In honor of Veterans Day, we’re paying tribute to a retired lieutenant colonel who ‘runs circles around everyone.’
11/10/2023
Saluting one of our own
Steve Satterlee doesn’t like to lose. He doesn’t even like coming in second.
The continuous improvement manager at JELD-WEN’s Rantoul, Illinois, window manufacturing plant graduated first in his flight school class. That meant he had his choice of aircraft to fly during his 21-year Army career. He’s “rated in” (trained to fly in) six different helicopters.
Military service is a family tradition. Steve’s father and grandfather both served. During his years of service (1986 through 2007), he was stationed in West Germany; Fort Rucker, Alabama; Fort Bragg, North Carolina; South Korea; Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri; Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Fort Drum, New York and – in the very beginning – Army ROTC at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
He did all he wanted to do during those 21 years. He landed on ships, flew in hazardous weather, flew along the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea and patrolled the Fulda Gap – the border between East and West Germany. He also flew combat missions in the Balkans, Kosovo, Macedonia and Yugoslavia and in less precarious places, too, including with the Navy in the Caribbean. Steve also attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Since retiring from the military, he’s spent 11 years at JELD-WEN in a few roles – group manager of eight different lines, continuous improvement manager and maintenance manager. His current role touches on so many things – training and development, operations and compliance.
“He ensures processes are followed and takes care of any ‘hand holding’ that needs to happen,” said Justin Thompson, plant manager in Rantoul, Illinois. “His military training is evident in all he does. He leads by example and holds others to the same high level of accountability to which he holds himself.”
Steve in uniform in front of one of the helicopters he is rated in.
Steve flying an ocean mission.
The military, Steve said, prepared him well for his second career. What did he learn in the military that he’s found useful at JELD-WEN? “Discipline. Doing what you say you’re going to do, time management and a desire to win.”
Hiring veterans – and anyone with a desire to win – is good for business.
Steve said of his fellow veterans: “We’re disciplined and have a strong work ethic. We’re going to show up and give 100% every day. We hate to lose.”
Steve is one of 11 veterans working at the Rantoul plant.
“They’re all punctual,” Justin said. “They’re all willing to pitch in, respectful of others and make time for anyone who needs help in any way.”
Adjusting to civilian life
Steve’s success at JELD-WEN doesn’t mean the transition from the military to the civilian world was easy.
“The military is really a big family,” he explained. “You know you’re going to get help in any endeavor if you need it. The civilian world is much more individualized.”
But JELD-WEN helped smooth the way for Steve’s entry into the corporate world.
“JELD-WEN has a veterans organization that supports ex-military making the transition,” he said. “Our company also has a structure and a hierarchy like the military. People coming out of the military are familiar with and like structure.”
He still gets occasional tastes of his former life. He handles the flag for the plant when it goes to half-staff, for instance.
The flag holds special significance for Steve.
“He’s very patriotic,” Justin said. “He makes sure the flag out front is lit up at night. Anytime there’s an opportunity to show American pride, he’s at the forefront.”
Steve loves the work he gets to do at JELD-WEN’s Rantoul plant. “There are often a variety of obstacles to understand and overcome, which I appreciate,” he said. “I learn something new daily. I don’t do this for the money; I don’t need the financial incentive. I love to mentor others – especially those looking for increased responsibility.”
Justin added: “He’s good at it, too. He’s a very effective mentor. I rely on him to tell me what I could be doing better. Probably three or four times a week, we talk about things I could do better and what he could do better. We learn from each other.”
Steve credits his military background with one unusual feat: He hasn’t missed a day of work due to illness since he first started more than a decade ago. Colleagues marvel at his work ethic.
“He runs circles around everyone here, including myself,” Justin said. “I can’t compete with the guy; I gave up. He does the work of three people. He’s here at 4 a.m. and doesn’t leave until 6 p.m. or later. I had to force him to take a vacation last year. I don’t want him to get burned out. He’s my right hand. We’re fortunate to have him at Rantoul and JELD-WEN is fortunate to have him at our company.”
Rantoul display honors JELD-WEN veterans.
Family man
Steve grew up in Champaign and graduated from the University of Illinois, where he was a varsity soccer player. His drive to succeed led him to earn a master’s degree in management from Webster College.
He’s been married to his wife, Susan, for 35 years. The couple raised three daughters and they have five granddaughters. Steve’s mission readiness may have helped when he had to deliver their second daughter – in a car – when it became clear they weren’t going to reach the hospital in time. (His wife’s quick labors are both a blessing and a curse.) He called the experience “terrifying” and still gets emotional discussing it.
“I experienced a lot of stress in the military, but nothing was more stressful than this,” he said.
While at work, he got word that Susan was in labor and he needed to get home. He picked her up, but her water broke on the way to the hospital. He stopped the car, flagged down a vehicle (this was before cell phones) and asked the driver to alert the hospital that a newborn and her mom would soon be on the way.
Steve cut the umbilical cord with a pocketknife, made sure his new baby was breathing, wrapped her in a blanket and drove the rest of the way to the hospital. A team was waiting outside for them.
“It’s the most stress I’ve ever experienced in an hour,” he said. “To this day, I get nervous around pregnant women.”
That “baby” is now a social worker with two daughters of her own.
As for their third daughter, Susan delivered that baby herself – at home – as Steve didn’t get home in time.
His family, like his military service and his role at JELD-WEN, is a point of pride for him.
“He’s been happily married to his wife for years,” Justin said. “They have three great girls who are all very successful. There are a million things Steve has to be proud of.”
Steve and his wife Susan.