Driven by Innovation. Defined by Dedication. – Celebrating 38 Year of Tom Steffes
For nearly 40 years, senior design engineer Tom Steffes has poured his heart into shaping what Steffes is today, leaving a lasting mark on every part of the company, especially within the Electric Thermal Storage (ETS) division. His journey began while he was working as an electrician for another company and Founder Paul Steffes enlisted Tom’s electrical expertise to help with an ETS product prototype. As Tom puts it, he “just kinda didn’t go away.”
He recalls assisting Paul with the very first ETS prototypes, even before officially joining the team. “I think maybe that’s when Paul realized that having somebody who knows wires and electricity would be a good thing to have,” Tom said with a smile. That first prototype was the spark that launched his remarkable 38-year career at Steffes.
Reflecting on his early years, Tom described them as “so incredibly colorful.” At the Steffes South Plant, his focus centered on developing the ETS division. “Nobody had a specific role when I first started. Everybody did whatever they could to move the success of the company forward,” he shared. “We all just did what we had to do.”
Those early experiences shaped Tom into the mentor he is today, someone who has guided more than a dozen employees throughout their careers. When asked why mentorship is so meaningful to him, Tom expressed, “It’s one of the most valuable gifts you can give to people. I find it really fun to help others learn and become better at their jobs.”
Tom also credits Steffes’s culture as a major reason he has remained part of the team for nearly four decades. “Having an opportunity to contribute in a big way and be given lots of rope to learn, make mistakes, and then turn around, learn some more, I found that to be a really fun culture.”
As he reflected on his favorite moments from the past 38 years at Steffes, Tom shared a mix of funny and memorable stories. There were many, from (unsuccessfully) riding a unicycle in the South Plant, to traveling with Connie Aman, a longtime member of the ETS team, and even singing karaoke with Paul Steffes on one of their trips to Minnesota.
But one memory stood out above the rest. It was a competition that lasted several months among a few employees in the ETS lab: each day at lunch, they were required to eat a 20-ounce can of carrots. Other foods were allowed, but the carrots were mandatory. “Once we made the bet, I came in the next day with 30 cans of carrots and built a pyramid with them,” Tom recalled with a laugh. “Weeks and weeks went by and nobody wanted to lose, so we pushed it to two cans a day.” He continued, “After a few months we all agreed it wasn’t worth being sick, so we eventually called a truce.”
As Tom begins his retirement, he looks forward to traveling with his wife in their mobile home through the southern states and visiting some of their favorite destinations. They are also planning a trip to Alaska in the summer of 2027, timed perfectly so he doesn’t have to miss a season at his second home, Lake Tschida. When he’s not exploring, Tom hopes to find volunteer opportunities in the community that excite him.
We couldn’t be more grateful for Tom’s dedication to Steffes. It’s been a remarkable journey, and we thank you, Tom, for 38 incredible years! Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement!
See more photos from Tom’s 38 years at Steffes below! ⤵️
