Now I have been reading all this innuendo on Oakridge, and as one of the employees, I would like to set a few things straight. The Barbers did abandon the General Manager to deal with the mess, and Brendan Melling (General Manager) did an outstanding job. He dealt with media, upset staff and investors, on top of his normal duties He did have a visa to work in the country and was offered a Green card, as he has a high level of experience as a manager and battery knowledge (just ask any of the Engineers). I know as I saw his Resume. The one on Linked in is a cut-down version. So I am questioning your level of investigation, did you try and make contact with Brendan. Clearly not.
Brendan is in high regards with the Japanese companies, and Military personnel. When they visited the premise, often asked for him by name. His knowledge and ability to find solutions to unusual problems quickly impressed all.
Before I left, I spoke to the finance manager who informed me that Lee Arrowood, stole from the company and employed family that were never present at the facility and paid himself and his wife a wapping $360,000 while staff were staving with no pay. Yet, I see praise for the thief and belittling for the one person who did his best to keep the business going, in the hope that the Barbers would fix the finance.
Lee Arrowood was an ongoing joke. He would show up at 10:00 am and leave by 1:00 pm. He had no qualifications to support his position, unlike Brendan, Lee and his wife Michelle (HR Manager, who was an isle packer at a pharmacist prior) would rule with fear and intimidation.
Brendan's first action as General Manager was to track down a series of batteries that were made under Lee Arrowood's direction as they were faulty and had no BMS, using old MMC batteries that were not approved (Lee had acquired them from a friend). Brendan, taking Safety for the General Public and staff very seriously spent day's going through emails and dockets to track down every battery.
I feel sorry for Brendan, as the dedication and effort that he put in to improve the business in three months I was there, was better than the 18 months that I had endured under Lee Arrowood. I heard that Brendan left 6 months later and I wish him all the best, (I kept in contact with the staff that told me of how it ended) knowing that this was not his making. All staff understood the hardship that Brendan endured, but never got the better of him..
If you had spent 5 minutes with him, he inspired me and others to do better, and be a better person. His passion for his work and care for his staff I have not seen in an American Boss ever, As for the Barbers, I cant write that.
News 
Market Data 
Discover 
