Made In Oconee - BorgWarner’s Chris Walsh Interview
As part of our Made In Oconee campaign, we talked to BorgWarner’s Chris Walsh about living and working in Oconee County.
Where did you grow up?
I was born in Beacon, New York, which is near the Hudson River and a couple of hours from New York City. I spent most of my life in central New York State which doesn’t look too much different from Oconee County. There are plenty of hills, lakes and beautiful countryside.
Why did you move to this area?
I moved to this area because I had an opportunity to continue to grow my career. Now that my wife and children have spent so many years in Oconee County, they want to live nowhere else.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was very small, I wanted to be involved with large earthmoving equipment. I loved bulldozers and dump trucks. I was always making a mess of my mother’s flower beds.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to be outdoors as much as possible. I enjoy bicycling and hiking with my family. I like to do landscaping projects, like building garden beds, patios and arbors. I also like to ride my motorcycle through our beautiful countryside and around the lakes.
What is your role at BorgWarner?
I am the plant manager. I’m responsible for making sure our plant safely produces high quality products for our customers while providing a profitable investment for our shareholders.
What does BorgWarner make?
BorgWarner is a global automotive supplier. We make everything from turbo chargers, starters, engine timing chains, emission control devices and transmissions to transfer cases.
What is your favorite part about working at BorgWarner?
BorgWarner is a good company to work for and the Seneca plant, specifically, is a great place. My favorite part is working together as a team to achieve our shared goals.
What does “Made In Oconee” mean to you?
It means demonstrating to the rest of the world the high level of capability that exists within the people and the organizations in Oconee County. It is very important that we communicate these capabilities because it supports economic growth for Oconee County, resulting in improvements in the lives of the people in our community.
How do you like living and working in Oconee?
Oconee County is a special place. The people are friendly and work together very well. When you combine wonderful people with the beautiful natural resources of Oconee County, you have an outstanding place to live and work.
What is BorgWarner’s company culture?
BorgWarner’s culture is deeply rooted in respect for others, the entrepreneurial spirit of innovation and good ol’ fashioned hard work.
To learn more about the Made In Oconee campaign, visit www.MadeInOconee.com or go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1xhNmC4EKk to watch the video.