Meet Steve Flora…Have skills (and guitar), will travel…

Steve started with McWane in 1996 at M&H Valve in Anniston, Alabama, and quickly became engineering manager. He also knew a few licks on the guitar, which always helps. A few years ago, Steve was asked to join a McWane working group headed to China on a fact-finding mission. Steve, who had spent four years in Taiwan as well as on other foreign assignments, knew the mission would be a great opportunity for McWane and he jumped at the chance.

Today, Steve’s been living in China for nearly two years working for McWane. Since moving, Steve has established a crack team in Beijing working to identify quality suppliers for McWane’s heavy tooling demands; helping design new products such as a novel solid wedge valve; ensuring quality control; and representing McWane’s growing interests in the region. Of his time spent in China, Steve says,

“I believe the China group has become an integral and productive part of the McWane family.”

Because of the time differences between Beijing and the U.S., Steve has a very demanding job 0 but knows how to blow off steam in world class style. He straps on an electric guitar and leads his own rock band at a local Beijing club called Eudora, a place that attracts American ex-patriots, travelling business delegations and locals in-the-know.

“I look at it as my way of providing some cultural exchange with the Chinese,” Steve noted. “I also spend a lot of time meeting with our employees and customers that visit the McWane facilities. They always know they’re welcome to find me in our offices or playing at the Eudora.”

Steve also happens to have the world’s most understanding wife – which helps when you work more than 5,000 miles from home.

“Yeah,” Steve admitted. “She’s very understanding. We see each other every 5-6 weeks. Happily, she’s flexible working for American Airlines, which lets her travel to China as often as she can.”

Keep on rockin’ China for all of us here at McWane, Steve!