NCTO's 11th Annual Meeting
Members leave meeting encouraged, optimistic
Jim Chesnutt, chairman and CEO of National Spinning Co., asks a question to a speaker during the Business Session.
Posted March 31, 2014
By Devin Steele
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the “new” National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) – an aggregate of three groups that merged nearly a year ago – came together for the first time here last week for the council’s 11th Annual Meeting.
And several said they left feeling encouraged and optimistic about the future of the textile industry in the Western Hemisphere – which likely is the general takeaway theme, based on interviews.
Outgoing NCTO Chairman Bill Jasper certainly encapsulated that spirit during the closing general session.
“With the regional share of U.S. retail sales stabilizing, the number of investments being made in the region and the associated growth in textile production – along with the great energy and attendance at the NCTO meeting, which is by far the best I’ve seen since I’ve been involved – I’m as optimistic as I’ve ever been in the future of the U.S. textile industry,” Jasper, chairman and CEO of Unifi, Inc., Greensboro, N.C., told the group.
Jim Chesnutt, who has been through his share of industry battles during his long career, shared similar sentiments the day after returning from the meeting.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen almost every sector of the industry extremely positive,” said Chesnutt, chairman and CEO of National Spinning Co., Washington, N.C. “I think we’re in the best shape we’ve been in in years.”
One of the reasons, he said: “Bulk coverage,” meaning the merger of NCTO, NTA (National Textile Association) and AMTAC (American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition) has unified the industry, strengthened its lobbying efforts and given it “one voice” on any number of issues, legislative or otherwise.
Sandwiched between individual council meetings and a general session was a full day of meetings on Capitol Hill with key members of Congress and the Senate. All told, membership spent nearly three full days meeting, networking, lobbying, learning and charting their course for 2014.
“The format was excellent and the attendance was good,” said Chesnutt, a past chairman of NCTO. “I met a lot of great people from the other groups.”
Norm Chapman, president and COO of Inman Mills, Inman, S.C., agreed.
“This was the best NCTO meeting I have attended,” he said. “The quality of speakers, the organization of the meeting and the meetings on Capitol Hill were excellent. Thank you to (NCTO President) Auggie Tantillo and all of the NCTO staff for a job well done.”
During those Capitol Hill meetings, members met with a number of legislators to make sure they understood the industry’s stand on crucial legislation, particularly the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. The NCTO’s widely held position to include a yarn-forward rule of origin is critical in any agreement, this one in particular because of Vietnam’s inclusion.
But the slow-moving talks may not progress much this year, either, according to Jason Copland, president, CEO and treasurer of Copland Fabrics, Burlington, N.C.
“There seems to be a lack of impetus to move forward on a trade bill in an election year,” he said. “That, combined with a general unwillingness to get along with each other in Washington, has slowed down the process. So I see TPP being either a lame-duck session issue or a 2015 issue. They at least all say the correct thing is keeping the yarn-forward language and other things we’d like to have in there. But, as you know, the devil can be in the details at the last minute.”
Norm Chapman, president and chief operating officer of Inman Mills, listens to a speaker.
Industry leaders were mobilized and well armed on the Hill, Chesnutt said.
“The strength of this industry showed by the numbers in that room,” he said. “We went there with a purpose, and we had great background information to share, more so than ever.”
NCTO members even met with elected officials who lack textile plants or suppliers in their district, Chapman reported, and he said he was pleased with their knowledge of the issues.
“I was pleasantly surprised at how familiar the non-textile district offices we visited are aware of the yarn-forward rule of origin and market access issues,” he said.
“It is very apparent that the NCTO staff has worked hard to get our message out,” he added. “I would also like to thank Bill Jasper for extraordinary leadership in his role as chairman over the last three years. Bill has worked tirelessly on some very difficult issues. And best of luck to Jay Self. I know he will do a wonderful job in his new role as chairman.”
Chapman said the industry continues to face multiple challenges, with the TPP and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) agreement looming. But he and his colleagues are upbeat about prospects, he said.
“Most feel if we can get fair treatment in two very important trade agreements, we will be able to grow,” he said. “We are still recovering from a difficult decade but the story we were able to tell on Capitol Hill was much better than years past.”
-
Click here to read a Q&A with new NCTO Chairman Jay Self of Greenwood Mills.