Pros

Great people, great products, excellent benefits - an American Icon. I can't say enough about the level and amount of talented people that keep this place running despite management's best efforts. There is a level of pride in working for an American Icon such as Fender that is unsurpassed.

Cons

Poor upper management - we've had very little turnover in upper management as a company and that is not a good thing. There is too much old school marketing and management at the top and a serious lack of interest in ideas and new school thinking. Too many VPs equals too many cooks in the kitchen. As an employee, there is a lack of upward mobility. Many "promotions" are nothing more than lateral moves with a new title or they combine two jobs into one and create a new position. Compensation is below average but good for the Music Industry.

Advice to Senior Management

My advice to Management is to stop waiting for the economy to turn around and do something. Start taking some chances or retire and get out of the way of progress as we as a company have been underachieving for far too long. This company has been the beneficiary of many years of a good economy and is now reeling under the current climate. The greatest problem at Fender is the inability of upper management to listen to employees with viable ideas, to make decisions in a timely manner and act. I disapprove of the CEO because he isolates himself from what is really going on with the company by letting the VPs and other members of Senior Management filter important information from him. This company has made great strides in the past few years in hopes to become a certified "Best Place to Work" but the changes have only made things marginally better. Finally, get back to what made this company great - innovation. For far too long, this company has been reacting to the market and following the leaders with "me too" products. Innovate don't emulate, as one company slogan goes.