Cannon Safe

http://www.cannonsafe.com/

Well, as everyone knows, the whole reason we are here is due to the internship Eric got at Cannon Safe (thanks to Emily, she was able to set up this connection for Eric).

Cannon manufactures home safes, gun safes, and fireproof safes. Eric has worked on the design of these safes, as well as programming the machines to cut out the pieces of metal for the safes. 

Eric a his desk

Eric can for sure give you a lot more detail than I can about what he does. However, I was able to get a better picture of what he does when I went to the plant. 

Eric can give you some good stories about how he has stirred up this work environment. One is when he went out to the production line to inspect some of the safes they had recently made. Well, these safes were bowing around the handle when you pulled on it. He told the production manager that these could not go out. After some talking, and some unhappy looks at Eric, they ended up redoing the safes. Now the production manager tells Eric that he likes it when he comes to the line because everyone starts working harder.

One of Eric's most treasured relationships that he has developed here is with Jorge (shown above). Jorge is a 65 year old man, who lives in LA, and comes down for the work week and stays in the Cannon house. To save money, his wife makes him enough beans for the week and that is what he eats for dinner every night. 

He makes stuff for Cannon; anything they need to improve their jobs, he is their man. He keeps to himself, and doesn't like many people. However, Eric made the effort to talk to him, and to get to know him. Now, Eric is the only person he likes :) I think this man has helped Eric through some of his more frustrating days, and vice versa. Jorge has his work station out back behind Cannon, where he can work by himself. Eric will go out there to unwind sometimes and talk.

When I met Jorge, he explained to me that I won the lottery with Eric. He told me how much Eric means to him and that he took the time to get to know him and just talk to him. He hasn't met someone who has done that before. At first I was a little surprised about how much he opened up to me about Eric, but then I had to remember that is it part of the Latino culture. They express very openly about how they feel about someone. Eric has a wonderful gift of connecting with people easily, and creating a good relationship quickly. I think Jorge is what he will miss most about Mexico.

Working here, Eric has had frustrations and learning opportunities . Not only just in the manufacturing tasks given, but working in an international environment as well. I don't think Eric wants to pursue working internationally again.

Overall, I think it has been a positive experience for him. He was so worried that he would get into his internship and realize manufacturing engineering isn't what he wants to do. Luckily, those feelings have subsided and he knows that he will enjoy his profession of choice.

I'm really grateful to heavenly father for paving the way for this opportunity.