Chris Farmer
Chris Farmer, Operations Manager, Action Stainless, Carrollton, TX
Enthusiastic and encouraging leader. Develops accountability through collaboration. Prioritizes Safety and teamwork.
Chris Farmer joined Action Stainless in 2019 as a Warehouse Supervisor at the Carrollton, TX location. After learning more about the metals industry and Action Stainless, Chris was promoted to Operations Manager in 2022.
Earning the Operations Manager position is one of Chris’s proudest moments with Action Stainless. He’s also equally proud of the big achievements the Carrollton branch accomplished in 2024: “It was a big year for Action. We changed the layout of the warehouse, moved 80% of the racks, and added a laser cutting machine while maintaining production with 15 employees operating on one staggered shift.”
And, to finish out the year, Chris was part of the Carrollton, TX team who won the Second Place Most Innovative Poka Yoke in the 2024 Annual Poka Yoke Contest with their Forklift Bar Stop that helped them safely transport pipe and round bar with the forklift.
Chris credits support from Olympic Steel and Action Stainless managers for helping him throughout his career, especially during the big move last year. He also says the increased focus on Safety has helped transform the division. Chris explains, “The more robust Safety programs and goals/direction have helped us turn a new leaf. Employees are beginning to understand that we need to know about issues in order to fix them.”
Joe Goins, General Manager for the Carrollton, TX location, says, “True leadership requires both integrity and humility, and Chris consistently demonstrates both with authenticity. He holds himself and others accountable for their actions, making sure orders are correct before leaving the building, encouraging and nurturing his reports to grow and try new things. He comes to work every day with an optimistic attitude, always ready to help in any way he can. He makes Safety a priority and encourages teamwork by involving as many people as he can.”
When asked which Core Value he best represents, Chris said, “Integrity – You’re only as good as your word. All the other values – if you have Integrity – you’re going to do all those things.”
Chris says his coworkers and a positive atmosphere make him happy to come to work each day. “We keep it lighthearted until it’s time to get to business,” he says. “And when we’re faced with challenges, we take them one at a time. I like to get feedback from those closest to the work, then we put a plan together to move forward. The worst thing to do is nothing; when you have a plan, even if you fail, you’ll know what not to do the next time.”
Collaboration is key for Chris. “If you can get others to participate in finding a solution, then they’re more likely to follow through to the end with a sense of urgency and pride; an ‘I made that happen’ mentality.”
When asked for his advice on how to be successful and build a great career, he references Zig Ziglar: “You can get anything you want if you help enough people get what they want.”
