PermaPlate was acquired by Spectrum in 2025, and at the time we were told that nothing would change and that the acquisition was based on our strong customer service and performance. Over the following year, however, the culture shifted significantly. What was once a team-oriented, relationship-driven environment began to feel fear-based and heavily performance-pressured.
There was a noticeable move away from the “family company” atmosphere many of us valued. Communication often centered around job market instability and gratitude rather than growth and collaboration. Morale declined, and cross-functional alignment suffered as teams became more defensive and siloed.
That said, I am grateful for the nearly six years I spent there. I grew tremendously, developed leadership skills, and built meaningful relationships. PermaPlate played a major role in my professional development, and for that I’m thankful. I just wish the post-acquisition transition had preserved more of what originally made the company special.