Spartan officials (left to right): Philip Zampogna, Andrew Masterman,
CEO Don Jubel, Jim Spalding, plant manager Mike Dierks and Paul Walle.
Northeast Missouri Economic Development celebrated as Spartan Light Metal Products announced the acquisition of the former Intermet facility on September 20, 2006. “"I'm very excited, Spartan is an excellent company," said George Walley, Executive Director of the Northeast Missouri Development. “Spartan has built a good reputation in the past four decades,” according to Walley. "The State of Missouri considers Spartan Light Metals a very high quality employer with high wages and benefits," he stated.
Spartan officials had been in negotiations with Northeast Missouri Development for several months prior to their announcement. Site location, accessibility and employee availability were some of the issues that were important to Spartan officials.
Hannibal is very fortunate to acquire a plant that is owned by Don Jubel. Don feels very strongly that it is his purpose to carry on the values that his father originally implemented with employees of Spartan Light Metal Products. The company will bring more than new jobs to Hannibal. Spartan carries with it a variety of strong values…….integrity, honesty, open communication, competitive pay and benefits. Jubel’s father started the company after immigrating to the U.S. from Europe in 1928. Those values are appreciated by more than 800 employees at production facilities in Sparta, Ill., and Mexico, Mo., and its company headquarters in St. Louis.
Mike Dierks
Spartan’s Plant Manager
As Vice-President and General Manager of Spartan Light Metal Products, Mike Dierks is dedicated to the company and has been since Nov. 14, 1979. His engineering background has helped him become a valuable employee for Spartan. As General Manager of the Hannibal plant, he is responsible for getting the plant in full operation, and that means being a jack-of-all-trades. Whatever needs to be done, Mike is there to do it or to see that it gets done. Spartan’s Hannibal plant produces automotive power-train components. As of mid-November, Spartan had hired eight employees. By the Fall of 2007 when the plant will be in full operation with eight diecast cells, Spartan will have hired 80-85 employees.
Mike Dierks shares CEO Don Jubel’s ideals about the company’s mission…..to provide for the employees and shareholders, their dreams and goals and to move the company forward. Spartan is, also, dedicated to providing scholarships to educational institutions. Dierks believes their involvement with schools and colleges will help to attract the best and brightest students to become future employees of the company. Spartan participates in career days and shadowing programs with local high schools and colleges. They also encourage interested students to intern during the summer months.
Dierks’ wife, Sue, is finishing her master’s and is focusing on early childhood education. They moved from Steelville, IL, and are both pleasantly surprised with Hannibal’s small town charm and appeal.
Hannibal Welcomes Spartan Light Metal
Marion & Ralls County 2006 Winter Issue