This Father’s Day, we celebrate the dads and grown children whose Toyota journey has brought them closer together. Beyond family ties, they’ve shared milestones, memories and meaningful moments that have strengthened their bond both at home and at work.

Joshua Thomas, Production Group Leader, Toyota Indiana

What’s the best thing about working with your son?

Joshua Thomas: It’s getting to witness him excelling in his job and knowing he has a bright future ahead being able to provide for his family.

What’s the best memory you have of working with your son?

My favorite work memory with Noah was when he first got hired. I wanted him to get off to a good start on Gold Shift, so I commuted with him for several weeks. That way he wouldn’t have to worry about driving home. That led to many good conversations and, of course, breakfast every morning on the ride back home.

Noah Thomas, Production Team Member, Toyota Indiana

What’s the best thing about working with your dad?

Noah Thomas: It’s having someone that understands what I do on a day-to-day basis and can relate to it.

What’s your best memory of your dad at work?

My favorite work memory is eating lunch together consistently during the 2024 shutdown.

Dennis Dio Parker, Consultant, MBO People Engagement, Toyota Kentucky

What’s the best thing about working at Toyota with your daughters?

Parker: There’s so much. As someone with a technical background, I can only share my work to a certain level with my family because they don’t understand the field. With my daughters, who are both in maintenance, I now have two people with whom I can “talk the talk” and they understand and engage.

I’ve spent 39 years helping to develop training programs, including the FAME program, which has spread far beyond Toyota. I never imagined when I was helping to start FAME and the programs leading to it years ago that some of my children would one day graduate from it.

What’s your greatest work memory with your daughters? 

In this case, the answer is the same for both: The two days I attended their graduations from the FAME AMT (Advanced Manufacturing Technician) Program. Both graduated from Bluegrass Community & Technical College two years apart. It’s a tough program. They worked and earned their way through it.

My pride in their accomplishments was bursting, unbounded. An ongoing “greatest memory” is knowing that both are breaking barriers every single day while working in maintenance, a field typically associated with men.

They are both change agents, inspiring and showing the way for others following them in ways that I never could.

Emily Bastin, Skilled Team Member, Toyota Kentucky

What’s the best thing about working with your dad? 

Emily Bastin: Just having someone to go to with questions without any fear, especially in the beginning. He was a huge crutch for me navigating my way around the largest Toyota plant in the world.

He showed me which parking lot I needed to be in and walked me to my shop on my first day. I wouldn’t have the confidence I have now without his help at the start.

It’s also cool to me that I can just talk to him about anything work-related and he fully understands.

What’s your greatest work memory with your dad? 

When he brings me free food! I often forget my lunch, so every once in a while, I’ll ask him to bring me food if he’s in the office that day.

It’s awesome to have him right around the corner, and it’s just sentimental for me to have those little moments of seeing him at work as a daughter who moved out not that long ago.

I stay appreciative of him. He did so much for me growing up to make me who I am today, and I’m glad I can honor his work by representing Toyota.

Hannah Geneve, Skilled Team Member, Toyota Kentucky

What’s the best thing about working at Toyota with your dad? 

Hannah Geneve: The lunches! I’ve had to take some classes at NAPSC (North American Production Support Center), and if he’s in the office that week, we’ll usually have lunch at least one day that week. It’s a nice way to catch up.

What’s your greatest work memory with your dad? 

The time he realized the new Paint 1 shop was in fact a whole new building and not in the same spot it had been previously. Had to show him on Google Maps exactly where it was since he had never been there since Reborn was built!