Bedford native Craig Harris' life changed because he and a buddy were walking down Pitt Street at the right time. A graduate of Bedford High School, Harris had completed a degree at Williamsport Community College in its auto-body program, but couldn't find a job in his field. "There just wasn't a job to be had 30 years ago in auto body," he says. Fortunately, he ran into the unemployment office director when he was walking downtown, and knowing he was looking for a job, she told him that the Westinghouse plant (now Bedford Materials) was hiring. He got the job, and celebrated 30 years with the company last month. Harris has worked in several departments - learning on the job in shipping and receiving and running vertical treaters among others.

For the past 13 years he has operated a slitter - a machine that cuts sheets of insulation that is used in electric motors such as vacuum cleaners. Craig says he enjoys working at the plant, "The people are great, the work atmosphere is friendly and the company has always treated me fairly." He never thought about leaving Bedford. "My family is here and it's a great place to raise kids. I've always liked Bedford." He's had no regrets that he couldn't find work in auto-body. "I probably wouldn't still be able to do that kind of work because it's more physically demanding. I've been very happy the way things worked out for me and glad that I happened to be in the right place at the right time."

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