Will Shields: A Story of Determination and Compassion at GE Appliances
Will Shields is a hard worker who’s held a wide variety of jobs since high school — from retail to food service to distribution. One thing he’s learned along the way is that it’s the people who matter most.
“It makes a difference who you work with,” he says. “I’ve dealt with a lot of different kinds of bosses, and the chain reaction starts with them.”
The 28-year-old is now a proud employee of GE Appliances, where he’s thriving as a team member in AP1. He feels valued and knows his managers care about more than just the bottom line. They care about their employees.
It’s something Shields, who is on the autism spectrum, has experienced firsthand at GE Appliances, where he’s worked since early 2024. Because of the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, Will feels welcome and like he belongs here.
The Long Walk to Appliance Park
One morning, Leslie Branham, business leader for AP1’s Line 9, noticed Shields seemed sluggish and tired. It was out of character for him.
“I saw that he was moving kind of slow. He’s usually like a rabbit, so I knew something was up,” she says. “I asked him what was going on, and he said he had walked to work a few days in a row.”
Turns out he had walked far — nearly 10 miles — to get to work.
When Shields took the job, he assumed he’d be able to take the bus to Appliance Park. Unfortunately, the route from his South Third Street apartment wasn’t reliable.
“I really wanted to work here, so I had to figure it out,” he says.
A few times he took a Lyft, but it wasn’t something he could do every day. That’s when he decided to walk from downtown, through the Highlands, then down Newburg Road through Buechel — a long stretch that isn’t well-lit.
Sometimes he’d leave his apartment at 2 a.m. to make the three-hour walk.
When Branham learned this, she sprang into action, as did her colleagues.
GE Appliances helped him get a new bus pass and figure out a more direct TARC route. They also helped him set up a GoFundMe fundraising website so he could raise money to buy an electric bike – which he did
“I’m hoping to move closer, and they’re helping me with that, too,” says Shields. “The people here are really nice, and that makes talking to my managers about issues a lot better… they’re willing to listen.”
Caring about employees is part of the GE Appliances culture, according to Branham. Though it’s easy to get caught up in day-to-day operations, it’s important to take the time to get to know employees — like Will Shields.
“He works so hard to get here and does any and everything we ask,” she says. “We owe it to him and to all our employees to take care of them, to help them grow and develop and be successful.”
A Future Leader
When asked whether GE Appliances has helped him overcome challenges, Shields says yes and he’s thankful. But he’s quick to add: “I’ve helped them overcome challenges, too. There are little challenges to figure out all the time.”
Shields loves seeing how things are made “from nothing to something,” and he’s comfortable sharing ideas with managers about how to make things safer and more efficient. He also loves teaching skills to new team members.
“I’m a fast learner. I love to train people and I’ve always been a leader,” he says. “That’s why I’m going to college for management.”
This summer, Shields plans to begin taking classes toward an associate degree. One day, he hopes to be the type of manager he’s encountered at GE Appliances — the kind that encourages employees and helps them thrive.