Language is basic to life.  The ability to learn and communicate not only in your language of birth, but also in your adopted language is fundamentally basic to the contribution you are able to make to those around you.  Upon arriving in the United States from Sicily at the age of 11, Lio Gervasi was relied upon by his family as an interpreter both in the Italian community of New Britain, Connecticut, and in the world of telephones, bills, shopping and just getting along.  Lio, whose full name is actually Aurelio, has a theory that new languages can be picked up quickly by people up to approximately the age of 16 by melding them with new surroundings.  So when his older brothers joined the family later in the U.S., he became their translator as well.

Today, Lio as our Engineering Manager uses his communication skills as an effective manager.  Lio’s story from his arrival to today is in many ways a typical American odyssey.  He was born in the town of Solarino in the hills of Sicily.  His training started with the mechanical trades which            

his father and brothers practiced.  Lio tells us they were, “Good with their hands.”  In the U.S. he took a drafting class in high school and enjoyed the work and his charismatic teacher which helped form the foundation of his present vocation.  His family finances required  “each boat to sail on its own bottom,” so it was “pay as you go” through college, working second shift as a machinist and fork lift driver and attending school full-time days four seasons a year at Porter and Chester Institute to obtain his certificate in mechanical engineering.  Even before high school, his experience in middle school was important, where he met Maria, his wife-to-be, and who together with Lio have three children ages 12, 15, and 17, the eldest already determined to be an engineer like dad.

In 1980, Bill Kovall interviewed Lio for an engineering position, for which Lio was hired and where at Bauer he has remained for his entire career - the only company for which he has ever worked since his graduation from engineering school.  As the company has grown, Lio’s responsibilities have as well.  His combination of engineering and management skills resulted first in his promotion to head of the CAD department and then with his hands-on management style and considerable product knowledge in 2001 to the position of Engineering Manager.  Lio likes challenges, and in addition to his day-to-day responsibilities, he is building for the future growth of Bauer by developing new systems and our engineering handbook.  He is active in the training of new engineers, along with many additional responsibilities which he has voluntarily initiated and assumed.  You can’t help liking Lio, and Bauer is pleased with this solid cornerstone of the organization.