A Message From the President
By Joel Strieter
On April 2, KCC’s space at 2641 Technology Drive (“Piston” building) was hit by an EF3 tornado. While the building sustained significant damage, our production facility right next door only sustained relatively minor damage. We were very fortunate that none of our KCC family was injured. An EF3 can have winds up to 145 MPH, the same as a Category 4 hurricane. As you know, gratitude animates my life. So, I wish to thank our safety department for developing emergency action plans, and training on them. I am grateful that all our 3rd shift team mates knew where to go when the tornado was imminent, and stayed there during the event. I am grateful that, within hours of impact, our Enterprise Leadership Team sprang into action, identifying actions we needed to take, followed up and held each other accountable for completing the actions identified. I am grateful that only 4 working days after the event, we were back up and running. Mostly I am grateful for each of you, your patience and understanding of the critical challenge we faced, and your willingness to pitch in where we needed you most. You displayed grace under pressure, and came together to overcome what could have been a serious setback. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you.
​ESOP CORNER
Your ESOP committee has been hard at work recognizing team members Years of Service, interviewing various employees "to spotlight", supplying treats and drinks, planning and participating in 5k races and researching future volunteer opportunities.
As always, the ESOP committee would love your feedback. Please do not hesitate to use the voiceboxes to share ideas and suggestions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
April 30 - Blood Drive at Grassland 10am-3pm
May 3 - Derby
May 6 - KCC units set on Simpsonville KCC Headquarters
May 11 - Mother’s Day
May 14 - BBQ Technology/Utah
May 15 - BBQ Grassland
May 16 - R&D BBQ
May 21 - BBQ Electron
May 26 - Memorial Day – KCC Closed
Simpsonville Update
By Denise Hill, Senior Expansion Manager
We are thrilled to share the latest developments on our Simpsonville, Kentucky expansion project as we continue to grow and innovate here at KCC Manufacturing.
This month, we have made significant progress in bringing this project to life, and we are on track to meet our ambitious goals. As of April 2025, construction crews are hard at work completing the parking lot for our new Research and Development building. We have also reached a key milestone with the Headquarters building, where the roof has just been installed. Looking ahead, we are in the planning stages for a 70,000-square-foot Core Products Building, which is expected to be completed by 2027. This facility will serve as a prototype for future satellite Curbs and Adapter plants across the country, marking an exciting step in our nationwide expansion.
Our timeline remains on schedule for the Headquarters building. We expect one HVAC production line up and running by the end of the 1st quarter in 2026. Once operational, the first line will produce 3 to 5 units per day, setting the stage for increased capacity and innovation in the years to come. A second line is slated to launch in 2027.
This expansion reflects our commitment to growth, excellence, and delivering top-quality products to our customers. Thank you for your hard work and dedication—none of this would be possible without the efforts of our incredible team in Louisville, Utah, and beyond. We will keep you updated as we hit more milestones together!
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Storm Update
By Becky McClellan, Director of Communications
KCC would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who played a role in getting our company back to a production-ready state. We are truly thankful that none of our team members were injured during the storm. A special thanks goes to our Emergency Preparedness Team for their ongoing training throughout the year and their prompt response during this event.
One of our facilities, commonly known as "Piston," has been deemed structurally unusable. KCC upper management has already identified an alternative location and signed a short-term lease on Stanley Gault Parkway. This new facility offers approximately 60,000 square feet, which will accommodate some of our parts storage, shipping and receiving operations, as well as a few team members. We will be sharing this space with Super Radiator, similar to our arrangement at the Piston facility. KCC is still in the process of retrieving items from the Piston facility and is pleased to report that we have experienced minimal loss.
Our main production facility, referred to as "Technology," was briefly closed for a structural evaluation, which has now been completed. Thankfully, we resumed production of units on Wednesday, April 7th, and we do not anticipate any delays in meeting our customer deadlines. KCC is actively collaborating with the Technology landlords to repair and rebuild the damage that occurred at the building. We are grateful to have our insurance company working diligently with us to cover the damages from this storm. KCC is confident that we will overcome these challenges and emerge even stronger than before. It is an exciting time to be at KCC!
Engagement Committee Update
By Jerry Lowry, Learning and Development Manager
Based on feedback gathered during recent birthday roundtable lunches with members of the Employee Engagement Team and ESOP Committee, a survey was conducted that polled team members' interest in participating in volunteer or community service-related activities. The survey results (see chart) showed a strong interest in volunteering with the local Humane Society, and various donation drives. KCC conducts donation drives for back-to-school supplies, coats or jackets for those in need, and canned food during strategic times of the year. The ESOP Committee will review the results of the survey and begin organizing events based on the feedback received. A big thank you to everyone who got involved in making KCC a Community Member of Choice! Your efforts truly enhance our reputation as an Employer of Choice. We appreciate all the support and participation!
