Recognition plays a critical role in sustaining a strong culture.
That belief led Alexis Villarroel, production manager, to nominate Philip O’Reilly, machine operator, for the Values Champion Peer-to-Peer Award. Philip was named the March 2026 winner.
Although Philip works outside Alexis’ business unit, he stepped in when a critical manufacturing challenge emerged. The team faced an undocumented process, lacked the necessary fixtures and needed to respond quickly to customer demand.
Without formal assignment, Philip partnered with the team to build a solution from the ground up. Over several weeks, he worked through an iterative process of designing, testing and refining fixtures until the team achieved a reliable, repeatable outcome.
His approach reflected persistence and continuous improvement, consistently focusing on how to refine the process and deliver the best possible result.
Equally important was how the team worked together.
Philip, who is deaf, collaborated closely with team members who prioritized clear communication. With patience, adaptability and mutual respect, the team created an environment where ideas could be shared effectively.
That effort strengthened more than the process. It built real camaraderie.
Jayna Patel, Quality Control, and Charlene Knorr, Assembler, partnered closely with Philip throughout the work, supported by Meseret Abera, Production Manager. Their day-to-day collaboration built strong relationships, enabling the team to move quickly and test ideas, while staying aligned through each iteration.
Together, they transformed a complex challenge into a scalable solution that will support future production.
This recognition reflects what One Novanta looks like in practice. Success comes not only from technical expertise, but from how employees support one another and communicate effectively to build trust across teams.
Recognizing contributions like Philip’s reinforces that culture. It highlights the importance of inclusion and collaboration, as well as ownership.
These qualities drive both individual and organizational success.