Forest City Gear Celebrates Jared Lyford’s 20th Anniversary

June 25, 2024

Forest City Gear is proud to recognize Jared Lyford on his 20th anniversary and thank him for his long-term dedication to the company.

Lyford is Director of Operations at Forest City Gear. He started his career at Forest City Gear through an apprenticeship program in 1995 when he was in high school, before leaving for about 6 years to become a tool and die maker.

“In early 2004 I saw a newspaper article centered around Fred Young and Forest City Gear, and the technology and the reinvestment strategy. I saw that in the local paper a coworker asked me, ‘Didn’t you use to work here?’” says Lyford. “Lo and behold, that got me to go back and re-engage with Forest City. That newspaper article is framed and hanging in my office today.”

Lyford has held multiple roles at Forest City Gear: Hobbing Operator, Hobbing Setup Technician, Shaping Setup Technician, Shaping and Gear Grinding Supervisor, Process Engineer, Interim Quality Manager, and finally Director of Manufacturing Operations when the senior team was formed in 2013.

All throughout his tenure, Lyford has been found to be an excellent problem solver and leader, consistently seeking to improve procedures to ensure quality and short lead teams, leading by example, and emulating Forest City Gear’s code of “Excellence Without Exception” at every turn.

According to shareholder Mindy Young, “Jared’s expertise in the gearing industry is driven by owning the mentality of ‘Excellence without Exception’ and staying forever a student to the world of gearing. We are exceptionally proud and grateful to have Jared as such an integral part of the FCG family. For your gear brotherhood, your service to the industry, and devotion to Forest City Gear, thank you!”

Shareholder Appy (Young) Mikel added, “If I had to choose three phrases to describe Jared within his role at FCG, those words would be ‘technically brilliant, thoughtfully organized, and relationally intentional.’ But most people in the gear industry already know that about him. Jared is respected and liked by his peers and coworkers. One of the character traits that I really admire about Jared is that even though he’s usually the smartest person in the room, he is also the most down to earth. Forest City Gear has lived a lot of life with Jared and we are better for it. Cheers to gears and cheers to you, Jared, on your twenty years with Forest City Gear!”

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