Employee Spotlight: Genesee Polymers 

Genesee Polymers was founded in 1980 by Irene and Charles Piskoti in the basement of their home. Charles Piskoti was a scientist who developed products and Irene Piskoti ran the business side of things. They quickly decided they needed to grow their business, so they opened a plant in Burton which is located next to the current location today. In 2019, the business decided to expand with a project that was completed in 2020 and increased the company’s capacity. The company is now run by Charles R. Piskoti Ph.D., son of the founders.  

The small company, employing around 20 employees in the office and production side, specializes in silicone polymers that are used for many different applications including in medical devices, automobiles, the coatings industry, paper products, hand sanitizer, and more. Although small, according to Helen McLeod, the company is in a growth phase. Even with the growth, the company is still a family-oriented, close-knit environment that cares about its employees. 

“We’ve been certified as a Great Place to Work for the last two years,” says McLeod. “It’s all based on third-party surveys of our employees, and each year we come back certified!” 

This is due to the work being put into developing a positive culture at Genesee Polymers. Some of the ways they accomplish this is by creating a level work environment with working supervisors who are meant to be a resource for other employees rather than a boss. The company also performs annual reviews that don’t affect salary or bonuses but are meant to help discover the path that employees want to take. For example, if an employee is looking to move up in the company, they can develop a plan at their review to then continue to check in year after year.  

Other benefits employees can expect are health insurance for full-time employees including dental and vision with low premiums; and short-term, long-term disability, and life insurance which are 100% paid for by the company. The company also has an EV incentive for employees, giving employees a bonus for their down payment if they purchase an electric vehicle. The location also has EV chargers on site, so employees don’t have to worry about making it to and from work.  

Currently, Genesee Polymers is looking for process operators for both day and afternoon shifts. This position is entry-level, but experience working in a manufacturing setting is preferred. However, according to McLeod if an employee has the willingness to learn, that is one of the most important attributes for potential employees.  

The first shift is from 7-5 with an hour lunch, and the second shift is from 1 – 9 with an hour lunch. Work hours are Monday-Friday with a maximum overtime of five hours. Depending on experience, wages run from $18-$22 per hour.  

For more information, visit www.gpcsilicones.com.