PLUMBING | READY AND STRONG |
Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co.— celebrating 85 years of industry leadership & commitment
BY JOHN MESENBRINK EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 62
uncertainty — The Great Depression, WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, ’70s OPEC, Reaganomics, No-Fly Zones, 9/11, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and the most recent economic turmoil. Yet, through it all, one thing has been certain — Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. — ready, strong and staying the task. Prospering under the
E
fourth generation of Smith management, venerable Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. has been developing innovative, engineered plumbing and drainage products for decades. 2011 marks 85 years of successful business for the company, and this prosperity is the direct result of its commitment to customers, representatives, vendors and employees. Steve Chromey, executive vice
president, Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. and a 41-year veteran of the company, said, “I’ve seen our company grow over these many years and am humbled by the generosity of founder Jay L. Smith to his employees and that he allowed me
ighty-five years is witness to A LOT of history, some of it coming with its share of
to help lead his company. It wasn't just a place to work; Jay made you feel
part of the organization. I’m not only proud of our physical growth and growth in the industry but proud of seeing people grow, as well. I can look at supervisors who started as welders, clerks, etc., and now have leadership roles in our company.” Chromey actually
worked for Smith when the company was still located in New Jersey. During the summers while he was in high school and college he worked in the plant and then, in the summer of his sophomore year in college, he was asked to fill in at the office. During his senior year, Jay L. Smith called and
offered a full time position upon graduation. “I liked the people and the company; I figured I
could do it for a couple of
years, live at home, save some money and then move on. Well, here I am 41 years later. I’ve been an order expediter, order scheduler, credit manager, customer service supervisor, production and inventory control supervisor, materials manager, general manager and now in my current position of executive vice president....I guess they just can’t find something I’m good at,” Chromey said, jokingly. Talking with Smith management
Jay L. Smith, a salesman for the National Lead Company, saw a need for brass and bronze specialties and started his business from his basement in 1926. He named the company Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. after his son.
and employees, you can sense an underlying theme of loyalty. “I was here when the doors opened [in Montgomery, Ala.] on January 2, 1979,” says Jerry McDanal, vice president engineering for Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. McDanal has held his position for 32+ years, ever since the plant moved from New Jersey to Alabama. “I first interviewed with Smith in October 1978. It is a special feeling to be part of and to have contributed to the growth and prosperity of Smith. It has been
gratifying to watch the younger employees grow and take responsible roles and become contributors to our growth. My initial thought was to work for Smith for about five years and return to the consulting engineering field. It did not take long working for Smith to realize that this is where I wanted to be; therefore, I made a commitment to Jay Smith, Steve Chromey and the company to remain a long-time employee.” Amazing in its own right, and a
testament to the business philosophies of Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co., one-third of the personnel have held employment tenure for more than 25 years. “It’s a real tribute to dad’s [Jay L. Smith] leadership style. All ideas were frequently considered. He was a true role model,” said Dr.
Jay Smith and Don Morris.
Holly Roth, secretary/board of directors and daughter of Jay L. Smith. And while employee loyalty is
held in high regard, Smith takes its customer service to another level.
“The best part of my job is working with so many dedicated people who strive to do what it takes to do better and to address the needs of our customers and representatives. The energy and dedication of everyone here makes you feel that Jay R. Smith Mfg. Co. is one of the best at servicing the market, listening to customer needs and producing products that solve problems,” said Charles White, vice president of
e Continued on p 64
phc august 2011
www.phcnews.com
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