『Robert Schacht – From Hollywood to Aerospace Manufacturing: Building a Future in Lafayette and Championing the Arts』のカバーアート

Robert Schacht – From Hollywood to Aerospace Manufacturing: Building a Future in Lafayette and Championing the Arts

Robert Schacht – From Hollywood to Aerospace Manufacturing: Building a Future in Lafayette and Championing the Arts

無料で聴く

ポッドキャストの詳細を見る
概要
 Robert Schacht has lived a life that bridges seemingly different worlds: Hollywood filmmaking, aerospace and defense manufacturing, international trade, and classical music. Today, as Chairman and CEO of Westfield Fluid Controls and Westfield Hydraulics, he is building a sophisticated manufacturing operation in Lafayette, Louisiana, while also serving as Chair of the Board of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. Raised in Beverly Hills, California, Robert grew up surrounded by the entertainment industry. His grandfather was the legendary actor Ross Martin, best remembered for portraying the brilliant master of disguise Artemus Gordon in the 1960s television series The Wild Wild West. Robert followed his early interest in film to New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, eventually working in the movie business before embarking on a dramatically different career in aerospace and defense. What brought him to Lafayette, and what keeps him here, is a fascinating story of economic opportunity, cultural richness, family values, and the importance of building something that lasts. Why Lafayette? A California Businessman Finds His Home in Acadiana When Robert began considering relocating his manufacturing business from California, Louisiana wasn’t even on his list. Manufacturing in California had become increasingly difficult, particularly for a business seeking to expand its capabilities and operations. Robert began evaluating locations across the country, including areas with established aerospace and defense industries. A friend from Lake Charles, Gray Stream, encouraged him to consider Louisiana. That introduction led to meetings with economic development professionals, including Greg Gothreaux of Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA). Robert was impressed by the professionalism and transparency of Lafayette’s economic development leadership. Gothreaux understood what his company needed and was equally candid about the region’s limitations, particularly the absence of an established aerospace and defense manufacturing ecosystem. But Lafayette had something else. “There was an energy here that was very different, unique,” Robert recalled. After touring communities across Louisiana, two characteristics distinguished Lafayette: its early investment in fiber-optic infrastructure and its extraordinary cultural heritage. For someone operating a technology-intensive business, Lafayette’s commitment to fiber demonstrated forward thinking. Equally important was its rich tradition of music, art, and cultural engagement. Robert explained that recruiting and retaining talented executives requires more than attractive business incentives. “You can’t recruit and retain executives without cultural development in parallel with economic development.” Lafayette offered both. What began as a location that wasn’t even under consideration quickly became his first choice. The move has also profoundly affected Robert’s family. He and his wife are raising their five children, including two still in school, and he values the kindness, courtesy, and genuine friendships they have experienced here. “I have made more adult friends here than I ever would have imagined possible just because of the genuineness, the relationships. People are open.” For Robert, Lafayette offers something increasingly difficult to find in larger metropolitan areas: a welcoming community where relationships matter and children can grow up with an appreciation for respect, responsibility, and humility. Westfield: Precision Manufacturing for Aerospace, Defense, and Space Exploration Robert’s companies, Westfield Fluid Controls and Westfield Hydraulics, design and manufacture sophisticated fluid-control components for aerospace, defense, and space applications. These components may be relatively small, but their functions are critically important. Westfield manufactures solenoid valves, actuators, reservoirs, and other precision components that control hydraulic, fuel, and pneumatic systems in aircraft, missiles, military vehicles, and spacecraft. The company produces approximately 2,000 different items, many consisting of 30 to 40 individual parts. Its manufacturing requirements are extraordinarily precise. Robert explained that some components operate with metal-to-metal clearances of approximately 40 millionths of an inch, a tiny fraction of the width of a human hair. Westfield has built a new 30,000-square-foot facility in Lafayette and maintains approximately 20,000 square feet of operations in California. The company is developing parallel capabilities to ensure continuity of operations in the event of natural disasters or other disruptions. Robert explained that certain Federal Aviation Administration certifications make maintaining a California presence necessary, at least for the foreseeable future. At the time of our interview, Westfield employed 18 people in Lafayette and had committed to growing to 67 ...
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
まだレビューはありません