A Corning Distinguished Associate

Growing up in Harrodsburg, KY, Tommy could see the Corning Plant his grandfather helped build from his front door. As a kid, he would cross the street to meet his Dad, a Corning employee, and walk him home after work. He remembers taking a tour of the plant as a Boy Scout and competing in (and winning!) a Corning contest held for the community to create a “safety poster.” He recalls being bitter as his Dad made him split the winnings with his brother — the same brother who is now also a Corning employee. After three generations of working at Corning, it’s safe to say that to The Shirleys, Corning is family.

Tommy began his journey with Corning just two weeks after high school. Today, he is the Facilities & Services Manager for the Harrodsburg Corning Plant. This is one of the facilities that helps create glass for mobile consumer electronics, including Corning® Gorilla® Glass. In addition, he’s also on the CURE team and the fire brigade, as well as the CMMS administrator. He recently was recognized as Corning Distinguished Associate; a high honor within Corning.

“It’s amazing to me how much our glass, manufactured from this little town in Kentucky, impacts the world,” said Tommy. The Corning Harrodsburg Plant is continuously awarded as one of the best places to work by The Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. “It’s definitely the best place to work in Kentucky but I often say, it’s the best place to work in the world. Corning has been very good to me and my family.”

The digital era has made its mark on the world and manufacturing was no exception. In 32 years, Tommy has lived through the transition from manual to smart manufacturing. “I remember when I first started, I worked in melting. Everything I did was done manually, now they have automation to do all of that work.”

When asked what stands out to him about working at Corning, Tommy replied, “It’s the family atmosphere at work. Nobody is more important than the other person, and everybody has their part to play.” Tommy remembers visiting his Dad growing up and has done the same for his son. His eldest son, now thirteen, has gone twice to Corning events that cater to employees’ kids who are old enough to safely tour the plant. He is excited to bring his younger son to the same event when he is old enough to attend. Corning is a 170-year-old American company; not a lot of companies can claim that. In yesteryears, stories of generations working at one company was more common, but those days have changed, which makes Tommy, and The Shirleys’ story, so special. 

About the Distinguished Associate Program:

The Corning Distinguished Associate Program honors these special people, from those whose expertise helps us develop, manufacture and sell our products and services to those who manage our businesses and our offices. These employees have mastered the company's network, making it possible to achieve results in the highest quality manner and have captured the essence of professionalism that shines through in their daily work. They have gained the trust and confidence of customers, co-workers and suppliers. They set the standard for employee work practices and ethics, allowing Corning to remain an innovative leader.