Music Manufacturing
Paula Walker began working in the music industry right out of high school for the Gemeinhart flute company in Elkhart, Indiana. In the early years she worked primarily on student instruments for Gemeinhart, which provided products designed especially for younger students. Her attention to detail...
Jack Shanholt began working for Selmer in Elkhart, Indiana in the factory. He was proud of his training, from the veteran craftsmen at the time, which is a tradition continued to this day. In fact, Jack has trained several younger employees over the years. As a musician and former band member in...
Judy Monk began working for the Armstrong Flute Company before it was purchased by Selmer and moved to a new building in Elkhart in 1975. She has been with Selmer ever since. Judy has worked primarily in corking musical instruments and enjoys her job as well as the people she has worked with over...
Tom Fischer worked for the Gemeinhart flute company in Elkhart, Indiana for over 25 years. Tom was part of the factory workers team and contributed his hand-craftsmenship to the assembly of both student and professional level flutes. He later joined the Conn-Selmer Company where he continued to...
Cynthia Templeton has worked for one and only one company in the music industry. She was hired by Selmer in Elkhart, Indiana in the early 1970s and remained with the company for her entire career. She remained with the company when it merged with Conn in 2003 and has supported the company in a...
Deb Hart began working in the Selmer office in Elkhart, Indiana in the early 1970s and stayed on when the company merged with Conn. Among the elements of the company she has enjoyed the most over the years is getting to work with so many people who have become personal friends. She is very proud...
Naomi Peer recalls the days Danny Henkin brought the CG Conn Company back to Elkhart, Indiana in the 1980s, which is when she first began working for the company. She stayed on during the merge with Selmer in 2003 and has witnessed many changes within the industry. As an office worker, Naomi...
Tom Lacy began working for Armstrong flutes right out of high school in 1971 in the very plant he is working some 40 years later for the Conn-Selmer Company in Elkhart, Indiana. Along the way, Tom built his own flutes for several years before joining UMI and later Conn-Selmer. During his long...
John Crise began his career in the music industry with Selmer in 1975. He has focused his work on the oboe, clarinet and bassoon in the years before the CNC machines came to the company. Even after that time John has used his skills as a craftsman to provide the detail work and adjustments...
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.