Kristen Pratt and Keri Jay of II-IV Incorporated

This week, two members of the Sales and Marketing Group of II-VI Incorporated visited with residents of the Concordia Lutheran Ministries facility in Cabot, Pennsylvania.

II-VI and its divisions and subsidiaries utilize expertise in crystal materials growth, optics fabrication, electronics component manufacture, and more to create high-tech products for a wide range of applications and industries.

Concordia Lutheran Ministries is a nonprofit Christian corporation, offering independent living apartments, personal care facilities, skilled nursing, home health care, rehabilitation, and adult/child day care. It serves approximately 3,000 individuals and employs over 980 people through five services lines.

II-VI Sales Engineers Keri Jay and Kristen Pratt took their show on the road for the Concordia men’s monthly breakfast get-together in the organization’s Haven II facility. After pancakes and sausage, the women gave a presentation on the Saxonburg company, providing a general overview, history, products, subsidiaries, and applications for the local laser optics firm. Both during the presentation and afterwards, Jay and Pratt answered questions.

"I think they definitely had a genuine interest in what II-VI does," Pratt said afterwards, adding that the group seemed happy that II-VI is boosting the economy of the area and bringing in jobs. Currently, II-VI has 40 open positions at its Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, facility.

Jay said she thought the residents were impressed with the size of the company beyond the Saxonburg headquarters and manufacturing facilities. II-VI has a worldwide presence, with approximately 1,300 employees in North America, Europe, and Asia, as well as an extensive distribution network.

The audience asked good questions, Jay said, and "I think they really enjoyed us talking to them."

Sally Bauer, Program Director for the Havens, said they try to bring in representatives from an area company to talk to residents at least once a year. The men’s breakfast is held once a month and has speakers ranging from local companies to historians. They try to have a diverse program, she said, because their residents come from such varied backgrounds. The II-VI program had about 36 attendees.

Bauer was very pleased with II-VI’s presentation and the company’s willingness to take time out to send representatives to speak to the group. She said the audience members enjoyed the presentation by Jay and Pratt very much.

It was a new experience for Jay and Pratt, having been with the company less than 6 months each. But, Pratt said, they like to be involved in the community and felt honored to have represented II-VI. "It is an opportunity to let people know we are here and what we do," she said. "We’re just a small company in a small town," she explained, adding, "but a world leader in crystal growth technology and CO2 laser optics."

Submitted by:
Teresita K. Kolenchak
Marketing Communications Coordinator
Sales & Marketing Department
II-VI, Inc.
Telephone: 724-360-5913
E-Mail: tkolenchak@ii-vi.com
Web: http://www.ii-vi.com