Horizons online

Across our company

American Diabetes Association benefits from Bellevue fund-raiser

Rockwell Collins employees Darla Baker (left) and Missy Koppes spearheaded a fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association. Baker and Koppes are production operators at our facility in Bellevue, Iowa.
Photo by Phyllis Blech

Employees at Rockwell Collins in Bellevue, Iowa, raised more than $600 during a recent fund-raiser that will benefit the American Diabetes Association, a group working to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Spearheaded by employees Darla Baker and Missy Koppes, the fund-raiser included a bake sale, Bingo and a raffle. Baker's 14-year-old son was diagnosed with diabetes at age 5, and Koppes has three children – ages 19, 15 and 12 – who are diabetics.

"Our Rockwell Collins family has come through many times for various benefits and fund-raisers," said Baker.

"We knew they would do it again," added Koppes.

Raffle winners were Mary Ambrosy and Sharon Kueter. Linda Michels claimed the Bingo grand prize and donated the proceeds back to the diabetes association.

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities.

For more information about the American Diabetes Association, visit http://www.diabetes.org.

Bellevue employees add a touch of color to facility

Rockwell Collins employees recently expanded the vegetation around our facility in Bellevue, Iowa, thus surpassing the National Environmental Performance Track (NEPT) goal established by the facility through Fiscal Year 2009.

Rockwell Collins Production Operator Rita Kress smiles for the camera while planting perennials near the front office area of our production plant in Bellevue, Iowa. Kress was one of six employees who helped add color to the area.
Photo by Phyllis Blech

Donated by Quality Production Leads Nancy Hingtgen and Anna Heiserman, the miniature Iris, purple phlox, day lilies, buttercups and hostas added a great deal of color to the production plant's front office area.

"Not only did we have an environmental goal that we wanted to help our facility achieve, we also wanted to make sure that our visitors felt welcomed," said Hingtgen, who like Heiserman is an avid gardener. "Adding some color to the area always makes people feel at ease."

Hingtgen and Heiserman were joined by four other employees — Jeannie Greibel, Phyllis Blech, Chris Sabers and Rita Kress — who spent some of their personal time planting about 40 perennials.

Bellevue employees share their good fortune

An entire skid stacked full of canned goods, paper products and personal items will benefit food banks in Bellevue and Maquoketa, Iowa, thanks to the generosity of employees at our facility in Bellevue.

Organized by a group of colleagues who spend time together during their lunch breaks, the food drive was conducted over a three-week period in April.

The idea came to life after employees decided to organize the fund-raiser as part of a volunteer commitment they made during our company’s annual United Way campaign.

"We knew there was a need in Bellevue and surrounding communities for supplies in local food pantries," said Dianne Kettmann, a quality production lead in Bellevue. "It was a great opportunity for Rockwell Collins in Bellevue to share our good fortune."

Employees in Bellevue give their facility a clean sweep

Rockwell Collins employees in Bellevue recently spent an entire day cleaning their facility. Employees hope the cleaning day will become an annual event. Pictured are (from left) Mary Ambrosy, Susie Clasen and Pam Hilkin. Carla Beckley is in the background.
Photo by Phyllis Blech

Adhering to the 5S's of Rockwell Collins' Lean Electronics program, employees at our Bellevue facility recently launched what they hope will become an annual cleaning day.

An operating program and philosophy aimed at enhancing customer value by reducing waste and error, Lean was introduced at Rockwell Collins in 1998. It uses tools like the 5S's (sorting, simplifying, systematic cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining) to create a clean and orderly workplace that improves operational performance.

Putting that program into action, our Bellevue employees traded in their tweezers for cleaning supplies. Armed with rags and vacuums, they spent the work day extensively scrubbing the facility and sorting inventory to discard.

"Our building was in need of thorough cleaning," said Quality Product Lead Mary Ambrosy. "It was a good time of year to do it, and we tried to make it fun. I'm looking forward to next year."

Trivia questions concerning our company and avionics were issued sporadically throughout the day. Employees who supplied the first correct answer received a prize.

According to Chris Sabers, an industrial engineer in Bellevue and the facility's Environment, Safety and Health coordinator, a normal day of work produces 35 pounds of landfill waste. At the end of this year's cleaning day, skids were filled with 155 pounds of waste for disposal.

Volume 12 Issue 3 > Across our company > Bellevue
Volume 12 Issue 3 Deeply rooted in our heritage Delivering on our brand promise Feeding our economic engine One big, happy family Committed to customer support From Clay Jones Executive Profile - Kelly Ortberg Our heritage Letters to the editor Contributors in this issue Across our company Bellevue Binghamton Canada Carlsbad Cedar Rapids Decorah Enterprise-wide Manchester Melbourne Service anniversaries Retirees In memoriam Facility spotlight		Across our company American Diabetes Association benefits from Bellevue fund-raiser Rockwell Collins employees Darla Baker (left) and Missy Koppes spearheaded a fund-raiser for the American Diabetes Association. Baker and Koppes are production operators at our facility in Bellevue, Iowa. Photo by Phyllis Blech Employees at Rockwell Collins in Bellevue, Iowa, raised more than $600 during a recent fund-raiser that will benefit the American Diabetes Association, a group working to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Spearheaded by employees Darla Baker and Missy Koppes, the fund-raiser included a bake sale, Bingo and a raffle. Baker's 14-year-old son was diagnosed with diabetes at age 5, and Koppes has three children – ages 19, 15 and 12 – who are diabetics. "Our Rockwell Collins family has come through many times for various benefits and fund-raisers," said Baker. "We knew they would do it again," added Koppes. Raffle winners were Mary Ambrosy and Sharon Kueter. Linda Michels claimed the Bingo grand prize and donated the proceeds back to the diabetes association. The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading nonprofit health organization providing diabetes research, information and advocacy. Founded in 1940, the association conducts programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, reaching hundreds of communities. For more information about the American Diabetes Association, visit http://www.diabetes.org. Bellevue employees add a touch of color to facility Rockwell Collins employees recently expanded the vegetation around our facility in Bellevue, Iowa, thus surpassing the National Environmental Performance Track (NEPT) goal established by the facility through Fiscal Year 2009. Rockwell Collins Production Operator Rita Kress smiles for the camera while planting perennials near the front office area of our production plant in Bellevue, Iowa. Kress was one of six employees who helped add color to the area. Photo by Phyllis Blech Donated by Quality Production Leads Nancy Hingtgen and Anna Heiserman, the miniature Iris, purple phlox, day lilies, buttercups and hostas added a great deal of color to the production plant's front office area. "Not only did we have an environmental goal that we wanted to help our facility achieve, we also wanted to make sure that our visitors felt welcomed," said Hingtgen, who like Heiserman is an avid gardener. "Adding some color to the area always makes people feel at ease." Hingtgen and Heiserman were joined by four other employees — Jeannie Greibel, Phyllis Blech, Chris Sabers and Rita Kress — who spent some of their personal time planting about 40 perennials. Bellevue employees share their good fortune An entire skid stacked full of canned goods, paper products and personal items will benefit food banks in Bellevue and Maquoketa, Iowa, thanks to the generosity of employees at our facility in Bellevue. Organized by a group of colleagues who spend time together during their lunch breaks, the food drive was conducted over a three-week period in April. The idea came to life after employees decided to organize the fund-raiser as part of a volunteer commitment they made during our company’s annual United Way campaign. "We knew there was a need in Bellevue and surrounding communities for supplies in local food pantries," said Dianne Kettmann, a quality production lead in Bellevue. "It was a great opportunity for Rockwell Collins in Bellevue to share our good fortune." Employees in Bellevue give their facility a clean sweep Rockwell Collins employees in Bellevue recently spent an entire day cleaning their facility. Employees hope the cleaning day will become an annual event. Pictured are (from left) Mary Ambrosy, Susie Clasen and Pam Hilkin. Carla Beckley is in the background. Photo by Phyllis Blech Adhering to the 5S's of Rockwell Collins' Lean Electronics program, employees at our Bellevue facility recently launched what they hope will become an annual cleaning day. An operating program and philosophy aimed at enhancing customer value by reducing waste and error, Lean was introduced at Rockwell Collins in 1998. It uses tools like the 5S's (sorting, simplifying, systematic cleaning, standardizing, and sustaining) to create a clean and orderly workplace that improves operational performance. Putting that program into action, our Bellevue employees traded in their tweezers for cleaning supplies. Armed with rags and vacuums, they spent the work day extensively scrubbing the facility and sorting inventory to discard. "Our building was in need of thorough cleaning," said Quality Product Lead Mary Ambrosy. "It was a good time of year to do it, and we tried to make it fun. I'm looking forward to next year." Trivia questions concerning our company and avionics were issued sporadically throughout the day. Employees who supplied the first correct answer received a prize. According to Chris Sabers, an industrial engineer in Bellevue and the facility's Environment, Safety and Health coordinator, a normal day of work produces 35 pounds of landfill waste. At the end of this year's cleaning day, skids were filled with 155 pounds of waste for disposal.