About Gary
Years of Service: 40 (Rinchem’s 6th employee!)
Title: Center of Excellence Manager
Gary Michaelson’s story is deeply connected to Rinchem’s history. He joined the company on November 3, 1986, as the sixth employee, and today he remains Rinchem’s longest-tenured employee.
Gary began his career as a customer service representative, however his career path evolved regularly as the business grew and new needs arose. Over the years, he worked in customer service, accounting and payroll, environmental operations, site management, and now in his current role as Center of Excellence Manager
That kind of career path says a great deal about both Gary’s adaptability and Rinchem’s willingness to recognize potential in its people.
Working for Rinchem
Gary’s career reflects many of the turning points that shaped Rinchem into what it is today. In the earlier years, the company was much smaller and people often wore multiple hats as the business grew.
One key moment came in 1997, when Bill Moore (Rinchem’s Founder) asked Gary to move to Utah to manage a contract there. Gary took the opportunity, and it became a great move for his family. During that era, before the Salt Lake City warehouse was built, there was even a stretch when a 40-foot semi served as his office.
Gary also played a role in the service center becoming the first to achieve ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification at the time, a milestone that reflected Rinchem’s growing commitment to quality and environmental systems as the company matured.
Today, his role as the Manager of the Center of Excellence team has continued to evolve right alongside Rinchem’s expansion, especially as the company expanded its footprint outside of the United States.
Lessons Learned
One of the themes that stands out most in Gary’s story is adaptability. He has seen Rinchem change in major ways over the years and he believes those growing pains have been managed well because of strong leadership, an open-door culture, and a willingness to keep learning.
Gary also believes in what he describes as stick-to-itiveness: learning from lessons, working through difficult moments, and continuing to improve each time. Whether it is getting a warehouse up and running or navigating change, his perspective is clear: if you stay with it, learn from what happens, and keep moving forward, success will come.
When asked why he has stayed at Rinchem so long, Gary points to the trust he has had in leadership and the trust they placed in him. He has felt seen for his skill set and potential, and that trust helped shape a career that has meant more to him than he ever expected.
Gary Q&A
Q: What stands out most when you think back on the early days?
A: The family-oriented culture. In the beginning, Rinchem was small, and all the employees personally knew each and everyone.
Q: What helped Rinchem grow over time?
A: Adaptability, learning from experience, and leadership that gave people room to help shape the future.
Q: What has kept you here all these years?
A: Trust in Rinchem’s leadership, appreciation for the opportunities he was given, and gratitude for how the company has impacted his life.
As Rinchem celebrates 50 years, Gary’s story reflects something truly foundational. His career has grown alongside the company itself, and his journey is a strong example of trust, adaptability, and steady commitment over time. Few people have seen Rinchem’s story unfold as closely as Gary has — and few have helped shape it in the same way.
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