Growing Up in Rice Lake

In 2019, Pam Nelson attained a lofty status at the Rice Lake screens facility, retiring after more than 40 years of service to the company.

“I started with Quanex on Jan. 1, 1977,” Pam said. “I had just moved back to Wisconsin after graduating from high school. I just wanted to get a job and make money. But I realized quickly that Quanex is true to its people. If you’re willing to put in the work and be a dedicated employee, you’re rewarded with having good management, good benefits and being paid fairly.”

Pam rose quickly at the Rice Lake plant, beginning in operations, ascending to a supervisory role and retiring as the plant’s master scheduler. And in spending her career with one company, her family got to know Quanex
almost as well as she did.

“Quanex has always been part of my life,” said Trent Nelson, Pam’s son, who currently serves as production systems analyst at Rice Lake and has been with Quanex for more than 10 years. “I remember going to the family picnics when I was a kid. There has always been a real sense of community and family.”

Trent even celebrated one of his earliest birthdays at Rice Lake. “A few of my co-worker friends thought it would be a nice idea to have my husband bring Trent in for a surprise lunch in the east conference room,” Pam said. “I thought I was going to a meeting!”

Trent began working on the production floor during summers home from college. After a stint living in Minnesota, Trent returned to Rice Lake in search of a more satisfying career. “In spring 2013, I asked mom to put out
any feelers for a job that would feel more like a career. Not long after, I got an interview, and the rest is history.”

“All in all, we have a pretty strong devotion to Quanex,” Pam said. “It was a major part of my life, and now of my son’s. There’s real dedication for a lot of people in the company. I think Trent felt my dedication, and it’s part
of why he’s made his career at Quanex too.”