In December, we bid farewell to Procurement Manager, Dan Bayer, who retired after a long and successful career at Maglio Companies. An employee for over four decades, Dan has worked in every facet of our business from purchasing to production to sales. Dan’s influence has left an indelible mark on our organization and we’ll miss seeing him in his corner cubicle.
Last week, we sat down with Dan to talk about his life, his career and his upcoming adventures as a newly-minted retiree. Read on to learn more about Dan.
Answers have been edited for clarity.
What’s your current position?
Currently, I sell a few things and buy a few things. [Laughs].
What’s your current position?
Procurement Manager.
Tell us how you started working at Maglio Companies.
When I got engaged, I started working here to make some extra money to pay for my wedding. That was 1973. I worked part-time until 1976, when I went full-time. Our first warehouse on Broadway was 50 feet wide and about 300 feet deep. To go from that to this incredible growth has been amazing to witness.
What were your responsibilities as a part-time employee?
I would deliver orders and drive trucks. When I switched to full-time in 1976, I got involved in sales, which is what I’ve done since then.
What do you like most about Maglio Companies?
You’re never bored. It’s busy and fast-paced and there’s always something to do!
What is your funniest/best memory working at Maglio Companies?
One of my favorite memories was when we got our first forklifts. It was such a new technology in our industry at that time that we ended up buying forklifts that weren’t heavy enough. That first day, we needed to have people hanging off the back to add extra weight. We’ve obviously perfected this process since then, but at the time, it was pretty funny to see.
What has changed about the produce industry since your time starting?
Safe food handling and the ability to trace where your food comes from were practically nonexistent in the produce industry when I started in the 70’s. I am proud to say we’ve always been ‘ahead of the times’ regarding both.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to work in the produce industry?
As a procurement manager, it’s a constant challenge to acquire certain products depending on the season or what’s happening in the world, so it’s important to develop your connections and relationships from the get go. Also, it’s a fast-paced industry. So you shouldn’t expect to be bored or stop moving.
What will you miss most about working at Maglio Companies?
The people and vendors I’ve had the good fortune to work with these last few years. I’ll miss a lot of good relationships and daily conversations.
How do you plan to enjoy your retirement?
I plan to spend more time in Florida and with my wife. I’d love to do a little traveling and more golfing.
Anything else you want to share about your time at Maglio Companies?
Nothing I should share publicly [laughs]. But no. Honestly, it’s been a great career and I’ve had a blast.
