Hi everyone! My name’s Gary Kidd and I am currently a Team Leader in the Electronics Manufacturing department at the Hendersonville plant. I’ve been at GE for over 29 years, and I’m a 2nd generation GE employee.

That’s awesome! Tell us about how your family started at GE.

My mother and father, Ruth and Burt Kidd, both grew up in the Hendersonville area. GE came to Hendersonville in 1955, so this factory was a great opportunity for the community. In 1960, about a year after my mother graduated high school, she was hired to work in the front offices, while my Dad served for four years in the Navy before being hired in 1962. My Mom retired in 2001 after 40 years of service and my Dad retired with 36 years of service.

Wow, so you’ve lived in Hendersonville your entire life. Tell us what it was like growing up a mile away from the plant.

I have lived in this community my entire life and being a part of GE was just second nature. When I was old enough, I would walk from my home to the warehouse and eat lunch with my Dad and his entire group of cronies. Those guys always treated me great, told me their tall tales and fed me something good. In 1978, the company built a sports complex and family picnic grounds, and as a teenager I had the opportunity to play in the sports leagues with the adults. We had a huge basketball league made up of just employees and their families. Also, the first tennis tournaments that I played in were GE sponsored here on site. We had the best lit courts in town. It was a pretty amazing way to grow up.

How did you end up getting started with GE?

I was working and attending the local Tech school when GE started hiring in 1989. I had honestly never thought of working at GE, and during the mid-1980s the plant wasn’t hiring. After I did get hired on August 14, 1989, I was very grateful because I had a new bride of only a year and the chance to have a great income and benefits was irresistible. Being a GE employee made things much easier for us.

What has been the coolest part of seeing the Hendersonville plant transform throughout the years?

Having the opportunity to work in one of GE’s “Brilliant Factories” is pretty incredible. Our facility looks so up to date and clean, the assembly area is impressive and with the addition of the Electronics Manufacturing area, where we make all the LED boards for our plant, we have state-of-the-art processes.

Another interesting part about working at the plant was that Maryrose Sylvester was our manager during the late 1990s to early 2000s. Maryrose always had great enthusiasm for the wellbeing of GE Hendersonville. My mom used to work for her, so when Maryrose is in town I always check on her for my Mom and keep them up to date on the latest in each other’s lives. It’s great to have that sense of community here at the plant.

What keeps you excited about the business and the future of Current?

Hendersonville is home, I can’t remember my life without it. Even when I wasn’t working here, I was playing here, so I’m comfortable with these surroundings. With the transition from GE to AIP, I think the possibilities for us are endless. My area in particular has growth opportunities that we may not have seen otherwise. I’m looking forward to seeing what the future potential holds!