Seth Winkel

 

If you’ve ever watched a steel supply truck roll onto the Karavan lot, chances are Seth Winkel was already on his way out to meet it. Seth joined Karavan in November 2020 as a laser operator, and he’s spent the past few years driving forklift — making him one of the first faces those drivers see, which is exactly how he describes his job.

 

“I am the face of our company for the steel supply trucks,” Seth says of his role. It’s a simple way of putting it, but it captures something important: every load of steel that comes through the door passes through his hands first.

Ask Seth what he’s proud of, and he doesn’t point to one big moment — he points to the everyday work of keeping things running smoothly. “Being able to bring material in and get it rotated and organized” is what stands out to him. It’s the kind of behind-the-scenes consistency that keeps the rest of the plant moving, even if it doesn’t always get noticed.

 

Outside of work, Seth’s time is centered on family. “I enjoy my family, my wife and kids,” he says, and when he’s not with them, he’s likely to be found outside — hiking or tending his beehives.

 

Here’s something that might surprise his coworkers: Seth has formal culinary training and enjoys baking artisan bread in his free time. He’s also a former road cyclist who once completed Race the Lake, the long-distance ride around Lake Winnebago — proof that there’s a lot more to Seth than what you see on the forklift.