TEXTILES.ORG
John Veith [ age 36 ]
Director of Project Management
Birdair, Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.
8 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry and at what age?
I was hired by Birdair at 22, as a project engineer. It was my first job out of college. I knew of Birdair from watching the World Cup in 2010. The stadiums were unique and Birdair had been involved with some of them. I didn’t want to get into the standard building industry where I just got to work on building rectangular boxes, so I reached out. After some back and forth, I was able to get a job here.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
I like the wide range of projects we get to work on. Oftentimes they are iconic and when they’re not, they’re still kind of unique. It’s not the same thing every day. No two projects are the same in design and execution. It is always a new challenge, and something always comes up that you didn’t anticipate—a new problem to solve. It keeps you on your toes.
Any advice for the next generation getting started in this industry?
Work hard and be hungry. Come to work with a positive attitude and never stop learning. The learning doesn’t stop when you leave school. You must be open to the fact that you don’t know things, otherwise, you won’t ask the questions that need to be asked and continue growing as an individual and as a professional.
Bobby Button [ age 35 ]
Treasurer and Co-owner
Shade Solutions Inc., Tolono, Ill.
9 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
I was 26 when I got a job as a grommeter at Twin City Tent and Awning and climbed the ranks there. When the owners at Twin City decided to retire and close, one of my colleagues reached out and said “Hey, do we want to keep this ball rolling?” and I said “Sure,” so we started Shade Solutions. I went from being the head of my own department to owner in about a week’s time span.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
I like the everyday challenges. It is kind of unique not having to come into work and do the same thing every single day. Every frame is different; every awning is different. It is nice to have that change of pace from day to day. When a unique job comes through, I enjoy figuring out how we’re going to make it work.
What is the next big challenge for the industry?
I think it will come down to trying to drum up enough sales with all the price hikes we’re having across the board with raw supplies. I think sales are going to be the next big challenge for the industry in relation to rising costs and trying to find that niche in there somewhere.
Any advice for the next generation getting started in this industry?
Learn from your mistakes and from your successes. It’s one thing to learn how you did something wrong and try not to do that again, but you also don’t want to forget the things you did right and try to repeat them.
Kylie Schleicher [ Age 33 ]
Director of Product Development
Ultraflex Systems, based in Riverview, Fla.
10 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
Ultraflex Systems was founded by my family over 30 years ago. I was brought up running around the warehouse and meeting people from the industry.
When I was 22, I was looking for a career change and was hired as the company’s marketing coordinator. From there, I moved to product manager, marketing manager, and now the director of product development.
What had you been doing before?
I worked as a cosmetic chemist, and I didn’t find it as interesting as I thought I would. It was just the same thing repeatedly. After talking to my dad, I decided it was time to start in this industry. And, having extensive chemistry experience—knowing how all the products are coded and work together—has enhanced my interest in the industry.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
One of the most enjoyable experiences I’ve witnessed in this industry is how collaborative and helpful everyone is, whether they are new to the industry or have been around for decades.
What is the next big challenge for the industry?
Sustainability and recycling. There is a disconnect between consumer knowledge of recycling and the lack of information on recycling codes to dispose of the products sustainably. We work with groups such as Sustainable Green Printing to learn more about how we can provide consumers with tools and resources to aid in proper recycling and sustainable product disposal.
Jose F. Alvarez [ age 39 ]
CEO
Megaplast, Mexicalli, Mexico
Plastic Fabrics Solutions, Calexico, Calif.
14 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
Megaplast is a family-owned business begun by my grandfather 50 years ago. I was appointed as a board member in October 2009, at the age of 25. In 2019, our general manager left the company and the board thought I’d be a good fit for that position. I was named CEO of Megaplast in 2020. Plastic Fabrics Solutions was founded in 2015 and is our sister company in the United States.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
It is a very dynamic, versatile industry. You get to see a lot of different industries—agricultural, transportation, bouncy castles, etc.—and you never get bored. I am a lawyer, but I think in my other life, I was like an engineer or something.
What do you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
It takes time to create good and long-lasting relationships with your customers. I’ve been trying to move everything faster and quicker. “You agree with it, I agree with it, so let’s do it.” But it takes a little more than that. I came to a company that was already established. I’ve been learning to listen to those people who have been here for longer than I have and trying to remember that things take time.
Victor Golovin [ age 30 ]
Tensile Design & Digital Technology
GuildWorks, Portland, Ore.
14 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
My uncle founded one of the first fabric structure companies in Ukraine, and my mother opened a small private company after that. Since I was about 12 years old, I have been at the shop. I started by helping with the installation, then moved into welding and assembly. After I got my bachelor’s degree in Ukraine, I went to study in Germany, where I got my master’s degree. That was my starting point for tensile fabric structures.
Do you have anyone you consider to be a mentor?
Mar Ricketts, the owner and CEO of Guildworks. He shows a lot of respect in personal ways and is very humble and loyal, but he also has a lot of knowledge about architecture and engineering. He sees potential in people and in projects, and he goes deep, because of his inside knowledge. Working with him is always a challenging, but valuable process.
What is the next big challenge for the industry?
The industry would benefit from more sharing and collaboration and from trying to spread the information of our industry more actively through architectural and engineering schools. Architects and engineers often just don’t know that tensile fabric structures are a viable option and their projects will be much more sustainable than if they were to use products such as concrete and steel.
Cassie Easton [ age 37 ]
Senior Account Manager
Awning and Sign Contractors, Angola, Ind.
8 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
When I was 29, my sister worked for a staffing firm and had submitted my resume. Tom Armstrong, the owner, called me up and asked what I was doing, and I said, “reading a book.” He laughed and asked if I wanted to sell awnings. We went to lunch, and I started the next Monday.
Do you have anyone you consider to be a mentor?
That would be Tom Armstrong. He taught me everything I know about signs and awnings, and that’s no exaggeration. His patience is one of the things I value most about him. He was very patient throughout the training process, which is ongoing, as I’m continuing to learn every day.
Any words of wisdom to offer?
Tom always says, “They can’t eat you.” I still say that in my head every time I have to make a difficult decision or a hard phone call. “They can’t eat me.” It’s going to be a difficult conversation, but I’ll live through it.
What is the next big challenge for the industry?
For us, it’s going to be the continued supply chain issues with materials. We’re getting ready to move into our busy season and it’s going to be a challenge to keep things moving through the pipeline if we can’t get materials.
Robin DuBroy [ age 40 ]
Director of Operations
Shazeebo Shade Sails, San Marcos, Calif.
4 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
I had been a K–12 teacher for 13 years. I finished the 2018 school year and began thinking about what would come next. It was summer, so it was a busy season for shade sails and my father, who works for Wholesale Shade, suggested I come in and help him out, and I just jumped right in. It was about two weeks before my boss, Patrick Howe, brought me on full-time. Within about a year, he came to me about bringing back the installation side of the business. Together we brought back Shazeebo and from there, we launched Shade Sail University, a program that allows us to train dealers on shade sail installation.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
I really like the people in this industry. Everyone I get to work with from the fabric designers to the homeowners is really excited to create something beautiful and functional—something stunning that protects people from the sun. I have family members who have developed some level of skin cancer and I am proud to have found an industry in which I’m able to help protect people from that.
Any words of wisdom to offer?
Surround yourself with people who are smarter than you. You may have the drive and the passion to get stuff done, but you can’t always do it alone, so you’ve got to get yourself a good team.
Any advice for the next generation getting started in this industry?
Make connections. Ask questions. The industry is just full of people with so much knowledge and experience and they’re all so nice and willing to help. Join ATA and check out the next expo. There’s just a wealth of knowledge out there.
Tim Koehler [ age 39 ]
Customer Solutions
Lawrence Fabric & Metal Structures, St. Louis, Mo.
16 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
When I was 12, my neighbor was Jerry Grimaud, the previous owner of the company. He asked if I’d sweep the shop floors and clean the office windows. I continued helping as needed during high school and college. I became full-time with the company about two years after college.
What had you been doing before?
I was working for a legal publisher, selling advertising for the publications. After two years, Jerry asked me about coming to work at Lawrence full-time. I began as an office worker/project manager of smaller projects. Then I continued taking on larger and larger projects to manage. I then moved into a sales/project manager role and about five years ago, I moved strictly into sales.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
I love that every project is different and challenging. I am fortunate to have been able to collaborate with dozens of awning and fabric structure companies on countless projects over the years. It has been an honor to be a part of so many ATA award-winning projects.
Any advice for the next generation getting started in this industry?
We need to bring people into the fabrication manufacturing environment, get them trained, and keep them as lifelong employees. We are very much in a specialty industry. To those just starting out, be patient because you have a lot to learn.
Brandon Cossette [ age 28 ]
Custom Cover Specialist
TRS Industries, Fargo, N.D.
11 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
This is a family business, so technically I was brought in at the age of 13. The summer after sixth grade, my dad came to me and said, “So, are you ready to come to work with me tomorrow?” I was introduced to the manufacturing part of the business. He had me doing a lot of grommetting, getting other items prepped for going down the assembly line, cutting out reinforcement panels, gluing reinforcements on tarps, taking out garbage and sweeping floors.
What had you been doing before?
When I graduated from high school, I was working as a clerk at a local grocery story, which helped provide me with a background in customer service and really groomed me for the sales position I have now.
Do you have anyone you consider to be a mentor?
I consider my father, Shane Cossette, to be my mentor. Not only did he groom me early on as I grew from a laborer to a sales professional, but he also taught me how to address the customer’s needs, no matter how difficult or unusual the request may be.
What is the next big challenge for the industry?
The decline in the labor force and the lack of desire for manual labor work. So much of this industry can be automated, but there is a good deal of custom work that must be done manually. That lack of manual labor will be tough on the industry.
Michele R. Taylor [ Age 37 ]
Business Development Manager, Director of Marketing
Birdair Inc., Buffalo, N.Y.
15 years in the industry
How did you get involved with this industry?
I was hired by Birdair as a sales/marketing coordinator. I worked at Birdair from June 2007 to January 2017. I then worked for two other companies in the same industry for about four years. I’ve been back at Birdair since June 2021 in the business development manager and director of marketing position.
Do you have anyone you consider to be a mentor?
I consider David Capezzuto, Birdair’s vice president of preconstruction and operations, the most instrumental in my career. Much of my personal growth can be attributed to him. I took a break from Birdair to see if the agency side of marketing was where I’d rather be, so I left Birdair to find out. I quickly learned that it was not for me. I had stayed in contact with Dave, and he encouraged me to pursue a role in business development. I went back to Birdair ready to take on the challenge of developing and selling projects—which is not easy by any means, especially in a very male-dominated construction industry.
What do you enjoy most about this industry?
The projects we work on are all different and are located around the world. They are amazing sites to behold, especially some of the larger stadiums and amphitheater roofs and facades we design and build. I enjoy the challenge of being a business development manager and seeing my projects get built. It is very rewarding to know that I was a part of that creation. I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoy my job.