Our Purpose: Phil Klotz
College isn’t for everyone, yet many people don’t realize the number of wonderful career opportunities that are available for those who may not desire to seek more education after high school.
This is where Phil Klotz, plant maintenance in our Indiana East region, steps in.
Phil has held a variety of positions at Ozinga, including driving a ready mix truck, operating a payloader and currently managing plant maintenance in our Indiana East region. Throughout his entire career, there is one thing that Phil has always been passionate about: educating younger generations on the career possibilities at Ozinga.
“The younger generations need to start looking at the long-term commitment of a career at companies like Ozinga,” said Phil. “We need to encourage people who don’t want to go to college that there are great opportunities out there for them with good benefits and long-lasting rewards.”
Phil’s passion for recruiting young professionals has given him the opportunity to work closely with our Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning team. He is currently working with Robert Schlanser and Rene Alvarado on a partnership with Horizon Group that will allow him to visit local high schools and talk with students about jobs in the trades.
Aside from working with this team, Phil takes it upon himself to volunteer for touch-a-truck events and parades so he has the opportunity to educate children of all ages on the possibility of one day working for Ozinga. “Those red and white stripes are a representation of our company in the local communities, and children are always in awe when they see one of our trucks up close,” said Phil. “I use this opportunity to let them know they could one day drive this truck or work for this company, and their faces light up.”
One day when he was volunteering at a touch-a-truck event, a young blind girl asked him if she could get in the cab. “She sat in the driver’s seat and she asked me to explain what every knob and button in the cab did and how it all worked, and she was extremely interested in learning all the details and all about Ozinga,” shared Phil. “It was one of the best moments I’ve ever had.”
Phil’s advocacy for Ozinga has enabled him to make a positive impact in many ways, and could potentially be making a positive impact for generations. “I want the younger generation to truly grasp what we’re doing at Ozinga,” said Phil. “This is a forward-thinking company that really strives to make everything better, and the next generation should be proud to have the opportunity to help us build.”
Outside of Ozinga, Phil remains dedicated to mentoring younger individuals and making a positive impact in the community. In his small group at church, he mentors young people with bible study. He is also involved in the Wakarusa Town Council where he sits on the tech review board and oversees blueprints and plans for new businesses in the area.
