Presented annually, the Excellence in Bendix Leadership Award is the highest individual distinction a Bendix employee can achieve, the company says. The award, now in its eighth year, is said to recognize employees who exemplify leadership in their behavior and actions, whether or not they hold a leadership title or manage others in their everyday role. Recipients are nominated by their peers and recommended by their managers for demonstrating invaluable leadership characteristics such as collaboration, guidance, integrity, and excellence.
“No matter their role, departmental assignment, or day-to-day duties, Bendix holds its leaders and their skills in high esteem,” says Berend Bracht, Bendix president and CEO. “Companywide, we depend on them to build on our achievements, inspire our teams, and rise to meet the demands of an ever-changing global marketplace. Every day, Bill, Mike, and Angie bring their leadership skills to work at Bendix, and every day, we become a better company because of their efforts, alongside the efforts of every Bendix team member.”
Bill Gantz, manager – trailer sales and key accounts, is based at Bendix’s Elyria, Ohio headquarters. A 42-year veteran of the company, he is the originator of two key customer collaboration events: Bendix’s annual Fleet Council, which celebrated its 35th anniversary this year, and Bendix’s Regional Fleet Forums. His personal standard for quality, honesty, and performance has yielded consistent, thorough, and timely results for Bendix and its customers, the company says.
“Bill’s integrity, credibility, and reliability have earned him the highest level of respect both within Bendix and across the commercial vehicle industry,” says Joe McAleese, Bendix chairman, as he presented Gantz his award. “Both his peers and our customers trust Bill and value his expertise, as well as his ability to share his knowledge with those around him.”
Valves Product Manager Mike Grandstaff joined Bendix 15 years ago. Based in Elyria, he has a record of constantly striving to help Bendix’s products, processes, and people meet their full potential, the company says. His thoroughness sets the example for and motivates others to do the same. By listening well and then effectively directing teams through solutions, Grandstaff continues to earn respect and admiration at every turn, Bendix says.
“As an accomplished product engineer and product manager, Mike has always had a sincere and uncompromising interest in making a difference at Bendix, and that has led to a host of positive impacts over the years,” Bracht says. “Mike’s strong commitment to excellence and leadership are simply exemplary. He understands the true meaning of our core values and he demonstrates them in all of his efforts.”
In her nearly 11 years with Bendix, Angie Hake, a lead operations technician with the salvage/reman compressor assembly team at Bendix’s Huntington, Ind., manufacturing campus, has become a master at generating effective ideas for making the workplace more efficient, more effective, and safer for everyone. Bendix says she has a passion for improvement – Hake has submitted more than 500 suggestions herself over the past three years as a part of the company’s robust continuous improvement program – sharing knowledge, and helping her team learn and grow. Huntington employees believe in Hake, follow her leadership, and respond to her coaching, the company says.
As he presented Hake her award, Carlos Hungria, chief operating officer at Bendix, said, “Angie leads by example, calling on her ‘roll up your sleeves’ leadership style, her perpetual positive attitude, and her uncanny ability to inspire others to achieve. She leads by example, is approachable, collaborative, and is always quick to praise her colleagues on a job well done.”
