Elkhart IN
Rick Hesch began working in the music industry right out of high school for the Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana. Rick has been a dedicated factory worker who has learned many skills throughout the plant. He recalled his early days of training when a mentor was assigned to sit down with him and...
Harvey Becker began working for CG Conn in Elkhart, Indiana and later worked for Armstrong, which later became Selmer then Conn-Selmer. He has witnessed many changes in the industry; the largest in his view have been the CNC machines and computers, although his skills and craftsmanship are still a...
Gary Shanholt began working on the bench at Selmer in Elkhart on Main Street back in the 1970s. He continued to work for the company after it merged with Conn, becoming Conn-Selmer. Gary began working on saxophones and later in the cleaning room before finding his niche within the company in the...
Roger Shelton was hired by the Armstrong Flute Company and stayed on with the company when it merged with Selmer and later with Conn. Like so many of the factory workers in the plant, Roger takes great pride in the craftsmanship and skills he brings to the process of making musical instruments.
Jonathan Montel has worked on the bench in the factory at Selmer in Elkhart for over 40 years! He has worked in many positions during his career with a special concentration on oboes, clarinets and bassoons. He has also seen many changes to the process of instrument making, including the first...
Karen Feltz is one of the voices of Conn-Selmer as she serves in the customer service department. She joined Selmer right out of high school and has worked for the company for over 40 years. Music dealers around the world know Karen for her dedication to finding answers to their questions and for...
Tommy Tompkins began working for CG Conn in Elkhart, Indiana right after high school. He worked in a variety of positions within the company before his training and certification on waste water management. Tommy, like so many of the factory workers at Conn-Selmer, enjoys working with his co-...
Sandy Peffley was hired by her uncle who owned the Armstrong Flute Company, when Sandy was just out of high school. She stayed with the company when it was sold to Selmer and again when it merged with Conn in 2003. Like so many factory workers in the plant, Sandy enjoys the precision work of the...
Lorna Kirchner has worked for Selmer, now Conn-Selmer, in Elkhart for over 40 years. She recalls the days before the CNC machines came into the factory, when all of the work was done by hand. Her attention to details and skills at soldering continue to be used in making musical instruments and...
John Creachbaum began his career in the music industry with Coffman Music in Ohio before he joined the Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana in 1984. He studied music education in college and trained to be a band director before working for the music store for eight years. His background as both an...