Posted June 15, 2014
Editor’s note: Following is a Q&A with Southern Textile Association (STA) incoming President Judson Boehmer, president of the La France Division of Mount Vernon Mills, La France, S.C. The STA is convening its 106th Annual Meeting this week at the Marriott at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach, S.C. in conjunction with the Fiber Buyers Annual Meeting.
eTC: Judson, what are your goals for STA when you became president and what’s your plan to meet them?
Boehmer: My first and foremost goal as STA president is to continue the tradition to help give our members in the industry the best resources available to be successful. Our plan to meet these goals is to provide a top quality environment for our members to gain knowledge through education of the latest technology on a global scale, have access to speakers that are motivators/leaders in their respective trades and offer networking opportunities for self improvement to take their performance to the next level of success.
As STA president, Boehmer plans to maintain tradition of excellence
eTC: STA, of course, is inching toward the 500-member milestone – something that hasn’t been reached in years by this association. What’s your elevator speech for prospective members?
Boehmer: To prospective new members I would propose that the value of joining of STA is solely rooted in the basic fact that we provide a strong base of knowledge and expertise that spans the entire breadth of the domestic textile industry as well as ties into overseas markets. The companies that are represented in STA cover every aspect of our industry and with current trends in re-shoring, along with growth into non-traditional markets, we offer networking opportunities that are readily available to all of our members to help ensure success as well as growth.
eTC: These are certainly better times for the association and the industry, and a great time to be heading a textile association. What does it mean to you to serve in this leadership position, especially during this “revival?”
Boehmer: I feel very blessed to be given the opportunity to lead the STA in the 2014-2015 term. I am extremely excited to step into the leadership position of a growing association and plan on working diligently to improve on our membership in the upcoming year.
eTC: Please speak to the leadership and perspective of Duke Energy’s Ken Rada, STA’s first non-textile industry president.
Boehmer: I think that Ken has done a great job as STA president in the 2013-2014 term in the respect that his core values as an energy provider are fully in line with the expectations of what we as a textile industry need to be successful. Ken has the ability to bring specific structure to the organization as well as positive enthusiasm that has been a motivating factor at each of the meetings.
eTC: STA organizes a number of functions each year and seems to meet the needs of membership in terms of programs and networking opportunities. Do you see the need for any tweaking in the coming year, or ways to enhance STA membership?
Boehmer: For STA to show growth we must always be looking for opportunities for improvement. I firmly believe that both the North Carolina and South Carolina Divisions provide great venues for our meetings and we must make it priority No. 1 to improve the quality of both the content of what we cover in our meetings along with the auxiliary resources we provide to ensure the success of our members as well as our association for years to come.
Judson Boehmer
Jerry Simmons of Pharr Yarns meets with Mount Vernon Mills reps. (L-R) Simmons, Danny Grant, Ken Archer and Judson Boehmer.
Judson Boehmer and Brian Pilgrim, finishing manager
Judson Boehmer
As a graduating high school senior, Judson Boehmer was awarded the Paul Knox Character Scholarship, which was funded by Katherine Reece Pamplin and Robert Pamplin, the family that owns Mount Vernon Mills. Boehmer said the scholarship was one of the reasons he was able to go to college. He graduated from The Citadel and, after a four-year stint at Burlington Industries, went to work for Mount Vernon Mills, where he now serves as president of the La France Division. Soon after joining the company, he learned that the Pamplin family owned the company, and he later had the opportunity to meet Mr. Pamplin and personally thank him for the scholarship. Here, he is standing in his office in front of the scholarship, which he framed with a montage featuring Mr. Pamplin and the company.