Slade Melton began his career with BI Inc. in August of 2015 as an entry level employee, then worked his way up through the ranks as a Production Coordinator, Mentor, Supervisor, and now as the Production Manager.
Slade grew up in a small farming town in Colorado where he assumed two leadership roles in high school: the head of Future Farmers of America, and the leader of the Student Council. After high school he worked in a restaurant, but he really wanted to further himself. It was his sister that encouraged him to look into a job in manufacturing. That was the beginning of Slade’s journey with BI.
Slade’s almost ten years with BI has included developing relationships with the Boulder County manufacturing community, the Northern Colorado Manufacturing Association, and the St. Vrain school system. When students learn that there are alternatives to college that will invest in them now, rather than having to go into debt, they become excited about their future. Slade and BI take pride in knowing that they have made a difference in the future of manufacturing and in the lives of students in Colorado! In his free time, Slade enjoys hiking, eating a good meal with friends, talking about everything Harry Potter, fixing cars, and spending time with his wife.
We are grateful to Slade for the incredible contributions he’s given to the company. If you’re curious to know what we think of Slade, then here are some of the positive impressions he’s created in the words of his own leadership team:
• “Slade balances both the needs of the business
and the needs of the employees equally. He’s approachable, makes time for everyone, and cares about the growth of each employee. Should anyone walk through the production floor, they will notice the fingerprints of Slade in every line of production, in every unit’s high standard of quality, and in every employee’s output.”
• “Slade is a supportive boss and brings out the best work in each employee. Slade leads the team with empathy and takes the time to hear our ideas. It's a great pleasure to work in an environment where everyone's opinions and ideas are valued. Slade's motivation and kindness are a few traits that make him a great leader. Working under his leadership has been a game-changer for me.”
• “Slade puts extra thought, time, and effort into answering questions, not only for his team, but also for different departments within BI. Slade also does a great job with his team by mentoring them on what direction they should go when it comes to making autonomous decisions on their respective lines. We are lucky to have Slade as our boss.”
Finally, in the words of Isabel Yang, Executive Vice President for BI: “I’ve seen Slade become more confident and grow his leadership skills in the two short years I’ve been at BI. I’ve never seen Slade lose his cool - although I know sometimes, he’s under tremendous pressure. I’m proud to have Slade as part of BI’s management team, and he has a very bright future ahead of him!”
We all look forward to working with Slade for many more years to come!
