West Side business that makes ventilator parts hires 50 people who lost jobs
CINCINNATI (WKRC) - A family-owned West Side company is employing 50 people who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Clippard Instrument Laboratories is an essential business making ventilator parts. When their orders skyrocketed, so did their need for help.
Thomas Steel and Ginger Mitchell are now working at Clippard. Both lost their jobs because of COVID-19, and many others on the assembly line did too.
"One of my co-workers was working at the casino; the other, I believe, was a stay-at-home mom, and now we're all working together," said Steel.
"One is a friend I've made. There was a school bus driver and, of course, the buses aren't driving kids anywhere right now. So, she was also furloughed from her job and was able to come to Clippard and get employment," said Mitchell.
They consider their new jobs a win-win -- making critical parts of life-saving medical equipment while getting paid.
"Getting to actually tangibly work with my hands and help out is really really rewarding and something I'll never forget," said Steel.
The second shift at Clippard was just created. They are focusing on parts for the Ford ventilator project, one of the company's biggest clients during the pandemic. Other shifts are also busy filling orders that could travel around the world.
"A lot of big projects in the UK we're supporting. Turkey, several in Asia, Australia. I had one for New Zealand just yesterday, so all around the world these parts are going to support the global pandemic," said Rob Clippard, the company's chief marketing officer.
Rob said when the rush of all these orders came in, they had a good problem -- adding more shifts and more staff.
"Providing the jobs is really one of the most rewarding things for the executive team here, for the managers here. It's fun to see these people come in and really connect with everyone else here and be a part of the culture," said Rob.
The temporary employees don't know how long they will be needed. Rob thinks potentially for the next two months. The company hopes to keep some of the temporary employees on staff after this is over. Right now, those employees are just happy to work.
"They have met such a need. I know it's not just me that is relieved that I have a job to go to," Mitchell said.
Clippard has 20 more people ready for temporary employment. They plan to start them if and when they get more orders.
