Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Don Stoneburner started at printing company RR Donnelley & Sons in Warsaw right out of high school in 1975.
He worked there before starting college and returned for full-time employment after college.
Stoneburner is returning to the former site as a senior electrical engineer for Slate Auto. The electric vehicle startup is converting the former RR Donnelley/LSC Communications plant to manufacture its customizable trucks and SUVs.
Stoneburner's video testimonial was shown during a sneak peek the company gave media members, government officials and other guests on Thursday.
Slate Auto CEO Chris Barman and several others spoke during a brief ceremony at the facility at 2801 W. Old U.S. 30, before tours were given of the plant renovation.
Barman said plans are to open toward the end of 2026. The plant will employ more than 2,000 people and is estimated to bring in $39 billion in revenue over 20 years to the state.
Stoneburner, who was one of the Slate employees speaking on the tours Thursday, said he started working for Slate in April.
"I was excited to see what they were going to do for the plant and excited for the product to come out," said Stoneburner. "I'll hold off my retirement for a few more years."
Barman said a few other former LSC Communications/RR Donnelley & Sons employees have come back to work for Slate.
She noted it was beneficial for Slate to have former employees like Stoneburner return with their "knowledge of the facility."
Another former RR Donnelley & Sons employee, Frank Grose, was present for the event Thursday.
His son, Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose, referenced the 83-year-old's start with the printing facility in 1967.
"(He) decided ... to put his Warsaw Police badge down and pick up steel-toed boots and come to this plant for 38 years," said Jeff Grose of Frank Grose. "Would I be here today if it wasn't for his commitment to his family, and then giving me an opportunity to give back to the community? I'm so thankful for him and the countless others that have dedicated their lives to this plant."
Jeff Grose added Slate would "create their own incredible history on this community."
Frank Grose said after the ceremony he was "glad" to see Slate repurpose the facility.
Officials' Remarks
Barman said Slate's focus is on the "simplification of manufacturing."
"We're retooling the factory in such a way that truly allows for manufacturing simplicity and rapid scaling: no paint shop, no stamping operation, no factory options or trim levels," she said. "At Slate, we've removed everything that isn't a car to improve reliability and efficiency."
Barman said the small building in which people met Thursday should be a "customer experience center" where people could meet with Slate staff and take test drives.
She also thanked the Warsaw community "for believing in Slate and our disruptive business model of simplifying the manufacturing process and re-industrializing America."
"I think we're just very excited to be here in the Warsaw community and looking forward to producing vehicles here and shipping them all over the United States," said Barman after the ceremony.
U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym, who represents the Second District in Indiana, which encompasses Kosciusko County, emphasized Slate's made-in-America status.
"This is what happens when we pass landmark legislation (in Congress) like our One Big, Beautiful Bill, and we're hoping more opportunities like this come to fruition in the future right here in the Hoosier state," he said. "Our bill cuts red tape, rewards innovation and makes sure that America, not our adversaries like China, leads the way in the auto industry. This could not have happened without not only Slate's willingness to make investments, but also without the local elected officials who are here who spent a lot of time rolling out the red carpet to make sure that Slate Auto knew that this was the place for them to do business."
"Slate is proof that when we keep the made-in-America provisions strong, companies step up and they build right here at home," he added.
"When I think about a company like Slate Auto, a few of the provisions we put in the (Big, Beautiful Bill), things like ... a brand new made-in-America provision where a company like this can take an old factory, rehab it and be able to depreciate 100% of that expense in Year 1, it's such a big deal to allow companies to make products here in America instead of allowing China to lead the way in things like auto production," Yakym said after the ceremony.
State Rep. Craig Snow, whose district covers most of Kosciusko County, said he was "excited" about Slate in Warsaw.
"This is going to bring a lot of jobs," he said. "Obviously from an economic development standpoint, what they are doing here today ... is investing dollars into existing property."
Snow added with the created jobs, there will be more jobs come in with workers needing housing and educational opportunities for their kids.
"It's an exciting time I think for Warsaw and Kosciusko County," he said.
State Sen. Ryan Mishler, who also represents most of the county in the Indiana General Assembly, said it was great to have auto manufacturing in the area as his family in the past had worked with bearings for the auto industry and had to travel to Michigan to do so.
He praised the collaboration between federal, state and local leaders and those in the private sector as making Slate's move to Warsaw possible.
"I think the big picture there is all those levels of government and the private sector building what they did," said Mishler.
Kosciusko County Commissioners' President Cary Groninger noted "it's just a great day for Kosciusko County to see this kind of investment."
"Bringing in 2,100 jobs is just phenomenal," he said, also citing the work between government and private entities to bring Slate to Warsaw.
Kosciusko County Council President Tony Ciriello called Slate in Warsaw "a great ego boost for our county."
"We are hanging an open sign up at the county line saying you are welcome to come here, so when Slate started coming around we felt it was a really good fit for us and good fit for this building," he said. "We worked hard to work with them to provide them with some abatements they needed to ensure they came here, and we're just excited that they are here."
Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. CEO Peggy Friday said "it's just so incredibly fulfilling" to witness Thursday's event as KEDCO had worked hard for awhile to bring Slate in.
"I think the real story here too is the fact that this campus was vacated (recently) and (shortly thereafter) there was a user and we could begin to breathe life back into it, and it's just a blessing that we were able to work on this project," she said.
Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Rob Parker said he's "thrilled that Slate has chosen (the area) to help them manufacture something that's just going to be a game-changer in the automotive industry."
