Kevin Strother No Longer W/bowtech

[kate_robinson]

I Would Like To Tell All Of The Archery World That As Of Today I Will No Longer Be Designing For Bowtech. From 1999 Thru 2006 I Have Designed All Bowtech Models.
After Kate And I Put Up Our Wedding Photo's Yesterday, Bowtech Fired Me While On Medical Leave!!!!!!!!!!!! John Strasheim Fired Me Via' Email For " Not Picking Up My Phone " I Have The Email If Anyone Would Like To See It. So Much For Your Patriotic Company!!
As For Bowtech, You May Want To Find Out Who Will Be Designing There Future Lines???
I Have Personally Seen A Faster, Smoother, Quieter, & Less Exspensive Line Of Bows. You Might Hold Off On Getting That 06 Bowtech If I Were You!!!!!

And Yes There Was And Still Is A Limb Problem. We Worked On It With New Materials, Changed Pre Loads, I Broke 8 Sets On A 06 Tribute In One Day! In R&d We Broke Over 200 Finalizing The Specs For The 06 Line! I Am Not Bashing, Just Letting You Know There Is Still A Problem. I Have Been Gone On Medical Leave For Over 6 Weeks, And They As Far As I Know Never Bothered To Fix The Problem On The 06 Line While I Was Away.

As The Co Founder And V.p Of R&d, I Have Heard As Well As Seen Some Things That Would Make Me Wonder If Your New 06 Bowtech As Well As The Ones You Already Own, Will Still Be Covered By A Bowtech Warranty???.......they Might Not Be Around In 07...just A Thought.

To All That I Have Met Over The Years At Shows, It Has Been Fun. I'll Still See Ya There!!!!

Kevin

[geriggs]

all i can think to say is ........WOW. thats a humdinger. if what you say is true, thats gonna hurt.

by the way, if you could let us know about that bow you speak of.....that would be nice too.

[WYBowhunter]

If this is true.....WOW.....

[Josh Michaelis]

So you were the main designer for 7 years and you couldnt fix the limb problem, no wonder they fired you

How could we verify something like this?

things that make you go hmmmmmm.

[jrb CO]

Is this April's fools come early? If not, ???????? WOW ?????????

[Double Lung 'Em]

I can tell you this, this person has been posting pics over on huntingnet.com/forum

Why doesn't someone call Bowtech and find out, I'm sure they would like to know if someone was making this up.

[thebeav]

Wow,
Thats to bad hate to see things go bad but keep your head up and dont worry about it move on and hope things turn out OK!

[3DFEVR]

Know you only by excellent reputation as designer. I'm not impressed however with your tirade. I understand you are beyond upset but you have sank to another level. If these things are true then you should let them fix them and allow them to do the job you were evidently unable to finish. I shoot Mathews but admire the Bowtechs aplenty. Good luck finding employment in the archery business, with this attitude your going to need it. 3DFEVR Brett R. Smith

[boogy]

i shoot mathews, so i have no dog in the hunt, but were you the reason they are having these issues.
i mean 7 years, come on.

[geriggs]

it may be true but its defeintely not cool.

Although if i just got married and got fired while returning from medical leave. i might be a bit pissed too.

[The Griller]

[BowTech R & D 1]

Yes I designed all the bows, but you can't fix a problem when they don't want to lose the speed by reducing the preload, which is what is needed. Limb material also enters the equation, Bowtech uses the cheapest limb material available, there are better materials, but the cost is greater so that eliminates Bowtech from using them. Like when we quit using Winner's choice strings, the quality wasn't an issue, just the price.

Sometimes making a bigger profit is more important than the quality of the product, this is Bowtechs position on the limb issue.


Since my wife posted the original comments for me under her login name and people questioned whether this is a joke, I have posted under my on username, which I will have to change now.

[boogy]

well, good luck i guess.
it's a shame you didn't warn all these bowtech shooters before you lost your job.
but like you said, money talks.

[RecordKeeper]

Darned if this thread ain't ripe for an appearance by Mr. Obvious

[BigWave]

Wow.....interesting stuff here. Fired for not picking up the phone? That cant be the real reason.........is it? I've got a few of them new Bowtechs on order including a Tribute. I guess I'll have to shoot in my full face motorcycle helmet then.

[beetle]

Kevin, I decided you were a genius after owning a Patriot Dually VFT.

It's a shame this has happened. I guess Bowtech's loss will be somebody elses gain. Good luck with your future endeavours.

Cheers,
Mark

[WR]

Is AT great or What??

[flatliner]

If the limb problem is real, what else is Bowtech doing to cut corners??? Won't be seeing any in my hands any time soon. Sorry to those who've been jeeped up about the '06 line.

[sagecreek]

Guys,

this has been on going for quit some time.

It's a love/hate relation ship between Martin and Bowtech.

I can't believe they fired you.

Oh well, I guess they will pay dearly for that one.

Can't say I blame you.

Good luck with you and Kate,

and good luck to Bowtech also.

Just a little dirtly laundry in a small area of manufacturing, but I still can't believe they fired you.

[LeesburgGamecoc]

..just because your wedding pictures were posted, then I really don't think your post was out of line, if it is all fact. If you married the Martin girl, it is not like it will remain a secret anyway, so having the pictures posted is not really grounds for firing. The only reason to keep quiet, is to get a nice severance package. Absent a good package, I would personally spill every bean I had available, if you are sure you are not ever going back. BTW, what line of bows have you personally seen that is faster, quiter, etc? C'mon, what's the harm? It haven't seen it, and I liked the looks of the new Bowtech line.

[Ahab]

Holy binary droppings batman!.....

Would like to see the email myself....sounds a little weak to fire somebody for not answering the phone....

Ahab..

[bcriner]

yeah...post that email...

[JAVI]

I been waiting on this shoe to drop....

[RecordKeeper]

I'd be very careful from this point.

PM for reasons that I won't go into publicly.

[Seek and Chase]

Be careful of those confidentiality agreements that seem to worm there way into R&D type areas.

But seriously, whats the deal w/ the faster & quiter bows?

[bcriner]

I think it is too late for him at this point. I think he is screwed!

[springer01]

Dang, I gotta say though Martin is a better bow now you got ties to it and Kate looks like she is definetly worth it!!

[txdukklr]

Dude

what are you doing on Archery Talk

YOU MARRIED THE MARTIN GIRL!!!!!

[BigWave]

Originally Posted by Recordkeeper

I'd be very careful from this point.

PM for reasons that I won't go into publicly.

I was thinking the same thing.......for Kevins best interest.

[centerx]

Well….

If you were on 6 weeks of FMLA they can't fire you. If true sue them

You got married while on medical leave?? .. Bummer planning for the honey moon

New line rolls out 11/1 and chief designer gone Nov. 2?? It's more then a dropped phone call I can assure you as that was planned

Married into the family of another Bow manufacturer. I guess I would be worried about proprietary secrets getting out.

Better bow line?? Gessh you spill your guts so far .. Go on do tell.

Requardless tuff break and nobody's business good luck on landing on your feet and a new life with Kate

[PMantle]

Kevin, I'm the guy that defended your single car(truck) accident claim. If you haven't already done it, you really need to call William Ford, pronto.

[sagecreek]

All this the day after the big Nov. 1 Bowtech release.

[bowhunter357]

Kevin,
Being a quality engineer and working in R&D I can understand your frustrations. As for any of you questioning the ability of a design engineer (expert in his field) to not fix an issue in 7 years, you need to sit back and think about it. In today's competitive business it's usually not the engineers fault that an ongoing issue is not fixed, the companies priorities will always come first. I'm just glad that Bowtech's real priorities are now on the table. the most disappointing fact here is it looks like Bowtech management made a decision based on emotion rather than a business decision. This says alot about the mindset of the company and what to expect as a consumer.

I'm sure you won't have any issues finding a new job, and if you can't no big deal, just stay home and enjoy yourself with Kate, what could be better!

[boogy]

Originally Posted by txdukklr

Dude

what are you doing on Archery Talk

YOU MARRIED THE MARTIN GIRL!!!!!

DING DING DING!!!
we have a winner, get busy man.
obviously you're a pretty smart guy, so with your brains, and her looks, your kids are going to be perfect.

[cfuhrer]

Originally Posted by bowhunter357

the companies priorities will always come first. I'm just glad that Bowtech's real priorities are now on the table. the most disappointing fact here is it looks like Bowtech management made a decision based on emotion rather than a business decision.

I do feel the need to point out that Kevins signature says he was also the Vice President, indicating he should have had some pull where safety/design and business decisions intersect

[TheHairlessone!]

If you did get fired while on medical leave I would have to say that was pretty crappy of bowtech even if you did deserve it for whatever reason. I would think it would also be highly illegal. Sue their pants off! :

Did you really marry the martin girl?

rick

[Hectorskat]

There are always two sides to every story. I once stated that when I purchased my Old Glory they sent the wrong limbs ie, 70s instead of 60s. They gave me the 60s and told me to keep the 70s free of charge. This does not sound like a money grubbing company. Now if his boss is just pissed off because Kevin got the Martin girl and not him,well, I can understand that!
Let's hold fire until we get a good look at his horns!!

[OneBowTie]

WOW.....i feel like i shouldnt say anything at all...but than again, that wouldnt be me...

congrats on your marriage....and sorry to hear about your being on disability....

however, in my opinion, you and your wife are openly bashing the company you say you cofounded and built....why now????

you speak that profit is more important than quality.....was it this way when you were on the payroll as you imply this has been ongoing...

in business, any fast growing company is faced with the problems that most outsiders have no clue of....growth can cause pretty trying times with cash flow, vendor issues of dependancy and dependability, trial and error on everything from phone systems to dumpster companys.....so if you indeed helped start and get bowtech off the ground.....it does appear that yall have grown at a rapid pace and have been faced with everything from infringment claims, production runs, building adaptations to string issues.....and in the past yall seem to have come through it all and excel on.....

so its very surprising that you would air your dirty laundry to not only your current, past, and possible future customers....but for the whole industry to see your method of operation.....

this thread alone has opened my eyes to think that SPEED does kill ....quality that is.....

not only have you put yourself and bowtech in the hot seat on this thread....you have brought martin archery into it whether they wanted to be or not....because now i have to wonder if you and the wife have a lovers quarrel...are we going to be told of the skeletons in martin archerys closets....

while im sure you have good reason to be unhappy with bowtech.....i dont think you realize your public trail of personal issues with them ...most likely wont hurt them...but help them.....

best of luck in your healing.....and perhaps your services can and will be needed right there in walla walla.....

spectre...to answer another of your threads questions.....i doubt that your signature line will ever be able to have the bowtech link in it .....

and i guess now we all will see how much damage control a man of your size and stature can do....

containment aint what it used to be.....

i have to ask you spectre.....isnt bowtechs claim always been of speed....i guess the term "breaking" the speed barrier cant be denied.....

limbing home over here boss.....limbing home over here boss.....

[Double Lung 'Em]

Thehairlessone, check out huntingnet.com/forums/ for the pics, one pic had my jaw on the ground, lucky man is all i have to say about it!

[Mathews2]

well I had a long, thought out post all written, But I deleted it, because I just dont have enough information to make a statement. I wish all well, and i hope this gets handled better than this in the future.
And yes I will still probably get the new Old glory, it was never definant, but it is as probable now as it ever was.

And I will have to say , that the really, really, scary part about all this is that my line of thought is in agreement with BOWTIE, NOW THATS SOME SCARY STUFF RIGHT THERE