Page 205 - MY STORY

I also continued to learn that a boss does not “manage”

people. Embracing their diversity and creativity was the
key to success in almost everything we worked. I simply
cannot extoll the capabilities of this crew too much. I still

feel close to these folk even though I’ve been retired for
20 years.

MAKING PROFIT ON FP DEVELOPMENT
This is not a story about me, so it may not belong in this
treatise. But, it’s just one of those points in history that are

impossible to put back in the closet and forget. It’s
simply a story to explain the diversity and talents of my

irreverent “misfits.” Under Dave S and our R&D funds,
our folk developed a highly durable and “tough” ceramic
coating.

The coating was highly compatible with titanium and
nickel base superalloys for the intended use at high

temperatures. We were providing a customer briefing and
Dave was one of the presenters.

Picture this — Dave comes strolling into the filled
conference room with a one-foot-square piece of ceramic
coated titanium alloy sheet, places it on the table in front

of the audience, and then whips out a one-pound ball peen