Nucor knows the value of teammates, community

Spoofy Beans learns work ethic at Nucor and finds new friends

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Hard work comes naturally for the team at Nucor and in an effort to show appreciation for that work Nucor management also made an impact on the local community by creating a strong bond between the Maryville plant staff and a small group of high school students still learning about work ethic and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Providing coffee and snacks from Spoofy Beans each month to its team, Nucor management continues to strengthen an ever-growing bond between employees and the Maryville High School 108 family.

The 108 family consists of around 15 high school students involved in a life skills class taught by Candace and Alexis Boeh. While in the class the students receive special education to assist them in their future lives. The Boehs’ focus on the importance of being an active member of society and emphasize the social and emotional impact of having a purpose.

Which is exactly what Maryville Plant Manager Jack Morris — who has been with the company for 28 years — is working to do by supporting the group.

“We look for opportunities to have impact in our community,” he said, continuing that it has been a great opportunity not only for the students, but also the team of 103 who manufacture cold finished steel bar, bright basic wire and corrugated metal fasteners. “It’s been a wonderful relationship for sure. It’s also been great to watch our team and how they’ve responded to having the kids here. It’s really popular.”

He said that some of the kids have their favorite team members and vice-versa, but the impact that the monthly visits has had has been apparent shortly after starting. Some of the students talk much, or interact.

“Now, they know us,” Morris said. “They’re opening up, so to be able to provide an experience like that for them has been rewarding as well.”

Nucor actually developed a new combined Nucor/Spoofy Beans logo. The company then put it on sweatshirts for the kids even gifting them hardhats at Christmastime.

Because Nucor is constantly looking for other ways to help the community teammates actually give up a bit of their work time to come up and interact with the group.

‘We don’t have one teammate that doesn’t just love when they come,” Morris said.

When employees give up that work time to support their new friends, they are giving up a bit of income, because of bonus production time.

Nucor Sales Supervisor and Maryville City Council member Benjamin Lipiec said that having Spoofy Beans come in has been a blessing.

Teammates talking with each other and bonding over the shared experience while waiting for their order to be taken or to receive their drink showcases the welcoming atmosphere and comfortable environment at Nucor.

“They’re just happy to wait,” Lipiec said. “You know, it’s just the smiles on those kids’ faces knowing that you bless them and help them see a real business world opportunity.”

He said students have sat in a conference room listening to meetings and learned more about the business.

“They’re a part of our family and that’ll never change as long as we’re here,” Lipiec said. “We’ll help them grow and do anything we can. … We’re already trying to figure out what we’re gonna do next.”

Morris said that they were told before starting the coffee events that some of the kids had never smiled before they started visiting Nucor and interacting with the team.

“That’s awesome, that’s enough said,” he said. “... to see a kid smile, that’s an investment in the community. All of our teammates live in this community and we plan to be here for a long time to come, so anything we can do to improve the overall community is a great thing.”