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Developing a good work ethic at a young age proved to be
beneficial for Intel Technology Philippines managing
director Michael Wentling.
The
values inculcated in him by his parents while growing up
in Pennsylvania gave him a positive outlook on work and
practical grasp on the value of money.
“It’s
work ethic plus work on my own. I guess that’s the way
they guided me in life. Instead of telling me do this
and do that, they trained me to act on my own,” says
Wentling.
When he
was in high school, Wentling used to deliver newspapers
early in the morning in their town. After his classes,
it’s off to the grocery store in the afternoon for his
second part-time job filling up the shelves with stocks.
This was
how Wentling learned to be frugal with his money and, at
the same time, be a civic-oriented individual. He also
joined the Boy Scouts and participated in environmental
campaigns such as recycling and collecting newspapers.
“I was pretty self-sufficient at a young age,” says
Wentling.
His
parents also ensured that their teener would grow up
knowing the value of hard-earned money. After buying his
first bicycle, his father told him that he has to spend
his own money when he decided to buy a new one. There
were times he was also a recipient of hand-me-downs when
an older sibling grows to a bigger size.
“When
Dad bought me skis for the winter, he reminded me that
if I wanted a new one I have to provide it for myself.
Everything that I need after that I would have to
provide for myself,” says Wentling.
The work
ethic developed in his high school years was carried on
after his graduation. This was the major factor he
decided to join the United States Navy.
“My dad
taught me to work for everything I wanted so I have to
pay for my own schooling,” says Wentling.
“I came
home one day and told them I was joining the Navy. I was
going to leave for the Navy training in
Orlando,
Florida,
at the same time they were going to fly for a vacation
in
Bermuda. They didn’t see me off at the airport,” he adds.
In the
Navy
While in
the Navy, Wentling pursued an electronics technology
engineering degree, which he finished in four years. He
spent his first three years at sea stationed at the USS
Midway. He started to go to school when he was assigned
to an air operations group in
Washington.
Asked
how he was able to finish his engineering studies,
Wentling says it was pure and simple discipline. The
Navy scholarship, which shouldered more than 50 percent
of the cost, also served as a great motivation for him.
“I was
looking a way to support myself to school. Joining the
Navy was a clear opportunity. I have an aptitude in
aircraft and engineering. At the end of the day, it was
a good fit for me,” says Wentling.
Possessing a love for flying, Wentling took and passed
the examinations for Navy pilot. However, he experienced
a dilemma at that time because he also passed the
examinations for Intel.
After
spending six memorable years in the Navy, which included
visiting the Philippines, particularly Subic Bay,
Wentling decided to try a new work environment and
transferred to Intel.
Life in
Intel
Now on
his 20th year with a chip manufacturing giant, Wentling
held various engineering and managerial positions in
wafer fabrication division and assembly and test
manufacturing in different Intel sites such as the
United States, Japan, China and the Philippines.
Furthermore, Wentling held management positions in
established organizations like the Assembly and Test
Engineering department, Packaging Quality and
Reliability division, as well as startup organizations,
including the Division Flash Product group and Assembly
and Test Development, both in China.
It was a
complete change in lifestyle coming from the US Navy.
But looking back, Wentling believes it was a perfect
time to enter Intel because computers were then just
taking off.
In
January 2005, after four years in China, Wentling was
moved to the Philippines as the Flash Factory manager,
overseeing the Flash Memory and X-Scale handheld device
product-line assembly and test manufacturing in
Cavite.
It was
not a difficult situation for Wentling because he’s
familiar with the Philippines, having visited the
country when he was with the US Navy.
Wentling
says he’s impressed with the Filipinos’ friendly
attitude and work ethic. After the onslaught of super
typhoon Milenyo, the Intel plant was in a mess. But the
company stood by its obligation to finish the orders
from its customers.
Wentling
says the Filipinos in Intel rose to the occasion by
working, cleaning and doing repairs on the damaged parts
of the factory plus making the manufacturing floor
functioning on the same week.
“It was
just impressive. Even though they had personal issues,
they were able to come to work and set a commitment. No
single complaint from anybody during the whole time.
That’s amazing,” Wentling points out.
“In the
face of adversity; it’s unbelievable what this community
can do,” he adds.
When
asked about rumors that Intel is mulling to pull its
operations in the Philippines, the mild-mannered
executive says the company has no plans of pulling out.
Instead
of being demoralized by the constant speculation,
Wentling and the Intel work force turned this into a
challenge to make them more competitive and productive.
The engineers of Intel are in the forefront of
introducing ways to be more productive and more
efficient in using resources such as power.
“It’s
really the people who make Intel. We have the skilled
people here and we just need to use them to make sure
we’re competitive. And they don’t need to worry about
that rumor of ceasing operations in the country,” he
assures. |
