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Lines stretch out the door at Generac event in Whitewater

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

People crowd into the lobby of the Generac plant in Whitewater on Wednesday. The generator manufacturer was holding an event to fill about 100 full-time positions at the company.

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

Rich Hatfield of Rockton, Ill., talks with Generac human resources representative McKenzie Mashiak about supervisory positions.

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

Engines for Generac portable generators sit to the side of the manufacturing line waiting to be used in production at the Whitewater plant. The company builds it own engines as a way to ensure that it gets the quality it seeks for its products.

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

Job seekers fill out paperwork and wait for an opportunity to speak with a Generac Human Resources representative during a job fair at the Whitewater facility. The manufacturing company is looking to fill about 100 positions among several area facilities.

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Photo by Bill Olmsted

Assembly worker Sam Thomas attaches side panels to a portable Generac generator at the company's Whitewater facility. The Wisconsin based company has experienced steady growth as demand for its products increase.

WHITEWATER — Job seekers waited in lines out the door at Generac's Whitewater plant Wednesday hoping to land 100 full-time jobs being offered by the portable and home generator manufacturer.

"We have about 75 immediate openings here in this plant for production and assembly positions," said Andy Martin, director of operations for the Whitewater facility. "These positions, mostly assembly jobs, require at least a high school diploma but no experience."

Prior training and experience always are a plus, but Generac looks beyond basic skills, Martin said.

"We are looking for people with a lot of drive and ambition who will help us continue to take Generac to new levels," Martin said. "We want people who are driven to make improvements."

Most of the 75 production and assembly jobs will be filled from applications received at Wednesday's job effort. The other 25 openings are for higher levels of technology and will require a lengthier application process.

"I want to emphasize that just because someone could not make it to the job fair today doesn't mean they have missed an opportunity to work for Generac," Martin said. "If you're interested in working for Generac, go to our website and apply or stop by our offices here in Whitewater and fill out an application. Every application will be considered."

If prospective employees have skills different from those required for current openings, an application should be submitted, Martin said.

"When we see an application from someone with the attitude and drive we are looking for, we'll keep that application on file, even though there may not be a job available at that time," he said. "We are always looking for talent."

Many Generac employees, including the chief operating officer, started on the shop floor and worked their way up.

"Our COO, Dawn Tabat, has been with Generac for about 40 years," Martin said. "She started out in production on the floor. We have many employees who continued their education while working in production, for example, and then move up to other jobs."

Generac's Whitewater plant manufactures portable and home backup generators.

"We have seen an increase in demand for the home backup units that corresponds to events such as Hurricane Sandy," Martin said. "We view our role as helping people in their time of need."

The home backup units come in various power capabilities that are connected to a natural gas supply and the home's electric circuit.

The Whitewater facility manufactures power washers in addition to portable and home backup generators out of a 300,000-square-foot building. A separate 200,000-square-foot distribution center also is located on the Whitewater property.