125 The strike and related problems continued to trouble the Company’s leadership. During the strike, a group of Western States team members, including Todd Hershberger, Don Ryan, Rick Heitman, and Dan Pierce, researched the possibility of outsourcing production while still meeting the Company’s demand for high quality. Southwestern Ohio offered an abundance of shops that could handle production, and the Board began to consider alternate approaches. By 1999, continued strife with the union and plunging profits led the Board to the agonizing and painful decision to outsource manufacturing operations, shut down much of the plant, and lay off production employees. Production was outsourced to vendors (including a new company, Fabridigm Inc., started by Plant Superintendent Kurt Robinson and Don Ryan, Mayor of Hamilton). Ultimately, by outsourcing manufacturing and restructuring business practices, Western States returned to its original business model started by Roberts himself in 1917. After 82 years, Western States courageously moved forward; determined to succeed and to serve its customers. above: April 1983. Back: Filomeno Racelis, Jim Neal, Pam Price, Carl Bell, Mary Alice Hilbert, Bill Duersch, Don Wolf, Jim Zartner. Front: Bill McGeorge, Ellen Campbell, Patt Wagonfield, Airis Racelis below: Left to right: Tom Boughen, Marge Norris, Joe Bange, Jack Fischer, Mel Dalton, George Conrad, Elmer Weiss, Bob Jones, Charlie O’Neile. December, 1992