Celebrating 33 Years of Service: Charles Gardner Retires from AVRE
After over 33 years of dedicated service, Charles Gardner has officially retired from his role as Director of Manufacturing at AVRE.
Charles began his journey with the organization in 1992 as a Maintenance Supervisor. Over the years, he held a variety of roles - including Logistics Manager - before ultimately overseeing all aspects of manufacturing and facility operations.
In that time, Charles witnessed remarkable changes - not just in equipment or processes, but in how AVRE creates meaningful opportunities for its employees.
One of the most significant changes, in his view, was bringing operators who are blind or visually impaired onto the machines. “That’s been the biggest transformation,” he says.
Charles played a key role in that shift - most notably through the research, selection, and adaptation of the new copy paper sheeter and ream wrapper. “I’m most proud of that,” he shares. “I did the research to acquire a new machine and made changes to make them more accessible. I worked with the contractors to make sure they got it right.”
Creating a workspace where everyone could perform their job successfully was always a priority. “It is very humbling to have been of service to individuals who are blind or visually impaired, and to have had the pleasure to create an accessible working environment for them to be able to perform various jobs.”
Charles also experienced major shifts in how the organization operates - going from little technology, with only one computer, to more computers integrated into different jobs. “That was challenging,” he says.
A favorite memory for Charles was moving out of AVRE’s old building at the corner of Susquehanna and Washington Streets. “It was a lot of work,” he recalls, “but it was very exciting to move into something larger and better suited to our growth.”
As he reflects on his time at AVRE, Charles’s thoughts return to the people. “It’s been a pleasure to work with the folks here. People have come and gone that I miss, and there are people here currently that I’ll miss. It’s been a pleasure to work here for over 33 years. I have enjoyed coming to work - I like what I do.”
From day one to retirement, Charles helped shape not just AVRE’s operations, but its culture - making it a place where ability is supported and people are empowered to thrive.
Thank you, Charles - for your service, your leadership, and your impact. From all of us at AVRE, we wish you the very best.
