The Interview with Bob Kocher

Jan 24, 2020

Bob has been in metalworking for 44 years. In his spare time he enjoys going to the dirt track and hunting. He also enjoys spending time with his grandkids and dogs.

Q: How long have you been at Imperial Systems?

Nine years. I’ve been doing metalworking for 44 years.

Q: Where did you start?

I started at a place in Sandy Lake, doing welding and fabrication. I was there for about 20 years, but then I got laid off there. I went to work at a place in Grove City that made testing equipment, and I was there for about 15 years. Got laid off again, found out this place was hiring, and filled out an application.

Bob Kocher doing metalworking at Imperial Systems

Q: What do you do when you’re not at work?

Watch my grandkids, cut wood, split wood… I like to go out to the dirt track and watch the races. My wife got me into that. Her father used to race.

Q: Anything else?

Well, I go hunting, like pretty much everybody around here. Didn’t see anything this year. Sometimes a couple of the neighbors will stop up and we’ll sit on the porch and talk.

Q: How many grandkids do you have?

I have three kids and four grandkids. The oldest is 22. Two of them are in the same class at school and people think they’re cousins, but people think they’re brother and sister.

Q: Any pets?

Yeah, I have three dogs.

Q: What else do you like to do?

That’s pretty much it. My life’s not very exciting. When I get home from work I mostly just feel like taking a nap. Especially when we get overtime and I come in early. That’s a little rough, but I’d rather come in early than stay late. I don’t like watching other people leave while I’m still here.

How do you like it here?

I like it. It’s a good place. It seems kind of crazy that this whole place is owned by one person. Most places, it’s a big corporation that owns it. Makes it kind of different here.