Across our company

Fantastic feast – Rockwell Collins Operations employees in Cedar Rapids fill their plates during the recent fiscal year-end annual appreciation luncheon. Operations executives including Senior Vice President Jeff Moore also attended the event.
Photo courtesy of Marjorie Weber, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

More than 2,000 Operations employees from Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, closed out a successful fiscal year 2007 recently with an annual appreciation luncheon.

Gathered beneath a large, heated tent, employees mingled with executives from Operations who thanked those in attendance for their hard work throughout the year. Employees also enjoyed a meal that included ham, pork loin, turkey and all of the trimmings.

"It was a very good experience," said Cathy Boyer, a 195-C production specialist who joined our company in 1972. "It's nice to get out of the plant for awhile and have a leisurely lunch. Besides, the food was great."

Boyer also was one of the lucky employees who received a $50 Visa Gift Card. Everyone invited to the event had the chance to win.

"I've already spent the money," Boyer said. "Those gift cards are great, but they sure don't last long."

The Enterprise Quality Management Systems (EQMS) team at Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, gathered recently to commemorate their Hispanic heritage and to celebrate the diversity that exists within our company.

"Since September/October was Hispanic Heritage month and October was Family History month, I thought it would be a good time to recognize the family histories and diversity found at Rockwell Collins," said Administrative Assistant Michaele Burris, who organized the celebration. "It's always good to remember where you came from."

Employees listened to the sounds of classical Spanish guitars and enjoyed authentic cuisine ranging from a jicama – Mexican water chestnut – which is native to Mexico and Central America, to Pastel de Tres Leches, which is a popular cake in Mexico and Nicaragua.

In addition, Burris chronicled her Hispanic heritage for her colleagues by displaying a 15-generation pedigree chart and discussing her ancestors' contributions to some major historic events, such as the fight for the Alamo.

"When we understand ourselves, then we can understand others better," said Burris, who encourages others to learn about their backgrounds and the diversity around them.

Elizabeth Ray, director of Enterprise Quality Management Systems, agrees that understanding and recognizing diversity is one of the best ways to understand our employees.

"It's always good to learn about the cultural background of our employees," she said. "It helps in our understanding and appreciation of their contributions."

More than 180 members of the Rockwell Collins Services (RCS) team in Cedar Rapids gathered recently to celebrate the end of fiscal year 2007 and yet another successful Hands Across America campaign. RCS employees raised more than $2,300 through lunch sales and raffles. The money will be donated to the United Way.

Fourteen of the employees who attended the "Septemberfest" celebration received raffle prizes including iPods and $50 gift cards. Rockwell Collins Project Specialist Scott Bekebrede and his band, "Monkey Business," also provided music during the event. Bekebrede works in the RCS Projects and Pricing department.