Doug Squire, Quality Assurance Manager, Minneapolis, MN
Doug Squire
Quality Assurance Manager, Minneapolis, MN
40+ year industry pro. Involves the team to solve problems. Models a safety-first mindset.
Doug Squire is building a legacy in our industry. He first became interested in metals as a teenager working at his father’s foundry business – a solid foundation that would eventually help him find a home at Olympic Steel.
After a few years at the foundry, an accident caused him to lose three fingers. Since that day, Doug always puts safety first. That accident taught him a valuable lesson about how important it is to always be aware of your surroundings, no matter how familiar you are with what you’re doing. He’s taken this lesson with him throughout his 40-year career in the metals industry.
From the foundry, Doug moved to a production role at a service center, before growing into scheduling, purchasing, inside sales, marketing and outside sales. After thirty years, Doug found a home at Olympic Steel in the Quality Department at the Minneapolis, MN division as a Quality Tech in 2010. Two years ago, in 2019, he was promoted to Quality Manager.
“Doug shows dedication to Olympic Steel and our customers on a daily basis,” says Tom Sacco, Regional Vice President. “He is always available to help warehouse employees, the sales team or our customers. His ability to think critically to solve problems has been incredibly valuable to his coworkers, our customers and Olympic Steel.”
The Quality teams across the Company work together often, and Doug appreciates the involvement and support he’s received from other Quality Managers as they work together to resolve customer issues. This day-to-day interaction with coworkers and customers makes every day different. And, it’s this variety that makes Doug happy to come to work each day.
He says, “It’s important to work within the areas you can affect. Pay attention to the details and stay focused on the ultimate mission without letting the things you can’t control derail your progress.”
That’s how he tackles challenges, and it’s also his advice for those interested in building a great career at Olympic Steel: “Don’t be afraid to learn new things. Each opportunity will give you a deeper understanding of what’s happening across the Company, and ultimately help your career. The broader your experience, the better off you’ll be.”
Doug enjoys sharing his experience from the last 40+ years in the industry and Company that have become like home to him. Whether it’s putting Safety first, working with suppliers and customers or having the courage to try new things – Doug continues to use his determination and a keen eye for his surroundings to have a positive impact on the industry and Olympic Steel.
