How Will This Crisis Effect My Wonderful Family?

I have worked alongside our team members - my family for decades. I have worked with one of our team members for three decades. I have spent more time with the great people that helped me build our company than I have with members of my own family.

As I walked through the lifeless building last week, it was like going home after a long leave of absence to an empty house. I paused at each work-station and reflected on each team member. It dawned on me that we may never work together again. We could very well be one of the many companies that will not survive this ghastly situation.

I decided to close down operations because we have team members that have underlying health issues, or they have family members at home with underlying health issues. Their health means more to me than trying to figure out what the future looks like for my company. Like many companies, we will continue to deliver paychecks to our "family" until the well runs dry.

I paused and looked at the Model MF900 Electrical Training System. I thought about Guillermo AKA "Tesla" our electronics engineer. He joined our team approximately six years ago. He is an extraordinary engineer. He singlehandedly designed what I believe is the most advanced diesel/automotive/construction training simulator in the country.

Guillermo has a lovely wife and two adorable young daughters. The family immigrated to the U.S. from Peru. Here is a photo of Guillermo with his "work of art" the MF900 Electrical Training System.

Next, I paused at Al's work station. Al joined our team approximately eight years ago. Al is one of the craftsmen that build the MF300VCLS Hydrostatic and Steering Training System, the MF200 Cavitation Training System, and the MF400 Hydraulic Cylinder Training System.

Al has a lovely wife and four adorable children. Here is AL filling a Model MF200 Cavitation Training System to get it ready for start-up testing.

My next stop was Chase's work station. Chase, a mechanical engineer joined our team about a year ago. Chase is happiest when he is skiing, camping, hiking, and doing everything that involves being outside. Although is he is an avid remote control car racer. This is a phot of Chase helping Teo program the computer for the world's most advanced Hydrostatic Transmission Training System the MF500.

Next stop, Alex's work station. Alex is an electronics technician extraordinaire. He joined our team about two-years ago. Alex builds the electronic "brain" for the MF500 Hydrostatic Transmission Training System, and also assembles the MF900 Electrical/Electronic Training System.

Alex has a lovely wife and three fabulous children. His young daughter is studying to be a nurse. Here is a photo of the "Picasso" of electronics wiring the controller on the Sauer Danfoss M46 transmission on the MF500 Hydrostatic Transmission Training System.

Next stop, Teo's work station. Teo joined our team a decade ago. He epitomizes the term "pride in workmanship." Teo spent a number of years building our flagship training system the MF100. He moved on to become the lead technician building the Model MF500 Hydrostatic Transmission Training System.

Teo has a lovely wife and four adorable children. He is also proud to be a "Pappa." Here is a photo of Teo adjusting the parameters on the Model MF500 Hydrostatic Transmission Training System.

Finally, I stopped at Stephon's work station. Stephon joined our team approximately seven years ago. He is more like a son to me. Stephon graduated from the Job Corp training center in Centerville, Utah as a diesel mechanic. I met Stephon when I offered the Job Corp training center five complimentary seats in my safety training workshop. I was so impressed with Stephon's enthusiasm that we hired him as soon as he graduated.

Stephon builds the Model MF100 Basic Hydraulic Training System and the MF700 Pneumatic Training System. He is also responsible for assembling and testing the hydraulic cylinders for the Model MF102.

Here is a photo of Stephon helping Teo adjust the parameters on the Model MF500 Hydrostatic Transmission Training System.

Next stop, Cuco's station. Cuco joined the company about 8-years ago. He is the maestro that leads the Model MF102 team. Cuco has a lovely wife and four wonderful children. Here is a photo of Cuco putting a Model MF102 Training System through its paces.

Now you know why I am able to put "handcrafted with pride in America" on every training system we ship out of our manufacturing plant in Salt Lake City, Utah.

There are ten more wonderful members of the FPTI family that I am proud of.

On a negative note, this pandemic has forced politicians and business leaders to reflect on how overseas manufacturing has compromised our country's national security. Regrettably, it will not affect America's technical colleges because the products we manufacture do not directly affect the nation's security. It only affects the quality of the technician's technical colleges produces.

I have a good reason to believe that while this crisis may put a focus on medical supplies, it will be business as usual with most of the nation's technical colleges. The orders for training products will go to the lowest bidder regardless of where the product is manufactured.

My thoughts and prayers go out to all the skilled workers and their families that may very well lose their jobs as a result of this pandemic. However, the most important thing you can do right now is to stay healthy and keep your families healthy.

America will come through this and the jobs will return.