Ringgenberg retires after 35 years
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Ringgenberg’s last day at the Warren County plant will be Aug. 31, after which will begin working on special projects for corporate until his scheduled retirement early next year.
During his years with the company, Ringgenberg has worked his way from a tiremaker on the floor all the way up through the ranks to the position of plant manager, a position he has held at two Bridgestone plants.
Ringgenberg says he and wife, Shona, have no plans to leave the area.
“I’m going to remain a resident of Warren County,” Ringgenberg said. “I like it here, my wife likes it here, so we’re going to stay here. This is where we’d like to retire.”
According to company spokesperson Dan MacDonald, Ron Brooks, currently plant manager at the company’s LaVergne plant, will take over Ringgenberg’s position at the Warren County plant effective Sept. 1. John McLaughlin, LaVergne’s production manager, will replace Brooks.
Bridgestone/Firestone has traditionally maintained strong ties with the community, funding numerous local charities and activities, and Ringgenberg has played a big part in that during his tenure, becoming personally involved in several local civic organizations, something he says he plans to continue.
“I’m still going to stay active in the community,” Ringgenberg said. “I’m still going to be on the board of directors at the Chamber, still going to be a trustee at Motlow, still going to be involved with Noon Rotary, and I’m still going to be an active member of Warren Masonic Lodge 125, and the Business Roundtable Action Committee. So that’s what I plan on doing.”
Ringgenberg also says the company’s community involvement will continue uninterrupted, and in fact Brooks is well known in the company for his own efforts in the communities where he has resided.
“The philosophy in the Warren County plant, I believe, remains unchanged,” Ringgenberg said, “and that’s our commitment to the community we do business in. What we’ve been a part of, we’ll remain a part of.”
Ringgenberg says he personally appreciates the support the community gave him as well.
“In my time here since January of 2002 I have had the opportunity to work with probably one of the finest workforces, the teammates here in the plant, and the support here in the community has been outstanding,” Ringgenberg said.
“To retire in this community says I can’t find many other places, and I’ve lived in four other places, that I’d rather sit down and retire in,” Ringgenberg said. “The biggest thing is I think it’s a great community and I think we got a lot of opportunities, but we’ve all got to get out there and pull together here. And I’ll continue to do that as best I can.”