questions you have & stay healthy!

Have questions? Contact us at connect@kalaswire.com

 

Kalas Awarded Blue Bird Outstanding Supplier in Electrical

For years, Blue Bird has been a valued customer of Kalas Manufacturing. The Blue Bird Corporation is the leading manufacturer of school busses. Their corporation has an intentional focus to manufacture buses that are wanted and valued once purchased. To ensure they uphold that focus, they have four driving priorities as stated on their website “safety, quality, durability, and serviceability”. That means every part that goes into their busses must provide those priorities and add to the value and desirability of owning a Blue Bird bus.

Considering the level of quality and care Blue Bird puts into their products, it’s no small honor to be recognized as one of their suppliers let alone receive an award from them. In December, Kalas was awarded Blue Bird’s Outstanding Supplier in Electrical for 2019 being recognized for the excellence in delivery, quality and technical support Kalas provided throughout 2019. This was no small feat. It was a group effort from Kalas engineering, account management, process, planning, production and shipping to support Blue Bird in the exceptional ways we have. Therefore, it is with great celebration we receive this award which identifying Kalas as a valued supplier to Blue Bird who went above and beyond to meet their needs.

We want to thank each & every associate who supported our partnership with Blue Bird in 2019 and every year prior. It was due to your meticulous creation of each cable, your energy to work together, be proactive, build quality products that ensure safety and get each order shipped on time that we were recognized. It makes us proud to know we have a Kalas family who delivers excellence… that is something to celebrate! 

We are grateful to Blue Bird for honoring us with this award and we are excited to continue delivering exceptional products and customer service for years to come. 

2019 Christmas Card Drawing Winners

This year we reached out to our Kalas associates and invited all dependent children and grandchildren to submit hand drawn cards for our organization to use as our official holiday cards. Today we are excited to announce the contest winners as we prepare our cards to go out. 

Thank you to all Kalas associates and their children who together submitted drawings. It was tough year to pick with so many adorable and creative entries. Congratulations to our two winners of the contest: 

Hannah Tobias, age 9, granddaughter of Roxanne Welsh, Kalas Lancaster plant. Card shown left.

Perla Pineda, age 14, daughter of Yahayra Valerio, Kalas Lancaster plant. Card shown right. 

Happy holidays to each and every member of our Kalas family and customers. We are grateful for your partnership and wish you and season full of joy that lasts all year long. Enjoy your season everyone!