from senior leadership. Numerous times I’d get on the phone and speak to different leaders about a problem, and there was never any negativity or discouragement. And it’s that positivity and unconditional support that this group provides that is so essential to being successful.”
Boehmer encouraged members to continue to preach their belief in the association and the common-core values he mentioned frequently.
“The textile industry over the past 20 years that I’ve been in it has seen a lot of our brothers not be able make it and have to close,” he said. “But the guys and gals in this room today are the successful fighters. And we will be the ones teaching that next generation for success in the textile industry, and I applaud each of you on that effort. It’s been one of the common threads of recent meetings – how we’re going to train, educate and work with that next generation. What it really comes back to is the employees in each of our facilities. We need to be stewards of our employees. We need to work to make their lives better, and that’s a common-core value that I see in this room.”
In closing, he encouraged members to avoid comparing the textile industry to others.
“Compare this industry to yourself,” he said. “Look at yesterday and say, ‘this is what we were able to accomplish yesterday.’ What we need to do is get better for tomorrow. And every day we have to ask ourselves, ‘how can we get better for tomorrow?’ It’s going to be about hard work and honest effort. And we need to hold ourselves to following principles of faith and honest business behaviors – practices that separate us from the rest.”
Other activities
Also moving up in the officers’ ranks were Mike Kingsmore, Palmetto Finishing LLC, Easley, S.C., first vice president; and Carson Copeland, Valdese Weavers, LLC, Valdese, N.C., second vice president. Andrew Barker of Matrix Yarns, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., was elected member-at-large.
Meanwhile, Chairman Ken Rada of Duke Energy was elevated to chairman emeritus and a Lifetime Member of the Board of Governors. In accepting his service plaque, Rada said: “I’m proud to be one of 168 members registered for this event. I’m proud to be one of 47 sponsors for this event. I’m proud to be one of 496 members. And I’m proud to call all of you friends.”
Meanwhile, the inaugural Steve Epps Lifetime Service Award was presented to H. Doyle Kidd, retired vice president of purchasing for Greenwood Mills, Greenwood, S.C. The award honors those who have been a member of the STA for 20 years or more who are retiring or have retired and have served the association in many capacities of leadership and service. Epps, a WWII veteran, served as president of STA in 1985-86 and remained an active member of STA until his death in 2010.
Kidd served as the president of the association in 1997-98.
Also, Russell W. Mims Jr. of Buhler Quality Yarns Corporation, Jefferson, Ga., was presented the David Clark Award for distinguished leadership and service to the STA. He served as president of the association in 2004-05 and as chairman 2005-06.
Additionally, the inaugural Steve Brown Memorial Endowed Scholarship was announced. Recipients will receive a scholarship to Gaston College, which overseas the Textile Technology Center in Belmont, N.C. Brown, who died in December after many years of service to the association, finished his career at ITEMA America after working at Picanol of America for an extended period.
During the meeting, his widow Nancy Brown and daughter Stephanie Jackson received a plaque in recognition of the scholarship.
Posted June 18, 2015
Part 1
By Devin Steele
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Todd Weymss, plant manager of Glen Raven Custom Fabrics’ Norlina, N.C. facility, was elected president of the Southern Textile Association (STA) during the group’s 107th Annual Meeting here this week.
The meeting took place in conjunction with the Joint Fiber Buyers, a group co-managed by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA) and the Georgia Association of Manufacturers (GAM).
In accepting the nomination and becoming the third STA president from Glen Raven in the last eight years, Weymss said he appreciated the opportunity to lead the group.
“Thank you for the confidence you all have in me,” he said during the group’s Business Session. “I’ve now added another family. I have my family, my work family and now my association family. It’s an honor to lead you this year.”
Weymss was handed the gavel by Judson Boehmer, president of La France Division of Mount Vernon Mills, La France, S.C., who was elevated from president to chairman.
“I have big shoes to fill,” Weymss said. “Judson has done a fantastic job this past year. Our growth has been terrific and our meetings have been awesome.”
Indeed, the association enjoyed incredible growth during Boehmer's term. The STA grew from 467 members when he took the reins last summer to 496 by this week’s Annual Meeting.
President’s address
In speaking to the more than 150 members on hand for the session, Boehmer said he is “excited” to approach the 500-member mark, but that the association should aim higher.
“The opportunity to continue to expand should be a priority for all of us,” he said. “Let’s try to get to 550, then let’s go for 600. Let’s do the things we need to do to grow, and let’s do it in an honest effort, and we will be successful.”
Boehmer added that he feels “humbled and blessed” to have led the STA the past 12 months.
“This industry and this association have given me a great opportunity to accomplish goals that I see as common-core values in the textile industry today,” he said. “And when I look at the wide diversity we have here from suppliers and mills, and the way different textile folks get together and talk about common-core issues and common-core values, I get excited.
“I’m celebrating my 21st year this year in this industry,” he continued. “And it makes me excited about the next 20 years and what we have to look forward to in the textile industry. We see and hear different companies talking about different things that will make us successful. We’re talking about capitalization, we’re talking about different specialty products that we can bring to the marketplace to be successful and many other things. And that all starts with what we’re doing right now, with the networking we’re doing here and the opportunities that will blossom after we leave.”
Boehmer went on to mention a few attributes that make the STA special.
“One thing I like about this group is we don’t have a negative soul here,” he said. “A positive attitude will take you a long way in life, and the senior leaders and all of you have that positive attitude. What I also like is the unconditional support I’ve had
STA/FIBER BUYERS ANNUAL MEETING
STA enjoying ride on big growth wave
