What’s Next at 3M

There’s a flip side to the Great Resignation, and it might be embodied in one Ron Stafne.

Fresh out of high school in 1965, Ron went looking for a job and found 3M. Fifty-seven years later, he’s still here, working as a lean value stream engineer at our ceramic fibers manufacturing plant in Menomonie, Wisconsin.

What's kept him engaged for so long?

“I just say ask questions. There's no question that is not meaningful, and that's the only way to continue to broaden your knowledge,” Ron told us. “Just continue to ask for a sharing of information. I still learn stuff. Each day it seems, new things come up. We have such a unique business and product that it's just fun.”

So, in a time when everybody is talking about leaving, we talked with Ron about why he stays, what motivates him to continue working into his later years, and the sign he’s looking for to determine when it’s the right time to retire.

As employees adapt to new ways of working, companies are reacting to the changes, and trying to get ahead of trends like the Great Resignation. But with more opportunities than employees in some industries, it’s been an easier decision for millions of workers over the last two years to leave their jobs rather than stick it out.   

So, how do employers attract and keep talent for the long haul?

Guest: Zoe Dickson, executive vice president and chief Human Resources officer, 3M

Season 2, Episode 5

As the 5G rollout continues around the world, one thing is certain – it’s going to take a lot of antennas for the upgraded signal to reach everyone. And that means a lot of visual disruption – or maybe not, if 3M's Taesung Kim has anything to say about it.

He's working on a few new product introductions tied to the broader 5G rollout, and one of them – a transparent antenna – sounds like it's straight science fiction.

Guest: Taesung Kim, segment marketer, Electronics Materials Solutions Division

Season 2, Episode 4

As we go back to doing things that we did before the pandemic – maybe even going into the office a couple times a week – Jonathan Hefner of 3M’s Employee Assistance Program says our old ways aren’t going to feel the same immediately. “We're all going to have to get used to things. Be patient with each other. Be kind and forgiving with each other and slowly, as we spend more and more time together, then we'll figure out that little dance that we need to do to get re-engaged with each other,” he said.

Guest: Jonathan Hefner, 3M EAP manager

Season 2, Episode 3

Anxiety & depression have risen across all age groups during the pandemic. How can we get help, be of help and make mental health a priority? “Giving ourselves permission to not be okay is important. Just to acknowledge and let our pride suffer a little bit. We're probably not going to perform exactly as we have in in the past. … we're all under pressure. We're just going to be patient and kind with each other.”

Guest: Jonathan Hefner, manager, 3M Employee Assistance Program

Season 2, episode 2

The ramp-up in vaccine manufacturing during the pandemic shows us how medicines could be made in the future – faster than before, thanks in part to disruptive technology. That's why we’re talking with two 3Mers who had front row seats to the process during the pandemic, due to the filtration products they make that help manufacturers figure out ways to produce more vaccine, more quickly. 

“I think as a human being, there’s a certain amount of humility and joy in knowing that the work that you do is critical to solving fairly serious problems of humankind at the moment."

Guests: Robert Befidi, president, and Jonathan Hester, scientist, both of 3M's Separation and Purification Sciences Division. 

Season 2, Episode 1

Did you know that while Americans were driving less during the pandemic, we saw some of the highest traffic fatality numbers in decades? That’s why we’re talking with Dan Chen, president of 3M’s Transportation Safety Division. He’s going to tell us more about the reasons behind the latest data in roadway safety, share some technology that’s been shown to help reduce traffic fatalities and provide tips on how we can prepare for the trip ahead before we even get behind the wheel.

Guest: Dan Chen, president, 3M Traffic Safety Division

Season 1, Episode 5

If you're a homeowner, the idea of replacing a roof might cause a little concern. We only do it once or twice in our lives and it costs some money. But what if in addition to protecting your home, your roof had the same smog-reducing power of 2-3 trees? Our guests tell us how incorporating some cool technology into an otherwise innocuous product has led to some good growth for the business and helped create clearer air for homeowners. Listen in to this shingle shakedown – it covers it all.

Guests: Carrie Niezgocki and Lara Ughetta, 3M Industrial Mineral Products Division

Season 1, Episode 4

Description: If you've looked for a gaming system or car during the pandemic, then you know – demand for semiconductors is currently outweighing supply. That forecast could hold through 2022, says Fitih "Fitz" Cinnor, a 3Mer well-versed in the semiconductor industry. He lets us know what that could mean for consumers, as well as what it means for 3M: delivering innovative products and solutions to enable advanced semiconductor manufacturing and delivery, without interruption. 

Guest: Fitih "Fitz" Cinnor, Global Portfolio Manager, Electronics Materials Solutions Division

Season 1, Episode 3

“Pajama time” might sound fun, but when it comes to being a health care provider, it’s anything but. Pajama time means working at home after hours to keep up with health and care records for patients, losing out on time with family and leading to potential burn out. 3Mer Jeff Lipes and his team are working on a solution that will give doctors more time to care – an AI-assisted voice recognition system that helps cut down on the administrative burden doctors face, can create more time to interact with patients and ideally leads to better outcomes for patients and the community.

Guest: Jeff Lipes, 3M-M*Modal senior product manager

Season 1, Episode 2​