Jake Pschigoda

Jake, thanks for taking some time for us today. Can you take us back and go through how long you have been with Walsworth and explain how you joined the company?

Sure, I’ve been with Walsworth for 12 ½ years, going on 13. I spent the first 12 years of my career working for a couple of big, publicly traded printing companies. It was more the packaging industry, but printing nonetheless.

I was at Georgia Pacific, a Fortune 500 company, where I was a quality manager for eight years. I moved with a boss of mine to another packaging company, where I was a production manager.

Then, my wife and I had our two boys in the span of about 18 months, and having kids was always the pinnacle of what I wanted in life. Soon after having our second son, I realized I needed to do something different with my career. I was spending almost no time with my family and knew I needed to reevaluate everything so I could be home more.

So I started looking, and I noticed this job for a customer service manager position on LinkedIn. Lucas Vandermolen was a connection of mine and he worked here, so I called Lucas, got an interview and the rest is history.

It was just a moment in your life where you really needed the work-life balance?

Yeah, that was really it. I am so thankful to have found Walsworth and to have met all the awesome people who work here at the plant.

It’s been 12 years since you joined the company, can you talk about the different roles you’ve had with the company?

I was hired as customer service manager. That’s still my title, but the difference is the scope of my team. I work with a great group of CSRs, and I’ve picked up the planning and scheduling groups as well.

You studied printing in college, correct? What is it about printing that led you to follow a career in it?

You know, I actually started my schooling at Western Michigan (University), studying paper engineering and I didn’t fall in love with it right away. I went into it because my brother was studying to be a paper engineer, and the job placement was high. So I said, since I don’t know what I want to do, I’m going to start there. I went through my first year and wasn’t in love with it.

As part of the curriculum, I took a graphic arts printing 101 class, and I loved it. I decided pretty soon after that I was going to switch majors to printing management. I loved the creative side of it.

I love the plants, the manufacturing, all the challenges that come with delivering products to customers.

Working in customer service, it seems like it takes a certain type of person with certain traits to be successful. Do you see it that way and do you feel like you’ve always had the kind of personality to be successful in customer service?

No, I actually never saw myself in customer service until I started here. I was always on the manufacturing side of things. And I think that’s probably what’s helped me be successful is that manufacturing experience I can use in my role today.

I think my personality fits now. I have a calm demeanor. That just kind of helps work through issues. But knowing what I do about the print process, it helps me navigate through issues that we have with customers surrounding quality and things like that.

What’s a typical day like for you?

It’s all over the place. A lot of what I’m doing is trying to make sure the right work is coming into St. Joe, so that we can be profitable and our customers will be satisfied with what they’re getting from us. I want to make sure we’re not trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

I’m helping drive the scheduling of the plant to make sure we’re hitting our commitments and staying on time.

You’ve seen both ends of the spectrum, working for Fortune 500 companies and smaller, family-owned businesses like Walsworth. When you compare, what do you think has allowed Walsworth to be as successful as it has?

The main driver is the long-term vision and commitment of our leadership, and it really starts with Don Sr., Don and Tripp. These guys have created something special, and they are doing the right things every day to position our company to be a major player and to take care of our employees and customers.

Tell us a little bit about your background and life outside of work.

I was born in Kalamazoo, which is about an hour away from the plant in St. Joe. I grew up in Mattawan, Michigan, and graduated from Mattawan High School in 1995. I attended Western Michigan University and graduated with a degree in Printing Management.

I am married to the amazing Deb Pschigoda, and we have three awesome children. Jacob just turned 15, Sam is 13 and Echo is 9. And they’re involved in all kinds of sports stuff. My main hobbies are being involved with the activities my kiddos are into. I’ve probably coached 30 soccer, baseball and basketball teams over the past 10 years. I’m currently helping coach Sam’s 7^th grade basketball team, Echo’s YMCA basketball team and Jacob’s indoor/outdoor travel soccer teams.

Like we talked about earlier with customer service, it takes a certain type of personality to be a good coach.

Yeah, when I was growing up, my dad was a coach for all my soccer teams and whatnot. I grew up with that and always appreciated it. I like being around the kids and helping any way I can.

Sometimes I wonder if I’m really that good at it (laughs), or if I just want to be around the kids. But I do love it.

Do you have a favorite sport?

I played tennis, basketball and soccer in high school, but I wasn’t really worth a darn at soccer or basketball.

I could play tennis pretty well. That’s something I haven’t coached much yet. My middle son is going to be playing tennis this year and probably in high school in two years, and I’m looking forward watching him and helping him out where I can.

Is your wife also from the area?

Yep, she grew up about 20 minutes from where I did. We actually met in college.

Well actually, I was out of college, and I was in a band in Kalamazoo while she was still at Western, working on her bachelor’s. We played on campus every Friday night at one of the local bars.

Did you play a specific instrument? Or were you a singer?

I was the front man. I was the singer, and I also played some percussion. That was a fun era.

Do you still play ever?

Not much. Definitely not publicly. I do a little acoustic guitar on my own and sing in my workshop, but that’s about it.

Outside of sports with the kids, what other hobbies do you guys enjoy?

We love to fish the St. Joe river, Lake Michigan and area inland lakes with my wife, the kids, the grandparents. We enjoy taking family vacations anywhere that includes finding water and somewhere warm to explore, fish and swim.

What’s one thing about you that most people might not know?

That I love racket sports: ping pong, pickleball, tennis… I can’t get enough.

Also that I went skydiving once in Virginia during college. What a trip.

Do you have a favorite book?

I’m not really a big reader anymore. When I used to read more… and I’m talking 35 years ago now, Where the Red Fern Grows was my book. I love that book. I read that to the kids when they were little.

Now if I pick up a book, my mind’s wandering before I get to page 2, and I’m thinking about whatever in the yard or my wood shop or whatever else is going on.

What about a favorite movie?

I can’t sit still long enough to watch movies generally, but I did always like Braveheart.

Do you have a favorite meal?

Pizza. I can’t get enough pizza and spaghetti.

If you had a personalized coffee mug, what would it say?

Ping pong, anyone?

Do you own a ping pong table?

Yeah, we actually got a used table a couple years ago. It’s out in my workshop. We play all the time.