Featured Employee - Geoff Raison

Our employee of the week is Geoff Raison, our Laser Department Lead Man. Geoff joined G&H on November 16, 1992. He is pictured here in front of the Bystronic Bysmall flat laser, the first machine he worked on at G&H.

Geoff was born in Sydney, Australia, and was about three-years old when he came to the States with his brother and mother to join their dad. He told me he had a very interesting trip here. They traveled from Sydney to London via ship; then from London to Scotland by train, where they stopped to visit relatives; then from London to New York by airplane! What an exciting trip for a three-year old! Geoff says he actually remembers part of it.

Geoff grew up and went to school in Miami, Florida, and in 1968 he was drafted into the Army. He enlisted for a three-year term, and spent two of those years in Viet Nam. He said that on one of his leaves, he flew across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and was able to complete his “trip around the world.”

After the service, Geoff took on a job in Florida with a company that leased gambling equipment. The job took him throughout Florida and all over the country. He stayed with that company for 11 years, and in 1981, decided to move to Houston to get into a job that didn’t require all of the travel. His son was getting ready to start school and Geoff was tired of traveling. He loves, however, to go back to Florida and visit his brother who has a boat, and they fish and play golf.

Geoff has been married to Luci for 29 years (congratulations Geoff) and has two children, a son, Jason (31), and a daughter, Sarah (25). Jason has given him a grandson, Kellan, who is four-years old and lives in North Carolina. Geoff considers himself a “homebody” and spends his time away from G&H filled up with home maintenance and honey-dos!

Please help us thank Geoff for his nearly 16 years of hard work at G&H!

James Law - Summer Intern

Meet James Law, our Summer Intern who is assisting the Engineering Department this summer. James has spent a lot of time working with the Robotic Welder, but I caught him at his workstation this afternoon!

James is an Engineering student at Texas A&M. In August, he will be traveling to Qatar where he will be studying at A&M's Engineering school there. Congratulations James!

Claudia & Chloe - Summer Interns

Today as I passed by Cathy Ison's workstation in the Sales Department, I saw these cute black shoes sticking out from behind a bookshelf. I discovered they were attached to Chloe Nguyen (in the forefront)! She is pictured here with Claudia Romero, and together they are doing a great job for G&H as Summer Interns.

Chloe will be attending Texas State this fall and Claudia will be attending Houston Community College.

Featured Employee - Felix Gonzalez

This week the spotlight is on Felix Gonzalez, who began his service with G&H Diversified September 18, 1991.

Felix was born in Cuba on November 17, 1956. Cuba is located in the Caribbean, only 150 km south of Key West, Florida. Cuba was discovered in 1492 by Christopher Columbus and was developed as a Spanish colony during the next few centuries. During the Spanish-American War in 1898, the US intervened and the Spanish rule was overthrown. Cuba gained their independence in 1902. In 1959, Fidel Castro led a rebel army and claimed victory, establishing Cuba as a communist country.

It was because of this communism, that Felix made the decision to take his two young children, Yoel and Yanaisy, and flee the country. Felix had a brother and nephew already living in the United States, and in 1989, Felix took his children and went to Panama. They stayed in Panama for the two years it took them to obtain their documentation needed to come to the United States.

They entered the United States in 1991. It was after his arrival that Felix came to work for G&H. He said G&H has been his only employment since coming to the US. A short four years later in 1995, Felix became a US citizen!

Felix works in the Production Department and operates all of the punch press machines. He told me he likes his job and what he does, and he loves working with the people here at G&H. Felix has a son, Yoel, who also works for G&H.

When I asked Felix about his family life and outside interests, he replied, “I’ve always been blessed with my family and I, in turn, live for them.” He also said, “I love my God and my church!”

I hope you will all join us in thanking Felix for his almost 17 years of continuous service at G&H!