Mike Wagner
Product Manager, Cleveland, OH
Focused on a career (not just a job). Turns obstacles into opportunities. Believes teamwork is everything.
Thirty-two years ago, Mike Wagner began his career at Olympic Steel. Starting as a Shipping/Receiving Associate at the Cleveland, OH division, Mike worked his way through the division, gaining experience in inventory control, production planning, scheduling and operations before moving into his current position as Product Manager. Each job Mike’s had provided experience and opportunities that led him to where he is today – a long-time Olympic Steel employee. For Mike, it’s never been “just a job.” From the beginning, he was focused on building his career.
And, that career hasn’t been free of challenges or changes along the way. In fact, Mike says, “Don’t be afraid of change. Learn from others and every situation, so you’re able to grow with the Company and with the change.”
Throughout his career, Mike credits his coworkers for helping him succeed along the way. He believes strongly in the value of teamwork, sharing that he’s always listening and learning from others. He values other opinions and uses advice to make himself better.
This kind of collaboration with his coworkers is what makes Mike happy to come to work. Each day presents a different challenge. And Mike knows that with input from the team and what he’s learned along the way, he can come in every day to tackle those challenges and make the day count. When asked how he tackles challenges, Mike is quick to respond – “Head on! Look. Evaluate. Get input from the entire team and don’t stop until you resolve the issue.”
Whether he’s working with a team to resolve issues or independently completing his own projects, Mike works hard from start to finish. And, that’s exactly his advice for how to build a successful career at Olympic Steel – “Always work hard and don’t be afraid to take on new challenges to learn more.”
Mike knows a little something about building a successful career, too. After 32 years, four departments and eight different ‘jobs’, he’s shown that when you have a positive attitude, a good work ethic and you’re able to learn from others, you can turn obstacles into opportunities and good things will happen.
