"SEL announces plan to add 300 new jobs; Most of the new positions will be located in Pullman"

If it were not for Schweitzer Engineering both the City of Pullman and Whitman County would likely be facing negative population, jobs, and income losses. Because of the underdeveloped retail trade, service, and housing sector in Pullman, Moscow may be benefiting as much from the growth of Schweitzer Engineering as Pullman.

- Steve Peterson, "Moscow at a Tipping Point: An Economic Analysis of the Retail Trade Sector, the Local Economy, and the Effects of Locating a Super Wal-Mart in the Moscow, Idaho Regional Economy"

Thanks to the courageous efforts of the Whitman County Commissioners and the Hawkins Companies, the development logjam created by the unholy alliance of local NIMBYists and left-wing nutjobs has been broken up. Whitman County will now start to benefit from the expansion of SEL. Now, all we need is for the Appeals Court to dismiss PARD's pointless appeal of Wal-Mart, and Pullman can start to benefit as well and we will have total victory!! What a great day for Whitman County!

From today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories plans to expand operations and add hundreds of new jobs in Pullman.

The Pullman-based company announced Monday that more than 300 new employees will be needed to help the growing company.

Susan Fagan, SEL director of public affairs, said "most" of the open positions will be needed in Pullman. She said about 100 positions already are listed online, while nearly 200 more will be added during the next two quarters.

In 2007, SEL added 248 new positions and now employs about 1,000 people at its Pullman headquarters.

With roots in manufacturing parts used in generating electric power, SEL introduced the world's first digital relay in 1984. Since then, the company has created products used in oil refineries, wind farms and high-voltage substations. Its products include clocks that are accurate to the microsecond, encryption equipment used to protect secure equipment and systems for the U.S. Navy that allow ships to run on electrical power rather than steam power.

The company's products are sold in 120 countries.

Fagan said the new batch of open positions are a reflection of growth caused by "new products, new locations and new companies."

"Hiring these new people will help us grow and continue to meet the demand of our customers," she said. "We're creating new markets by inventing, designing and manufacturing new products."

Fagan said the company seeks employees to work in the flight department, production, engineering, manufacturing, administration and more. Open job listings can be viewed at www.selinc.com.

In 2006, SEL's manufacturing facilities doubled to more than 200,000 square feet, which allowed for new equipment, expanded lines and room for additional employees. More than half of the company's Pullman employees work in manufacturing operations.

Fagan said the increase of employees will equate to more products for vendors and more business for shipping companies. She said the impact will resonate in the local economy.

"It's an exciting time for our company ... and it's exciting for our economy in our area," Fagan said. "There will be more families, and they'll need homes. They'll have kids that go to schools. They'll need services."

Pullman Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Fritz Hughes agreed. He said the SEL employee expansion will be a benefit to the entire region.

"It's a good quality of life that SEL provides for the community and that's a big benefit," he said. "It's a tremendous asset to our community.

"This brings in people and gives good stable employment for people so they don't have to leave" the area.

SEL was founded in Pullman in 1982 and employs more than 1,500 people in 64 locations around the world.

"SEL spreads holiday cheer; Pullman employees ship care packages to soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan"

Nice write up in today's Moscow-Pullman Daily News about SEL's Operation Desert Christmas:

K.C. Brown developed a habit of under-baking her cookies while her son-in-law, Ryan, was serving two tours of duty in Iraq.

She learned how to send care packages overseas so the contents would arrive in perfect condition.

“If you undercook them, by the time the cookies get there, they’re not like rocks,” she said.

Ryan returned from duty in 2005 and is now back with his family in California, but Brown knows many service personnel remain in danger and away from their families.

As a sign of support, the Pullman resident and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc. help desk coordinator is involved in a project to send holiday care packages to soldiers stationed throughout Iraq and Afghanistan.

She recognizes that troops need to know they are being thought of, especially during the holiday season.

“I want all of them to know how much they are loved,” Brown said.

Kevin Carson, an SEL information systems specialist, started gathering items within his department in the company’s Government Service Division earlier this month. His small project caught on fast, and his co-workers at SEL’s Pullman campus soon began collecting goodies.

Ed Schweitzer, the company’s founder and president, pitched in $1,000. The company also donates food to the Pullman Food Bank and provides gifts for families that receive assistance through regional social service agencies.

Carson and his team did their research before they started packing up boxes. They went online to read Web logs, sent e-mails, and collected information from employees who knew people serving overseas to learn what items soldiers longed for.

They discovered everyday items are what the servicemen and women desire most.

Each package includes essential personal-hygiene products, such as razors, deodorant and shaving cream — an item not commonly shipped to soldiers because it is combustible.

The packages also contain things like compact discs, movies, puzzles and books, which are intended to add a little fun and stimulation to the soldiers’ long days.

“We have a great role in the world this year, because we get to play Santa,” Carson said. “It’s my belief that there’s an untapped need to help, and this helps.”

Also included are small toys soldiers can give to children living in the war zones.

More than 30 care packages were stuffed with goodies Thursday and were slated to be mailed out today. The packages will be shipped to members of the Washington National Guard and other outfits in Iraq and Afghanistan and be distributed to soldiers by their squad leaders.

“I hope they get there before Christmas,” Carson said.

Brown is sure to keep the packages nondenominational, even though it is the Christmas season.

“Whatever the season means to you, just know that you are being prayed for,” she said.

Hal Klein, an SEL lead software engineer, knows firsthand the importance of being recognized during the holidays.

Klein, a former Air Force airman who was stationed in the Azores Islands in the late 1970s, once received a package from his mother that contained a small, faux Christmas tree. The gift lit up what could have been a very lonely time of year.

“It was the only Christmas tree in the whole barracks,” he said. “It was really special.”

Klein’s 23-year-old son is fresh out of basic training and stationed with the Idaho National Guard in Blackfoot. He is safe at home for now, but the threat of being deployed is valid. Klein got involved in the care package project as a way to show respect not only for his son, but to all U.S. troops committed to their duty overseas.

“He didn’t join because he had to, he joined because he wanted to,” Klein said of his son. “We’re very proud of him. I hope the men that are over there know how much we think of them.”
Each package includes a form letter from SEL management expressing thanks to the soldiers for their loyalty to the United States.

Brown added an additional letter — something a bit more personal — that lets the troops know she is thankful for their bravery.

“I want all of them to know how much they are loved. So many of the soldiers are my kid’s age,” she said. “Do you know how many people are affected by this? I want to hug every one of them.”