Donald Scherzer - 40 Years at Spicer
Attributes growth, success, and skills to hanging around a lot of smart people
Donald Scherzer (middle) in 1989 during a meeting
We are not sure if Don Scherzer was a fan of Robert Frost or not, but after graduating with a teaching degree in Industrial Technology from Central Michigan University, Scherzer definitely took the road less traveled among his classmates. After testing the waters as a teacher for one year, he found his way to Spicer Group, then known as Spicer Engineering, where he would spend the next four decades fulfilling many roles including Principal, Vice President, President and Executive Vice President.
“After I graduated from college, I applied for work at Spicer because I needed a job,” Scherzer said. “That fall I left Spicer and taught Industrial Technology at Pinconning. I really enjoyed working at Spicer the previous summer, and after teaching for a full year, Spicer asked me if I could come back and they hired me full time in 1979.”
That first summer of working for Spicer was very exciting for him as he assisted engineers with providing drafting and designing tasks for various types of water main, sanitary sewer and bridge projects across the region. Scherzer’s passion for the work and his quality work ethic didn’t go unnoticed by Spicer’s leadership as he was moved up the ranks and eventually found himself managing large and complex projects.
“One of my most memorable, yet challenging, projects was the Golf Side Subdivision in Saginaw Charter Township,” Scherzer explained. “This was a huge undertaking and we were in charge of putting all new roads, sanitary sewer and water main throughout the subdivision. Then we had 30 days of rain which resulted in the ‘flood of 86’ and put the project on hold. Once things dried out, the project got underway and was completed successfully.”
Scherzer says he still approaches each project and challenge the same way he has for the last 40 years—carefully and with an open mind—but the tools available to complete jobs have changed quite a bit.
“New technology such as mobile mapping and 3-D modeling have really changed the way we collect data and design projects, Scherzer said. “Not too long ago it was common practice to send survey staff out to collect all needed data for projects. Now you can get pinpoint-accurate data by simply driving down the road with our mobile mapping truck.”
“The way things work now has also changed quite a bit. For instance back then when we would design pump stations, you had an alarm and a light that would go off if one of the pumps malfunctioned. Now the pump station automatically calls your phone if there is a problem, and you can monitor the run time of the pumps and their pumping records by looking at your phone as well.”
He said materials have changed quite a bit as well as pipe which was mostly asbestos, vitrified clay tile and ductile iron. Today, plastic pipe for water main, sanitary sewer, and various storm water applications are quite popular. He explained that competition was more localized, but now it’s everywhere we look. Competition is nationwide.
Scherzer was named Vice President in 2000 and became President in 2005, and he held that role until 2017. He said becoming President of Spicer Group was an exciting task but also had its challenges.
“I went from managing projects and doing my best to keep clients happy by keeping their projects on budget and on time to doing that same thing while also performing more human resources and administrative tasks including leading the whole company,” Scherzer said. “I learned real quick how to deal with tough personnel issues such as hiring, discipline, solving people problems, and corporate-wide finances.”
As most companies would agree, leading the company in the 2008 economic downturn was very challenging for Scherzer. Spicer Group had to adjust staff accordingly and strategize on streamlining finances to match clients’ demand for work.
“I’m happy to say that even through the tough times, Spicer has always been profitable,” Scherzer said. “We are fortunate to have some strong-roots in key areas, and that has helped us. We’ve been blessed with a lot of great clients and a great team of dedicated employees.”
“We are fortunate to have some strong-roots in key areas, and that has helped us. We’ve been blessed with a lot of great clients and a great team of dedicated employees.”
Even after 40 years, Scherzer still enjoys the job and all the new challenges that come with it every day. From the unexpected ordinances that say you can’t cut down a specific tree until winter because of a certain species of bat that uses it, to not being able to move dirt because of a unique clam that might live in it, to dealing with work-stopping occurrences on the job site—he says the job never gets old.
“I wouldn’t say I’ve always made the best decisions, but I’ve always tried to make the most educated decision. From the very start, I was fortunate to hang around several very smart people,” Scherzer said. “I attribute my growth here to many individuals including Dale Deibel, Charles Sessner, Merlyn Louma, John Byam, and loyal clients.”
Scherzer has worn many hats at Spicer Group, and his quality work ethic, knowledge of the industry, and loyalty are all certain contributors to the company’s success. He continues to assist Spicer’s Municipal Services Group with engineering services, growth and sustaining key client relationships. Congrats Don on 40 years of success.