“I’ve got an idea. Let’s feed mayonnaise to tuna fish so when we catch them, we’ll have tuna salad. Call Starkist!”
That wild idea—spoken by Michael Keaton’s character in the movie Night Shift—struck a chord with our Vice President, Jim Slovonic. So much so, that it inspired the name of one of BAW Plastics’ most unique and beloved traditions: The Tuna Fish Award.
Why tuna fish? Because sometimes, the craziest ideas are the ones that spark the greatest innovation.
Where It All Started
Back in 1975, Jim was a young entrepreneur with no shortage of ideas—or setbacks. After launching (and failing) five businesses, he finally found the right fit with BAW Plastics. In the early days, BAW didn’t have much. No internet. No computers. No fancy machinery. But what they did have was belief in an idea: that creativity could be a business.
Salesmen Marty Slovonic and Frank Dusch hit the road with just that—ideas. No flashy brochures or product samples. Just a pitch and a promise. Their ideas became prototypes, and their prototypes became products. Meanwhile, in the shop, Pat—the lone production team member at the time—was folding, laminating, and sewing his way through the orders. Eventually, he turned to Jim and said: “We need help.” That meant equipment. And more people. And more big ideas.
The Disney Influence
Fast forward to the early 2000s, when Jim found himself training for the Walt Disney World Marathon. That experience sparked a deeper reflection on growth and innovation. He and his wife Mary attended a seminar at the Disney Institute, where several key takeaways stuck with them:
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Push the envelope
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Live by the 3 P’s: Passion, Pride, and Persistence
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CIS: Continuous Improvement System
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Everyone is creative
These principles perfectly aligned with what Jim already believed: the business of BAW is ideas.
So, What Is the Tuna Fish Award?
To put those beliefs into action and keep the creativity flowing, Jim created The Tuna Fish Award—a $100 cash prize for the best idea submitted by a BAW team member when a solution to a problem is found. It’s as simple as it is brilliant.
How it works:
- Any BAW employee can submit an idea.
- Just write it up and share it with your supervisor.
- Your supervisor passes it along to Jim.
- Jim reviews the ideas and decides if it warrants an award 😊
There’s no limit to the kind of ideas you can submit. Whether it’s a way to streamline production, improve customer service, boost morale, or add fun to the workplace—it’s all fair game.
Why It Matters
The Tuna Fish Award is a celebration of what makes BAW unique: our people and their ideas. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t have to come from a big budget or a boardroom—it can start with a simple suggestion scribbled on a Post-it note.
Jim always says, “The business of BAW is ideas,” and he means it. This award is just one way we make sure great ideas don’t just happen—they stick.
So go ahead. Think big. Think weird. Think tuna salad. Your idea might just be the next big thing—and win you a hundred bucks while you’re at it.
Would you like to be a part of our unique organization? Submit your resume here:
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