Acorns to Oak Trees

Joseph (Joe) Bruce earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and several years later an MBA from the University of Michigan. His first years of work ranged from marine mammal research in the Eastern Tropical Pacific, environmental studies on the Great Lakes, plant management positions at two east coast fresh seafood plants, and computer programming for a large US consulting company. At thirty years old he started work at Michigan-based Guardian Industries Corp. as a computer programmer / analyst but soon transferred to the purchasing department at the start of Guardian's global expansion. His purchasing work around the world helped Guardian become one of the largest architectural glass manufacturers in the world. Joe held the position of Vice President of Purchasing and Supply Chain for over twenty-five years while at the same time completing other strategic assignments in sales, manufacturing, human resources, IT, logistics, and product development. In 1996, he was selected Guardian's Employee of the Year. The work accomplishment he is most proud of is the friendships he made with his Guardian team members and the many suppliers and customers he worked with during his thirty-two-year Guardian career. It is those relationships, and what he learned while working with these great people, that inspired him to write this book.