Honoring Those Who Served: Paul Ballor

May is National Military Appreciation Month in the United States. MSCI will celebrate by featuring member company employees — our MSCI Metals Veterans — who have served their country in uniform. If you are veteran or member of the military and would like to share your story, fill out this questionnaire. Readers: we hope you will honor these courageous individuals by sharing their stories on social media using #MSCIMetalVets and tagging MSCI.

Name: Paul Ballor
Company: Crossroads Steel Supply, LLC
City and State: Portage, Ind.
Current Position/Job Title: Operations manager
Education: Three of college and trade school
Military Branch: U.S. Navy
Years of Service: Six-and-a-half
Job/MOS in the military: FT2/SS/DV/MH
Unit and where you were stationed: Various schools (Nuclear EM A-School, submarine school, submarine dive school, EOD dive school, mammal handling school), USS Kamehameha, Hawaii and EODMU3 Det86, California (deployed to Bahrain in 2003)

What memorable phrase or word will never be the same now that you served? Hoo-yah!!!, Outstanding!, Imua!

What is something new you learned about yourself from serving? To not be afraid of anything, respect fear, and face everything head on. Always assert oneself.

How have you applied lessons in the military to your job/career? Electrical theory, rigging mechanics, knot tying, etc.

Do you have a favorite quote, mantra, or personal motto? It’s better to keep up, than to catch up … what are we keeping up with today? Know your “7 Ps.”

How can the metals industry do a better job connecting with veterans? Offer more metals training in the realm — the processes and such.

Thank you for your service, Paul! Click here to read other profiles in this series and join the Military Appreciation Month conversation on MSCI’s Community Forum.