After 22 ½ years in Apache’s field services group, Bob Dolan is retiring! Apache Stainless is grateful for Bob’s many years of service and sharing his expertise with engineering, sales and customers.
Bob recounts some memories through the years with one of his first jobs completing assembly of six tanks (partially built at Apache) in 1996. It was extremely hot with a tight timeline. When the tank arrived, the roof was already off for it and other equipment to be set. The team worked through the night to set and weld the vessel to be out of the way of the day shift millwrights.
“I enjoy the work. It is gratifying to help customers and I enjoy meeting people,” Bob expressed. “In the first 18 months, I went from a beginner to a STEP 7 certified welder. After 22 ½ years, I believe I’ve welded and serviced tanks throughout the entire U.S.”
“The most challenging job I was on was a tank with a cone bottom. At first sight, it looked like maybe it couldn’t be done. The bottom had to be cut off to get inside. Then I had to service and polish it while hanging upside down. I made a platform to lay upside down, 25 ft. off the floor. That project took one week.”
Bob recalls another project where an extremely heavy 32” flange wasn’t lining up with the pump. The company had an option to bring in new equipment which would have been costly and time-consuming. Bob modified an elbow pipe leading to the flange that ultimately allowed a perfect fit with the pump.
“They didn’t think I could do that one, but we did it. My advice to serving customers and creating solutions is to ‘keep it simple’. Don’t overthink it, most of the time a solution is more cost and time effective for the customer and Apache with a simple approach and customers will agree.”
Bob has been a member of the Free Masons for over 33 years. “Free Masons are guided by a code of morals, type of lifestyle, honesty and integrity. I think that it fits in well with the service industry and I’ve tried to do my best to live up to that code.” Bob adds.
In his retirement, Bob is going to get to his rebuilding work on the five antique Harley Davidson motorcycles in his home shop. He is planning time for more travel and spend time with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
“It has been rewarding working for a company that holds itself to high standards. I’ve always enjoyed working at Apache and the feeling of self-satisfaction of helping customers. One time, I had a customer say, ‘When I saw you walk through the door, I know everything was going to be okay’.”
All of us at Apache Stainless wish Bob a happy and healthy retirement!
