2025 Paul Malnove Award of Excellence Recipients
Winners of the 2025 Paul Malnove Award of Excellence and the Malnove Executive Team; Pictured from left to right: Taylor Reid, Kari Narduzzo, Tyler James, Caitlyn Stetson, Rick Ziegler, Tom Williams, Brandan Kitt, & Eric Malnove
We are excited to announce the 2025 Paul Malnove Award of Excellence winners. This annual program is a testament to our commitment to recognizing and celebrating the exceptional achievements of our employees who consistently go above and beyond in their roles.Paul Malnove was not just a leader in our industry; he was a visionary whose dedication to excellence continues to inspire us all. Through this award, we pay homage to his memory and his unwavering pursuit of excellence. He believed in pushing beyond what was comfortable. He believed in challenging the norm, in building something better than what existed yesterday, and in empowering people to rise higher than they thought possible.
The Paul Malnove Award of Excellence Program is not just about acknowledging outstanding performance; it recognizes those who demonstrate extraordinary leadership, innovation, collaboration, and overall performance — and who do so in a way that strengthens the entire organization. It’s about recognizing those among us who embody the values and principles that Paul Malnove himself stood for.
Our selection process is rigorous, with a dedicated committee of senior leaders carefully evaluating nominees based on a set of established criteria as well as leadership factors to ensure a comprehensive assessment of their contributions. The selection process was not easy and there was no set number of recipients that we targeted to receive the award.
This program is more than just recognition; it’s a celebration of excellence, a testament to our values, and a reflection of the incredible talent and dedication within our organization. It’s an opportunity for us to come together as a team and honor those who inspire us all to reach greater heights.
Rick Ziegler – Die Cutting Manager Rep
Rick’s story with Malnove began in 1979 when he joined as employee number 151, following in his father’s footsteps. What started as a role in stripping quickly evolved into a lifelong journey marked by dedication, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to getting better every day. From Die Cutting Operator to Die Cutting Lead, then Shift Supervisor, and now Die Cutting Manager, Rick’s climb through the organization reflects both his mastery of the craft and his steadfast leadership.
Rick’s impact on Malnove goes far beyond tenure. Much like Paul Malnove, he has always embraced innovation and pushed boundaries—especially in the ever‑evolving world of Die Cutting. Over the years, Rick has guided the department through major technological transitions, ensuring Malnove remains at the forefront of efficiency and precision. In 2025, under his leadership, the Die Cutting team delivered a remarkable 19% improvement in make‑ready times, driven by the implementation of Digital Zone Leveling, as well as back‑to‑back 5% improvements in run speeds. These achievements didn’t just elevate departmental performance, they strengthened Malnove’s capacity, quality, and customer confidence.
Equally important is Rick’s passion for developing people. Recognizing that the strength of a company lies in its teams, Rick has invested heavily in mentoring and capability building across all plants. He leads monthly peer calls, helped develop a new Welding Program and JQS materials, co‑led an educational seminar with Bobst, and participates in New Business Meetings to proactively guide teams through technical challenges. His commitment to knowledge-sharing ensures that Malnove’s next generation of leaders has the skills and confidence needed to succeed.
Rick continues to “make it happen,” as Tommy Lasorda would say. This year alone, he has partnered with vendors on advanced calibration tools, overseen the installation of a new pin‑setter machine to drive efficiency, and is preparing Omaha to become a Bobst‑certified die‑making site. His leadership, innovation, and relentless pursuit of excellence make him a true reflection of Paul Malnove’s philosophy: No matter how good you get, you can always get better. After 46 years of constant improvement and impact, Malnove proudly celebrates Rick Ziegler as a 2025 Paul Malnove Award of Excellence winner.
Tyler James – Sales Rep
From the moment Tyler joined Malnove, his persistence and drive were evident — even in the hiring process, where his enthusiastic follow‑up accidentally led him to call the HR manager’s spouse instead of HR. What could have been a humorous misstep quickly proved to be a perfect preview of the determination, proactivity, and genuine engagement he now brings to his work every single day.
In 2025, Tyler made a profound impact across multiple areas of the organization. He played a central role in advancing several internal strategic initiatives, including supporting Marketing, optimizing ZoomInfo tools, and navigating complex updates in Salesforce. In each case, he brought structure where things were complicated, clarity where information was scattered, and momentum where progress had stalled. Tyler doesn’t simply complete tasks, he elevates processes and strengthens the people connected to them. His ability to stay steady, thoughtful, and solution‑focused has made him an invaluable partner to teams across the company.
Tyler’s influence has been especially transformational at the Utah plant, where he secured multiple significant accounts and strengthened Malnove’s presence in the western region. A major highlight of the year was onboarding one of the facility’s most impactful accounts, a milestone made possible through Tyler’s skill, customer insight, and relationship‑driven approach. His customers consistently describe him as responsive, proactive, transparent, and deeply invested in their success. Feedback from partners such as Built Bar and Purely Elizabeth affirms the exceptional level of trust he has earned through his character and consistency.
Beyond his technical impact, Tyler excels because of how he makes people feel: supported, heard, and valued. He brings calm to high‑pressure moments, compassion to difficult conversations, and authenticity to every relationship he builds. Outside of work, he channels the same dedication into passions like crafting artisan sourdough and into his growing family, who welcomed their fourth member this past year. Despite the joys and challenges that come with that chapter of life, Tyler continued to show up fully engaged, fully committed, and fully aligned with Malnove’s values. For his exceptional contributions, unwavering integrity, and the relationships he strengthens every day, Malnove is honored to name Tyler James as a 2025 Paul Malnove Award of Excellence winner.
Caitlyn Stetson – Executive Assistant
Malnove is proud to announce Caitlyn Stetson as a recipient of the 2025 Paul Malnove Award of Excellence, an honor reserved for individuals whose impact transcends title and job description. Although her role is officially Executive Assistant, anyone who has worked alongside her knows the influence she carries reaches far beyond administrative support. Whether she is elevating an executive presentation, orchestrating a flawless customer visit, or injecting energy and confidence into a room simply by walking into it, Caitlyn’s presence makes Malnove better. Her background as an elementary school Assistant Principal shines through in her structure, poise, high standards, and ability to bring order to even the most chaotic moments.
2025 was a defining year for Caitlyn, both personally and professionally. She and her husband, Kenny, welcomed their daughter Sloane, becoming a family of four alongside big brother Rhett. Even with maternity leave taking part of her fiscal year, Caitlyn’s contributions were impossible to miss. She worked seamlessly across all three plants, supporting initiatives that required coordination, urgency, and alignment between multiple teams. Her exceptional drive for results, her instinct to anticipate needs before they arise, and her ability to influence without formal authority allowed her to broker progress across departments with remarkable consistency.
Her commitment to excellence was visible in every corner of the organization. Caitlyn played a key role in enhancing customer visit standards company-wide, with leaders noting that the professionalism, preparation, and polish of these visits have risen significantly due to her systems and attention to detail. Her accuracy remained exceptional despite a workload that would overwhelm most, earning her a level of trust where her work does not need to be double‑checked. Beyond events and executive support, Caitlyn strengthened internal controls as an active member of the Malnove Security Culture Committee, helping significantly improve security awareness performance throughout the year, demonstrating her holistic view of what it means to protect and advance the company.
What sets Caitlyn apart is not just what she accomplishes, but how she elevates Malnove through her work. She doesn’t simply complete tasks — she raises the standards for everyone around her. She doesn’t just support leadership — she strengthens it. She doesn’t just participate in the culture — she amplifies it. She embodies Malnove’s values of Passion, Pride, and Family with authenticity and heart. In a year filled with personal milestones and professional demands, Caitlyn delivered measurable, meaningful impact that moved the organization forward. Her achievement is well deserved, and her influence will be felt for years to come.
