Ulbrich Employees Unite for Leadership, Learning, and Giving Back: A Special Day with Make-A-Wish
On Wednesday, November 5th, 2025, Ulbrich employees gathered at The Farms Country Club for a day that blended professional development with heartfelt community impact. Designed as a two-fold experience, the event brought together our commitment to leadership excellence and our long-standing dedication to giving back through a special collaboration with Make-A-Wish Connecticut.
Strengthening Leadership Across Ulbrich
The afternoon began with the fall session of the Leading the Ulbrich Way summit, where employees from several divisions participated in a workshop focused on professional leadership. Following the sessions, employees enjoyed a midday break for lunch, giving teams a chance to connect and reflect on what they learned.
An Afternoon of Purpose with Make-A-Wish
After lunch, the tone of the day shifted toward service and compassion as we welcomed representatives from Make-A-Wish CT, as well as a family close to the Ulbrich community.
Ulbrich Shaped Wire employee Nick Felton attended the event with his wife, Kara, and their two sons, Julian and Josiah. Both boys have Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy, an extremely rare genetic metabolic disorder that affects how the body stores and uses fat. They also live with a heart disease called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. “There are roughly 250 documented cases worldwide, with four known types of the disease. Both Julian and Jojo are not one of the four known types, making them the only ones in the world with their unique genetic makeup.” Said mom Kara. She continued saying,
“A family with a medical journey looks at the world a bit differently...We celebrate everything and try our best to hold onto moments. Make-A-Wish is an organization that helps us to do that. They love our children so deeply and do what they can within their power to help us create such amazing experiences and memories not only for our kids, but for us as parents too. “ – Kara Felton
Despite the challenges they face, Julian and Josiah brought a silly, joyful, and fun-loving energy to the room!
Building Boost Boxes to Bring Joy
The Make-A-Wish team kicked off the volunteer portion by giving a quick tutorial on how to assemble their Boost Boxes. These are monthly packages filled with fun items that are sent to kids who are waiting for their wish. After the demonstration, Ulbrich team members quickly organized into an assembly line and got to work. In just about 15 minutes, our employees filled and packed 300 winter-themed Boost Boxes. The speed, teamwork, and enthusiasm on display showed how much we can accomplish when we come together with a shared purpose.
Living Our Purpose: Improving Lives With More Than Metal
This special day at The Farms Country Club embodied the values that define Ulbrich. It was not just about developing stronger leaders. It was also about coming together, learning from one another, and supporting families who embody resilience and hope.
We are grateful to Make-A-Wish Connecticut for joining us, and even more grateful to Nick, Kara, Julian, and Josiah for sharing their story with us. Their presence reminded all of us why our purpose extends far beyond the materials we produce. At Ulbrich, we believe in improving lives through compassion, strong leadership, and community.
