Spending almost 50 years in a company is already quite an achievement. Spending years in a big company, even more. If that company is Apple, everything becomes even more relevant. And even more when supposedly withstood seven CEOs. From Apple’s first official CEO, Michael Scott, to current CEO, Tim Cook. Enter Mike Markkula, Michael Spindler, Gil Amelio and, of course, Steve Jobs.
We are referring to the already mythical Chris Espinosa, who started working at Apple when he was just 14 years old. However, it was only a few years ago that it was officially recognized by the Apple Lifetime Achievement Award, which were introduced in 2018 and serve to recognize the longest-serving employees in the company with a physical trophy. Also a very sophisticated price.
Since 2018, a career at Apple has been rewarded. Literally
Deirdre O’Brien, senior vice president of retail at Apple, promoted a great initiative six years ago to reward its most veteran employees. A recognition of his service to Apple and it goes from the company’s tenth anniversary to four decades. All in round numbers: 10 years, 20 years, 30 years and 40 years.
Chris Espinosa is the only Apple employee who has been with the company for over 40 years.
It was an idea given to employees in 2018 so that they could start sending them in 2019, although this does not mean that they started counting the seniority of these years, far from it. Obviously, at that time, there were already many employees who had been with the company for one, two, even three decades, but only one who had been with the company for four years: Chris Espinosa.
Born on September 18, 1961 and working at Apple since the age of 14, as we told you in the introduction, Espinosa already had more than 40 years of experience in the company. More precisely, 42 years, since he started working there in 1976, when Apple was still a company located in Steve Jobs’ garage.
Macs have something in common with some of these awards: build material
These rewards, although they essentially have a common meaning and serve to show recognition to employees, are in reality They are made with different materials. The most prestigious, as you can imagine, is that of Espinosa and that even prominent members like Tim Cook himself do not have.
Image: 9to5Mac
As they were able to see in 9to5Mac, it is about a stainless steel plate with a neat design. So much so that Apple design engineers spent more than two years working on it as if it were an iPhone or Mac. In fact, he’s even more spoiled.
The 10 and 20 year awards are made from recycled aluminum, a material identical to that used to make up a large part of the chassis of the Mac mini and MacBook Air. The 40 year model is a solid block of shiny black stainless steel polished using a special process.
This is how Apple’s ‘trophies’ are packaged (Image: 9to5Mac)
Additionally, as you see in the previous image, Prizes are awarded as if it were a simple Apple product.. The detail is taken care of down to the millimeter and the packaging in which employees receive it also accumulates merits to be kept with the part.
Chris Espinosa, approaching his golden anniversary with Apple
One of the rare recent photos of Chris Espinosa
Espinosa is not only Apple’s longest-serving member, but he’s also one of its most beloved. It is also recognized abroad by most Apple enthusiasts thanks to its proximity. It is not in vain that people have even claimed to confirm falsifications of collectible relics.
Espinosa’s contribution has been and continues to be highly appreciated, but his long career in the world of work appears to be coming to an end. Nothing has been revealed about his plans to retire, but with just four months left until he turns 62, we can expect him to at least consider it.
The fact is yes He only remains active for two more years, he will celebrate his 50th anniversary at Apple. If turning 40 was already a milestone, it will be even more so. So much so that it’s likely Apple will have to create a new category for its particular price point. Surely, they will have already taken it into consideration. And if the materials and design of the 1940s are already the most premium, we can expect even more prestige in this half-century commemorative.
Cover image | 9to5Mac
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