Global Finishing Solutions® (GFS) is continuously in search of talented, ambitious individuals to join our team. We aim to provide our employees with every opportunity to make an impact on the company and find their niche along the way — whether in a production, field services or office position.
GFS’ greatest strength — and the reason we have been successful — is the contributions of our employees. This is especially true for a company of our culture and size. Although a large, growing business, with more than 300 employees, our heart remains rooted in small-town, homegrown values.
GFS takes pride in offering a comprehensive benefits package to our employees and their families. In an age of rising healthcare costs, our goal is to provide you with quality, affordable healthcare coverage.
Our core values define GFS’ company culture and guide every aspect of our business. A low turnover rate — with many of our employees staying with GFS through retirement — is a testament to the culture we have built and live by.
We are focused on our family of exceptional employees. With a people-first approach and limitless opportunities, our employees have every chance to flourish.
Never forgetting that business decisions impact people’s lives, we infuse fairness and professionalism into all that we do.
Side by side, striving for common goals, we align with people who share our core values and exceed our expertise.
With keen eyes and vast resources, we constantly think ahead to be better and go farther for long-term success.
We abide by unwavering standards of ethics and walk-the-talk principles. Our corporate culture is so steeped in character, it holds up even when the lights are off.
Located in the heart of Western Wisconsin, GFS’ headquarters in Osseo is 30 minutes from Eau Claire and two hours from Madison and the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Our employees live in many of the surrounding cities and towns of varying population sizes — perfect for people who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of major metropolitan areas while still taking part in major events.
GFS employees are actively involved in our community, participating in events and fundraisers for local causes. We strongly believe in giving back to the community that continues to support us.
“You don’t stay at a job for almost 30 years if you don’t like the people you work with — I love them like family!”
“Working at GFS has allowed — and encouraged — me the flexibility of having a life outside of work, coach my kids in multiple sports, as well as being able to grow as a leader and a person.”
Before Terry Rue and Al Swett joined GFS in 1990 and 2003, they served as volunteers for the Osseo Rural Fire Department. In a rural community like Osseo, Wisconsin, individuals who are sent to an emergency scene are not paid for their time. The local fire department consists of volunteers with full-time jobs who sacrifice their time, safety and pay to help those in a crisis.
Fortunately, GFS employees do not have to decide between responding to an emergency call and having a career. From the manufacturing floor, where you can find Al and firefighter-in-training Cory Lange, to the office, where Terry works in design, all enjoy the positive role GFS plays in allowing them to balance their day job and volunteer firefighting efforts.
“There has never been a time we have been told we can’t leave or respond to an emergency call,” Terry said. “Many companies won’t let their employees leave until they have been paged multiple times by the fire department, but at GFS, we can take off as soon as we are needed.”
My husband, Brent, and I work for Global Finishing Solutions, and being active in our community is extremely important to both us. We work here, go to church here and raise our child here. The great thing about GFS is that they truly abide by the company core value of partnership. Not only do they encourage us to get involved in the community, they allow us the support and flexibility necessary to make it happen.
Through GFS’ employee-run committees, I am involved in many activities and fundraisers throughout the community. I serve on the We Care Committee — which raises funds for employees in times of need due to prolonged illness or natural disasters. I also serve on the Charitable Donations Committee — which provides monetary donations, scholarships and custom-made fire rings for community events, fundraisers, silent auctions and more.
GFS has supported me personally as well, allowing me the time and flexibility to participate in many community outreach initiatives, such as mentoring a local child with special needs. Brent also benefits from the flexibility, and is able to coach baseball in the summers.
GFS is the largest employer in the community, and they have done a great job of building and maintaining the bridge connecting us. For instance, GFS provided a $500 donation to purchase coats, snow pants and boots for local children in need of warm winter clothing. The donation was able to clothe all 47 children in need.
I love what I do internally at GFS, and I love what I get to do externally on behalf of GFS. If you can combine those two things, that’s partnership.
“Improvement is understanding that failure is often an integral part of advancement and success when implementing process. changes. Failure leads us to a deeper understanding of what’s going to work and what’s not going to work. Setting lofty goals that are hard to achieve can generate unexpected outcomes. If you’re not failing sometimes, you’re not pushing yourself hard enough to succeed and find those improvements.
“It’s human nature to have aversion to change. We all get comfortable in the day-to-day luxury of our thought process and the repetition of it. To get everyone to think outside of that comfort box, they need to be involved in the improvement process. Everyone needs to have a voice and be heard, and to feel like they’re not being spurned by the changes that are being made. Their thoughts and ideas for improvement are welcomed with open arms.
“Improvement means going above and beyond your typical workload. It is going to take extra hours, but that extra effort should eventually pay off, as the short-term sacrifices are going to be worth those long-term improvements and gains. And improvement must be a team effort. Wherever we want to go and whatever we want to do, we need each other to make it happen.
“When you have a heavy focus on improvement, you start to realize that it’s a never-ending process. Sometimes, you get caught up in, ‘What’s the next improvement we need to make? What’s the next step we have to take?’ But you also need to take the time to celebrate your wins and accomplishments.”
In February 2019, I took a week of vacation for the birth of my son, Carter. He wasn’t breathing well and was later diagnosed with RSV. We then had to take him to the ER, where he was taken to Rochester by ambulance where he stayed for a week. He spent four days in the pediatric ICU, then another day of recovery in their normal pediatric unit. The airways to his right lung were completely closed from RSV and pneumonia, forcing him to be hooked up to a breathing machine. At this point, I was running out of vacation time, and I didn’t know what to do.
After talking with my supervisors, they told me not to worry about work and take the time I needed to be with my family. The team really rallied together and took over my responsibilities in the receiving department so I could focus on my family during this difficult time. They also got us a really nice gift (pictured). We truly are one family, and I’m glad GFS truly values this at its core.
Looking for a career opportunity that leads you in new and exciting directions? GFS has a wide range of job openings for you!
GFS does not accept unsolicited applications. Please check our list of job openings and apply online. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Human Resources at 800-848-8738 or [email protected].
GFS has taken measures to ensure our online job application system is accessible to individuals with disabilities and to disabled veterans. If you have questions or need special accommodations during the online application process due to a disability, please contact Human Resources at 800-848-8738 or [email protected].
Disabled persons may also apply by mail or in person at GFS. For more information or to receive assistance when applying in person, please contact Human Resources.
Applicants to and employees of this company are protected under federal law from discrimination on several bases.
