Saft employee honored for 40 years of work

Published 4:28 am Tuesday, December 6, 2005

VALDOSTA — John Bauer, 76, is very proud of the work he has done for Saft America, Inc.

And the company is proud of him too.

After 40 years at Saft, the company recognized the longtime employee with a celebration and a gift — a Craftsman Air Compressor.

“In 1981, a performance evaluation said you had excellent cooperation, attitude and judgment, and that is what makes you such a valuable employee, among others,” Kris Jensen, human resources manager, said. “We are so proud of you.”

Bauer, who is the second longest serving employee at Saft in Valdosta, is a documentation technician. He began working for the Guilton Battery company in 1965 in New Jersey, before it was purchased by Saft. He moved to Valdosta in 1975, when the plant was moved to the Azalea City Industrial Park.

Bauer said he had held many different jobs at Saft, from foreman to electrical test technician to his current position.

“I just answered an ad, and I was hired here,” Bauer said. “The best thing about my job is developing all of these products.”

Bauer also likes to keep mementos of his years at Saft, keeping a “battery museum” near his desk, from small C-batteries to complex batteries.

When asked if he was planning on retiring, Bauer said he was thinking about it.

“I’m thinking about retiring, but for now, I am just enjoying working with all of the good products and wonderful people.”

Many of his fellow employees had good things to say about Bauer as well.

“He is a great example of dedication and is a really great person,” Anne Lennard said.

Bauer celebrated his 40th year with his wife Dorothy, son and daughter-in-law Kevin and Georgianne, and grandchildren Richard, Kevin Jr. and Jessica.