Posted June 9, 2015
Editor’s note: Following is a Q&A with Todd Wemyss, first vice president president of the Southern Textile Association (STA) and plant manager, Glen Raven Custom Fabrics , LLC, Norlina, N.C. Weymss is expected to be elected STA president during the group’s 107th Annual Meeting next week at Hilton Head Island, S.C.
eTC: Todd, you will be the third Glen Raven employee to hold the STA’s top elected position since 2008, joining Lisa Ariail Oehmig and Randy Blackston. Does Glen Raven foster a culture of industry involvement and, if so, how?
Wemyss: Glen Raven does foster a culture of involvement. Yes, as a business they actively pursue involvement and a pro-business climate. As such, they lead by example, and expect their associates to each do our part for the company, the industry and ourselves.
STA ANNUAL MEETING
Incoming STA Prez: Networking possibilities a big recruitment tool
Todd Wemyss of Glen Raven Custom Fabrics is in line to become STA president.
Todd Wemyss is ready to lead association
eTC: STA is one of the industry’s stronger trade associations, membership wise, and I would say from a networking and educational standpoint, too. Tell us what it means to serve in a leadership position of such an esteemed organization.
Todd Weymss and lab technician Earlene Richardson review UT3 lab data.
Todd Weymss and QC manager Herman Sabrowski discuss outgoing product specifications and audit verification.
Todd Weymss and lab technician Earlene Richardson review UT3 lab data.
eTC: What are your goals for STA when you became president and what’s your plan to meet them?
Wemyss: I would like to see the membership continue to grow. As a part of that, we need to attract recent college graduates, other new folks and groups to our association. Additionally, we need to continue to further develop the relationships between all segments: vendor, supplier, service group, manufacturer, etc. – and in doing so create some curb appeal.
eTC: STA, of course, has held its own in good times and bad – now for 107 years – thanks to strong leadership and industry support. What’s your pitch to prospective members, particularly as the group continues to find ways to grow and attract younger members?
Wemyss: Whether we have young people entering our industry, established people and/or existing companies, our organization is a fantastic opportunity to network with entities that can help a person individually or within their professional obligations. In one session you can visit with people from multiple states, locations, business segments, etc. Other opportunities of similar nature are often infrequent and/or expensive trade shows.
Wemyss: It is an honor for Glen Raven to allow me to serve as an STA member and officer. It is a bigger honor to have the support and trust of my peers allowing me to lead the group.
eTC: Please speak to the leadership Mt. Vernon’s Judson Boehmer, STA’s current president.
Wemyss: Judson has done a great job of pushing for increased membership as business conditions have improved for everyone. Our membership has continued to grow. Judson has led a renewed message: made in America. The message that we (the textile industry) are alive and well and a force to be reckoned with resonates well within the business world.
eTC: STA does a terrific job of adhering to its charter, which calls for promoting good fellowship, exchanging professional knowledge and promoting social, educational, personnel relations, research and other scientific activities. Under the leadership of you and the board, do you foresee any tweaking or new means of improving in any of those areas in the coming year?
Wemyss: I believe we are a society where people believe we need to change rules, add rules, modify rules, etc. We can continue to grow and do new things under our existing charter and guidelines. There have been conversations recently referencing past meetings that allowed more time at our functions for networking. The Northern Division session in Greensboro allowed more time for interaction.
I truly believe this is a big part of the value of being a member. We all need support from each other, whether it is like businesses or our supply network, to be effective. All of this can be done within our existing bounds.