Posted July 26, 2017

 

By Devin Steele (DSteele@eTextileCommunications.com)

 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Lessons from dads and other leaders were prevalent during the Southern Textile Association’s (STA’s) 109th Annual Meeting, held during Father’s Day weekend here last month. More than 300 members and guests attended.

 

Mike Kingsmore, outgoing president of the organization, frequently imparted words of wisdom and advice from his dad, Doug Kingsmore, and Clemson University football Coach Dabo Swinney, during the STA’s Business Session as well as the General Business Session held in conjunction with the Fiber Buyers group.

 

“My Dad is the reason I’ve been successful,” said Kingsmore, president & COO, Palmetto Finishing LLC, Easley, S.C., who was elevated to chairman of the Board of Governors during the meeting. “He’s planted a lot of good seeds in me, not only in my textile career but in my life.”

 

During his career, Doug Kingsmore was a member of STA and served as CEO of several textile companies, including Cannon Mills, Avondale Mills, Graniteville Co. He is now retired in Clemson, S.C., where he was Clemson’s first baseball all-American in the 1950s. (Clemson’s baseball stadium now carries his name.)

 

Mike Kingsmore recapped his Dad’s career and many of the values he carried with him and shared along the way.

 

“My Dad was an extreme motivator,” Mike Kingsmore said. “He was very much about being a part of the community in which his company was located. He was a strong believer in living within the shadows of the smokestacks, of being involved – in the church, in the community – and to be involved so people in his plants know you’re involved in hopes they will be involved, too. He wanted people working for him to be proud of where they work and be involved in the organization and the community.”

 

To cap the meeting, a 50-minute video interview that Mike Kingsmore conducted with Swinney was shown to attendees. Swinney, whose team captured the NCAA championship last year, inspired the group with a discussion on faith, family, values and a little football.

 

In his parting words as president of the association, Kingsmore touched on a theme he frequently broached during the year.

 

“STA is a family – a special family,” Kingsmore said. “In good times and in bad times, we’re there for each other. It’s been a great year for me. I’ve enjoyed being a leader in this organization and I’ve enjoyed the camaraderie. It is a special group. I think it’s the premiere group in the textile industry today. It is THE group. There are plenty of other groups out there, but our people make this one special. We reconnect as families each year and our see children grow up together.

 

“I’m honored and humbled to have served you this year,” he added.

 

Copeland takes president’s gavel

 

Carson Copeland, COO of Valdese Weavers, LLC, Valdese, N.C., was elected president of the STA, succeeding Kingsmore.

 

“I’m honored to be a part of this organization and I certainly want to do everything I can to the service of the members of this organization and try to improve it,” Copeland said in accepting the nomination. “What we’re going to try to do is loud and clear – from our leadership in the Board of Governors and others, we’re going continue to show respect to each other and learn from members and those who have a great deal of experience. We heard (National Spinning Co. CEO) Jim Chesnutt speak at a meeting this year. That was a great presentation. We learned from him and we learned from Mike’s father and others. We will continue that.

 

“The other thing we plan to do is promote new membership,” he continued. “We’ve talked about what we’re going to do to recruit new, younger members when we have meetings at Clemson and N.C. State, and in other ways. And, George Abbott (vice president of Manufacturing, Inman Mills), that’s where you walk the walk. You always make sure you have members from Inman Mills at our meetings. So why don’t we all commit to bringing more of our people to our meetings? They’re going to learn and they’re going to have a great time. So I hope to continue in that light.”

 

Andrew Barker of Matrix Yarns, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., was elected first vice president, and Matt Shannon of Greenwood Mills, Greenwood, S.C., was named second vice president. Lillian Link of the STA, Smithsburg, Md., remains secretary/treasurer, and Rick Carpenter of Conitex Sonoco, Gastonia, N.C., was named member-at-large.

 

Elected to the Board of Governors of four-year terms expiring in 2021 were: Steve Adams, Seydel-Woolley & Co., Inc.; Brad Dutton, FiberQuest; Vincenzo Mazzoleni, Marzoli International; Brian Moore, Sage Automotive Interiors; Mike Strader, Pharr Yarns; Robert Woodard, National Spinning Co., Inc.

 

Elected to an unexpired term ending in 2020 were: Lee L’Oste-Brown, Denim North America; and Vance Tiller, StaffMasters. Elected to an unexpired term ending in 2019 was Palmer Blair, Dillon Yarn Corporation; and elected to an unexpired term ending in 2018 was Josh Clagg, Herman Reeves Sheet Metal.

 

Industry continues to build momentum

 

In introducing the business sessions, Bill Bowen, vice president of Purchasing at Inman Mills, offered a wide-angle-lens view of the U.S. textile industry.

 

“Last year we kicked off our meeting talking about innovation and the excitement level in the textile business,” he said. “And I’m here to tell you, it’s continuing. We’re building momentum in several areas. Smart fabrics and functional fabrics are continuing to be developed. The buy American movement is gaining traction, and several major retailers are pushing for new buy America programs.

 

“Companies are discovering that manufacturing works here in the United States,” he continued. “We have low energy costs. We have a very reliable supply of energy. And a proximity to a very large consumer market makes it right for manufacturing here in the U.S. All this offers an opportunity for lower inventory levels and increased turns.”

 

While he added that he’s optimistic about the industry’s future, Bowen said the softness that several companies are experiencing cannot be ignored.

 

“Most of us have not yet seen the post-election boom that we’re looking for, and I think one of the big contributing factors is retail,” he said. “The retail structure is rapidly changing right before our eyes. Hundreds of retail stores are closing, and this doesn’t mean that consumers aren’t buying – they’re just buying in a different way. Traditional brick and mortar is out. We all see consumers buying online and on their phones. They’re buying apparel, electronics, groceries, even mattresses online, and this is drastically altering the supply chain.

 

“I’m sure this will work itself out, but I think we’re working through some inventory situations now that have caused our businesses to be soft,” he added. “Ultimately, this could be an opportunity. Companies that position themselves to service this new supply chain and the speed and proximity to this market, we think it could be a positive.”

 

During the business sessions, attendees heard presentations from:

 

• Joe Nicosia, CEO of Allenberg Cotton Co. and Global Platform head of Louis Dreyfus Commodities, who discussed the U.S. and world cotton supply and demand;
   

• Dr. Roger Tutterow, professor of economics and director of the Econometric Center in the Dept. of Economics, Finance and Quantitative Analysis, Michael Coles College of Business, Kennesaw State University, who provided an economic outlook;
   

• Del Land, CFO of Pacesetter Steel Service, who told a moving personal story of personal sacrifice, obstacles and lessons learned;
   

• Auggie Tantillo, president & CEO, National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), who presented a textile policy update; and
   

• Sidney Locke, director of Strategic Marketing and Communication, Sage Automotive Interiors, along with James Richter, executive director of the South Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (SCMA), who provided an overview of the S.C. Future Makers program aimed at attracting young talent into manufacturing careers.