General Manager
Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Just call him “coach.”
Kevin Ishmael began his working career as a teacher and coach, following in his family’s footsteps. After all, his grandmother, four aunts, mom, dad and brother were all teachers. He also coached football, wrestling and baseball at the high school where he, his grandfather, his father, and oldest son played football -- Jenks, Oklahoma. Home of the mighty Trojans and 13 times state 6A football champions. Now as general manager at DMI’s newest facility just outside of Tulsa, Kevin is heading up another winning team.
“I’m still teaching and coaching. The kids are just in bigger bodies,” jokes Kevin. Utilizing a “team” approach to management combined with 20 years of experience in plant management for several Fortune 500 companies, Kevin has shouldered huge responsibilities and tackled tough jobs. He has a history of impressive achievements in business growth, improvements and turnarounds. AT DMI, his coaching style of leadership is firmly entrenched in educational development.
“The management team leads by example, getting out into the facility and spreading the word. We learn everyday, incorporating lean manufacturing philosophies, Six-Sigma Process improvements, and the latest machinery technology to enhance performance and lower costs so our customers can win their game.” He also coaches his team on developing “shop sense,” surpassing common sense with a keen eye on safety. Because when you’re working with big, heavy steel, safety is the name of the game.
“What we do is big. Our facility is different than the other DMI facilities. Where they move things laterally, from one area to the next at various stages of fabrication, we move vertically. We lift 50-ton tower sections 30 feet in the air to a mezzanine and when it’s finished up there, we move it back to the lower level. So it’s very important that everyone knows their surroundings and where they are on the field.”
Since he was a child, Kevin has been an avid hunter and fisherman, growing up in small town Jenks that valued family and community relationships. And it is DMI’s commitment to those same values that attracted Kevin to the company. He looks forward to involving DMI in the Catoosa and Tulsa communities, helping to support and strengthen the team spirit between DMI and its neighbors.
Kevin and his wife Cheryl reside in Jenks and have two daughters, three sons, and three grandbabies