Spring 2005

Gunnar Hain, machine set-up, at his work-station

“My first job was playing music. I played music for eight years until I got married,” says Gunnar Hain. “I played a lot of different kinds of music ---country, rock, pop music --- just about everything.”

Gunnar, who was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa as an infant, honed his musical skills as a teenager while attending the Montana State School for the Deaf and Blind. Upon leaving school, he traveled around several U.S. states playing guitar and bass.

Gunnar next employed his technical ability working as an auto mechanic. He continued as a mechanic for many years, supporting his family as a single father after his first wife’s passing. After remarrying, Gunnar and his second wife traveled around Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota on a sales route vending toys, food, and novelty candies.

After four years as a traveling salesman, he was ready for a change. “I got a little tired of the self-employment job,” he explains. “I asked the Talking Book Library in Montana if they knew of a shop that hired blind people.” He was soon introduced to the Seattle Lighthouse. Gunnar set up an interview and was quickly hired.

“Before I came here, I called all the various Lighthouses. This seemed to be more of what I was looking for,” he comments. “Other people said this is one of the best.”

Today, Gunnar works in the machine shop primarily making tapered metal shims for airplanes. Shims are inserted into small gaps between larger metal parts to ensure that all the parts hold firmly together.

“We’ve grouped key component machines together to produce these [tapered metal shims],” explains Mike Scheschy, machine shop production supervisor. “Gunnar can take the part through the entire process after shearing. This works out extremely well because the throughput is one day: from the time we receive it to the time we finish it is generally seven hours.”

On the job, Gunnar uses voicing technology to help him complete jobs. He uses audible calipers for measuring parts and voiced digital read-outs attached to the Bridgeport mills used for shaping the parts. His focus on excellence has made Gunnar a valued employee for the seven years he’s worked at the Lighthouse. “When he’s at work, his interest is in getting the job done,” observes Mike. “He has a high level of accuracy. His concerns are on making sure we produce quality parts.”

Gunnar performed with the three piece musical group, the Litetones, at the Lighthouse employee awards ceremony.

Gunnar continues to pursue his passion for music. “I like music; I play music; I collect and listen to music,” he declares. This February, he shared his musical talent with Lighthouse employees when he played guitar in a band put together especially for the annual employee awards ceremony. The group entertained the crowd with classic hits including House of the Rising Sun and Walk, Don’t Run. “I volunteered because it was really something I can do,” he says. “It’s always fun to play in a group, and I’m happy to give it a good try.”

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