Gray Manufacturing CMM Programmer Earns Outstanding Achievement
Little did Josh Thibault know, but his first job as a dish washer at a restaurant in Denver, NC began him down a path to Gray Manufacturing Technologies.
Now almost two years into his tenure at the operating company, Compass Precision has named Josh its employee of the month for March 2024.
”Josh is a great example of a new employee who is taking full advantage of the opportunities presented to him,” explained Evan Grose, Gray’s Operations Manager. “The kid just wants to learn and contribute.”
Josh is the 48th employee of the month at Compass. He is also the eighth recipient of the honor at Gray Manufacturing since Compass acquired the company in Aug. 2020.
Justin Paul is the most recent Gray employee to receive the honor in July 2023.
Josh began at Gray as a quality technician, but he quickly transitioned to CMM programmer when the role became available about a month into his tenure. Josh had previous experience as a press operator at Blum Inc. performing manual checks and running CMM’s while simultaneously running a press brake machine.
Under Evan’s tutelage and with Zeiss training courses, Josh quickly developed his skills on Gray’s CMM Zeiss machines.
“I like the challenge that the aerospace industry brings, with the level of difficulty at hand it keeps me thinking on my toes when programming for accuracy and efficiency,” said Josh. “I really enjoy the environment at Gray. Everyone has been welcoming and great to work with.
Josh began his working career as a “quality inspector” of sorts at his very first job, but it had nothing to do with machining. He washed dishes at a local restaurant while attending classes at Gaston College. Josh worked his way up to cook and then manager over six years at the restaurant.
Ironically, Gray Quality Manager Luke Honbarger also had a job washing dishes with Josh. Luke joined the staff at Gray in 2021, and when a position opened in spring 2022, he recommended Josh for the position.
As Gray’s CMM programmer, Josh runs all the coordinate measuring machines at the operating company. He ensures everything is measured correctly. While the machines are running, he spends his down time programming the new work moving down the line.
“When the position opened, I thought long and hard about who would be a good fit for it,” stated Luke. “Based off my previous work experience with Josh, I knew his work ethic would be a good fit for us at Gray. My recommendation could not have worked out better.”
Josh moved to North Carolina with his family when he was 13 years old. He is originally from Douglas, Massachusetts, which is less than 5 miles from the state border with Rhode Island.
Josh lives with his fiancée, Jenna, and their two sons, Grant and Thomas. Grant is five years old while Thomas was born last year.
For fun, Josh likes to fix things around the house, go fishing and hang out with friends.