been informative, engaging and, sometimes, just downright entertaining.
eTC: Your dad, Mike Sr., also was a longtime member of SYFA and its predecessor organization, the TYAA, and he held some leadership positions, if I remember correctly. I’m sure many members miss seeing him at SYFA functions. How is he doing?
Posted April 14, 2015
Editor’s note: In advance of this week’s Synthetic Yarn and Fiber Association (SYFA) Spring Conference in Charlotte, eTC caught up with Mike Becker of Michael S. Becker, Inc., Burlington, N.C. Becker has served as the group’s president for the last two years.
eTC: Mike, you’ve been an SYFA member for many years. Please speak to the privilege of serving the industry and the association as SYFA president.
Becker: It has been an honor to serve as the SYFA president for the past two years. As you mention, I have been on the board for quite some time, all the way back to the end of the TYAA (Textured Yarn Association of America) days. I’ve seen quite a few changes in the industry over the years. I feel the SYFA has done an excellent job in bringing relevant speakers to our conferences that have
SYFA President
Becker sees growth, transition during his tenure
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Becker: My father served on the TYAA board and was technical VP for a few years. Back then, the technical VP put together the entire conference program by themselves, so it was a lot more challenging for him. I get help from the entire board and our managing director. My father and mother, Sue, are doing great. They travel the world and really enjoy retirement together. I get to see them about once a week when they are in town. Funny how it’s usually around payday.
eTC: For those who may be unfamiliar with your company, tell us more about what you do and how business if faring these days.
Becker: Dad started the company 37 years ago and we have never done anything except false twist texture nylon, polyester and polypropylene. We are a specialty texturizer. We make the yarns the big boys don’t want to make. Lots of small runs, solution-dyed yarns and specialty yarns that are difficult to texture.
Of course, over the years, we’ve had our ups and downs just like everyone else, but business is good and has been for quite some time. My wife, Tracey, and I run the company now and are very proud to be leading the company through a second generation.
eTC: The SYFA, of course, has evolved along with the industry over the years and has opened its ranks to include a broader spectrum of the supply chain. What are your thoughts on the decision to expand to a larger audience and, in effect, augment your conferences with a broader range of speakers and topics?
Becker: Here is a good example for you. Thirty-seven years ago, when my father started our company, there were nine false twist texturizers in Alamance County alone. The TYAA was thriving as a direct reflection of the industry and it didn’t matter what you were making, textiles was like a license to print money. But then the industry came crashing down. Companies started closing their doors and those that did survive, consolidated multiple companies under one roof. As things were, the TYAA was not going to survive. We had to broaden our view of the textile industry beyond textured yarn, so we became the SYFA.
Synthetic yarns and fibers allowed us to stay true to our textured yarn roots while expanding into the more general area of synthetic fibers. Past President John Edwards and past Director Kim Pettit were key in pushing the association in that direction and it paid off for the SYFA. Without the push into a broader synthetic fiber industry and key leadership from John and Kim, the TYAA/SYFA would no longer exist.
eTC: Does the membership trend line over the last couple of years reflect the industry’s resurgence? What are you up to now, numbers wise?
Becker: Last year we designed an entire conference around the resurgence of the textile industry. There were so many stories of investment, growth and “reshoring” that we could’ve had a weeklong conference. While it’s hard to put numbers on our members because of the corporate memberships we offer, I can say we have seen an increase of membership income of about 40 percent over the last five years. That reflects directly on the resurgence of the industry and something everyone should be proud of.
eTC: What is your elevator speech to prospective members looking to broaden their knowledge, insights and networking opportunities through the SYFA?
Becker: As I mentioned earlier, the SYFA does an excellent job of bringing in speakers that are very relevant and engaging. A typical conference has insights from high-profile companies and leading-edge ideas from new start-ups that revolve around fibers. Our staples (no pun intended) always include stats and projections for the synthetic industry as a whole, an economic update and what’s new on Capitol Hill that is affecting our industry.
Our members and attendees are a diverse group with a common goal, to promote the synthetic fiber industry, so the opportunity to meet new people and network is always there.
eTC: The managing director’s role transitioned from Kim Pettit, who served the association for many years, to Diane Bayatafshar during your term as president. Please comment on Kim’s many contributions to the group and the strengths Diane brings to the table.
Becker: Let me tell you, the whole switch from Kim to Diane scared me to death. About the time I became president, Kim announced her intention to leave as director of the SYFA. Kim did everything. She recruited, set up entire conferences and led all of the board meetings. She had been doing this as long as I could remember. Kim was the glue that held the entire association together. She was perfect for it and, without her, we were doomed! …
… and along came Diane. I didn’t know Diane, but a few of our board members did. (Board member) Alasdair Carmichael was adamant that she should be our new director. He was familiar with her work as the director of AFMA (American Fiber Manufacturers Association) and had nothing but praise for her. Diane has a slightly different style from Kim. Instead of being out in front, she allows the board to handle our own meetings while she quietly takes notes and adds her own occasional suggestions. She also has great contacts and helps recruit quality speakers, but only if the board needs the help.
Alasdair was right about Diane. I can’t say enough about the wonderful job she has done over the last two years. It has been an easy transition and Diane has made my job, and the board’s job, a piece of cake.
We will definitely miss Kim as director but she still helps recruit new members by covering textile shows across North America for the SYFA. She is perfect for that, too.
eTC: Roger Crossfield of TW Development Co. is your anticipated successor during elections this week. Having worked closely with him, please comment on the skills, insights and leadership attributes he brings to the table.
Becker: Roger and I have been on the board together for quite some time. He is very dedicated to the SYFA and is a natural fit to be our leader for the next two years. He brings years of experience and textile knowledge to the position and has many friends and contacts in the industry. Roger has helped, and will continue to help keep the association heading in the right direction. I look forward to working with him as our president over the next two years.
eTC: What are some of the important topics you’re hearing from members that they want to learn more about at your conferences?
Kim Pettit (L) and Diane Bayatafshar
Becker: You know, Devin, everyone wants to hear the same thing they always do: How to do it better, faster and cheaper. But these days, they also want to know how to do it with less impact on the environment. Members also want to know what’s new and exciting. Some of the topics are just “pie in the sky,” but it makes everyone think about how they can improve an existing process or create a new one. Members like that.
eTC: Speaking of, what’s on tap from a thematic standpoint for this week’s conference, and what do you anticipate some of the key takeaways will be?
Becker: We try to make our conferences relevant for just about everyone. This week we are focusing on the future of textiles. Some of the products being covered are groundbreaking in their design. We are going to have speakers talk about everything from robotic innovations to drug-laced yarns to synthetic yarns as adhesives. I could spend all day talking about the presentations, but the best thing for your readers to do would be to sign up and show up. They won’t be disappointed!