‘It’s almost like seeing someone like Elvis’
HATFIELD >> On Friday afternoon, Manuel Ferreira stood next to a toy-building machine, waiting, similar to a wait he had four years ago.
The 24-year employee of K’Nex was waiting for the arrival of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton as she toured the facility with her husband, Bill, her running mate, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine and his wife, Anne Holton.
“This is beautiful,” the Portugal-born man said, recalling its similarities to President Barack Obama’s visit to the plant in 2012.
His excitement was not solitary.
Many in a room nearby were similarly psyched as they waited for the entourage to make their way to the stage.
Kate Loffio, K’Nex public relations and social media manager, brought her 3-month-old daughter, Charlotte, as they sat in the front rows.
“It’s pretty amazing,” she said. “As a woman, it’s inspiring and to know that my team and I have worked to get this, … we’re all so proud and excited.”
She spoke of what it meant to have Clinton visit her workplace, especially as the first stop on a bus tour the day after she accepted the nomination at the Democratic National Convention
in Philadelphia.
“It’s affirming that what we do makes a difference and it’s noticed,” Loffio.
Kristen Krikorian, K’Nex’s director of marketing for 10 years, spoke of what it meant to her.
“It’s a humungous honor to have someone of that stature come to our facility in the middle of Pennsylvania,” she said. “As me for a woman, the historic nomination, the first woman to ever run for president, it’s just, it’s a huge honor. I’m so thrilled. I’m so thrilled
that they chose to come visit us.”
Even though he met Obama during his visit, Ferreira still was awed by Clinton.
“I don’t know if there are any words for me,” he said. “It’s almost like seeing someone like Elvis, you know.”
He said he wanted Clinton to be clear about the support she’d receive from his household.
“I told her, ‘You’ll get three votes from my house,’” he said of his wife and two adult children.