"Selim's a good motivator, " says Johnny W. Futch, a production supervisor, who led the two-month effort.

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She learned quickly: She began as a production supervisor at the main brewery before switching to the innovation group in 2010, then becoming head of the pilot brewery last year.

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In statements read to the court, friends of Mr Fuller, a production line supervisor, described him as a reserved family man and a good listener who rarely instigated conversations.

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He said he learned to be cool under pressure while a teenager, when he was a production-line supervisor at a tomato-packing factory.

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In contrast, across all age groups and education levels, government figures show that the average age-adjusted hourly wage for workers in production and non supervisor roles have, in fact, risen 3% in the same time period.

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