NES December Employee Spotlight

Scott Dean
His transition into shipping happened largely by chance.
Just before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, Napoleon Engineering Services’ then-shipping manager injured his back, leaving him unable to work. NES officials, in response, approached Scott Dean and asked if he’d be willing to fill in.
“I said ‘yes,’” recalled Dean, who’d been working in the testing department for the previous seven years. “It was going (to be temporary, but) it’s turned into a four-year gig now, and it’s been good.” He then added with a laugh: “Getting down on the floor and working on rigs is not conducive to 60-year-old joints.”

OVER THE last 11 years, NES has experienced both notable change and tremendous growth, doubling the size of its Johnson Street facility, for instance, and increasing to a company of 60 full-time employees.
Throughout it all, one of the mainstays has been Dean.
Initially as a testing technician, and through various maintenance manager positions, the Bolivar native now makes his mark in shipping/receiving. And that makes for both a busy, and ever-changing, schedule.
“We get UPS shipments every morning,” he said. “It could be two boxes and it could be, well once last week, we had 19 boxes. So (that part) involves opening all the boxes up and checking the contents and doing the paperwork associated with the receiving end and getting it to the proper place.
“As far as shipping, it’s whatever they bring me that day.”
Dean takes great care of the contents he ships; his mantra has always been: “Try to package things as I would like to receive them.” It’s the personal touch he places on everything that goes out.
“Like I told (NES president) Chris Napoleon one time, I said that this is the first thing the customers are going to see,” Dean said, “and I want them to be impressed because there’s a lot of money involved. I want stuff to get there not all banged up and presentable.”
Indeed, Dean is detail-oriented and “runs a tight ship” in his department, Napoleon said. It’s what results from his meticulous nature that Dean finds so rewarding.
“Ed (Treat, production control manager) has told me several times that they haven’t received a complaint about a ship the whole time I’ve been doing this,” Dean said. “And I don’t know if that was a regular thing in the past, but that’s what I want to hear, that everything got there safe.”

OUTSIDE OF work, Dean and his wife Penny enjoy spending time with family, whether that’s just visiting or attending a sporting event or concert. Dean also has two older grandchildren who are now working in industry and “kind of following in mine and their dad’s footsteps.” Another grandchild will be graduating from college next year and three others are currently in the Allegany-Limestone school district.
In 2016, Dean embarked upon a new hobby: Making cornhole sets.
“I made one for us and put a picture of it on Facebook,” he noted, “and one of my friends said, ‘do you make them to sell?’ Well, after eight years now, Penny and I have built 140 sets, so that’s been a lot of fun.”
Soon, Dean will have more time to devote to this and other activities: The 11-year NES veteran is set to retire from his full-time post at the end of this month.
Dean will work with his replacement over the next two weeks and then continue working in a part-time capacity for three days a week in January and two days a week in February, “and we’ll see how that goes.”
And though he’s a bit sad about stepping down from his post – and, notably, one of only three companies he’s worked for over the last 47 years – he’s looking forward to easing into the next chapter of his life.
“My wife retired about a year ago, and she’s been saying, ‘you gotta go, it’s time,’ he pointed out. “The longer it’s gone on … yeah, I’m ready.
“I’m excited. It’s a little bittersweet. I told several people in just the last couple of weeks – I’ve never not had a job since I was 16. I’ve never been laid off; I’ve never been unemployed. I think a lot of that has to do with how you apply yourself; do a good job, don’t raise a fuss and you’ll be rewarded for that.”
Dean’s decade-long contributions and commitment are greatly appreciated by NES, and we wish him the best in his retirement.
“Scotts reliable attendance and outstanding work ethic have set a high bar for us all,” said Chris Truman, NES’ vice president of operations. “His meticulous work in shipping and receiving directly impacts our customer satisfaction. It’s a relief to know Scott will remain a part of the team, even if it’s just part-time. His expertise will help train the new shipping clerk and keep things running smoothly into 2025.”