By: Nick Jones, Induron Sales Representative

Encountering a new trend or the latest technology often triggers that “gotta-have-it” mentality. To me, one’s potential is similar to that mentality. However, do you know what it is you’re getting?

Potential is a tricky thing because there are so many unknowns. For example, an all-star football player may be equipped with the tools (or potential) to succeed, but his potential can quickly fade away in a real-time, game situation when he fails to make the play. While another football player, who is less-skilled (has less potential) but puts in extra practice, can wind up accomplishing things you never expected.

In business, I believe it is much the same. Just because something has the look, or the potential, does not mean it can accomplish what you want it to.

People make the difference when doing business—who you work with directly, the relationship you have with that person, and their ability to adjust to your specific needs and wants to help your business’s growth and productivity. Having a multitude of options to offer off your shelf is not always the solution. The ability to discuss, adjust and create something unique to customers’ needs does not have a dollar sign attached to it.

Business relationships often mimic personal relationships. For instance, you may like a person until you get into a fight with them. His/her actions may surprise you and make you question whether you want to continue the relationship. After all, I’ve always said, “You don’t have a customer until you have a complaint.” In a good relationship, personal or professional, you should grow stronger after the issue you are having is handled correctly. It takes communication to really understand what the other person is feeling and reacting to.

Just like the all-star football player who failed to perform, the group with all the “potential” may fail to resolve issues with both parties’ best interests in mind.

People make the difference. Investing in people and building relationships is essential to successful business. And, to me, that is what sets Induron apart. We are the people who make the difference.

The post Potential vs. People appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

We’re excited to welcome Mike Watson to the Induron team! Mike will be working with painting contractors, facility owners  and engineers to effectively use Induron’s innovative yet proven products in Georgia. His go-getter attitude and passion for helping customers bring value to their businesses make him a great addition to the Induron family.  To learn a little more about Mike, check out this Q&A.

Q: Tell us about your background and how you came to work for Induron.

A: After high school, I spent a year working for a commercial plumbing company. To better myself and avoid going into debt to pay for college, I decided to join the Army. I spent a total of 6 years in the Army between active and reserve and was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. I started college at Kennesaw State University as a 23-year-old freshman and graduated in 3 ½ years with a degree in Professional Sales.

Before graduating, I interviewed with several companies and ended up taking a Maintenance Specialist role with PPG. When I joined PPG, I had no coating experience, but I dove head-first into the industry. I joined multiple networking organizations and reached out to industry experts. While working at PPG, I had a lot of success and won rep of the year in 2016 for the maintenance segment. I also received two promotions moving from the maintenance side to the commercial contractor segment.

Davies and I were connected in mid-May. A quick phone call with Davies turned into an hour, and then an in-person meeting the following week. After visiting with Davies, Jeff and Ben, I felt strongly that Induron, with its core family values and relationship-based business strategy, was something I wanted to be a part of.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?

A: Induron’s family atmosphere is polar opposite from my time in the military and working for a big corporation. During the interview process, everyone was concerned about getting to know me, my wife and my 10-month-old daughter, Ellison. I truly believe everyone I have spoken with at Induron wants me to succeed, and I feel like I have joined more of a family than a company.

Q: What’s the most challenging part about your job?

A: In business, you are always going to encounter competition and road blocks. After speaking with some customers already, I’ve learned that the competition has pretty deep footholds in Georgia. I look forward to finding ways to bring value to my customers and engineers and hurdle these roadblocks.

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?

A: I have always wanted to work in sales because I love people. I enjoy meeting new people from all walks of life. Working with customers and finding ways to help bring value to their business is a true passion of mine.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.

A: In my previous role, I worked with MARTA. They were having issues with the profile of the concrete stairs wearing down at a few of their stations. Without the profile, there was a huge concern for slips and falls. I was able to propose a product that could be applied by maintenance staff to alleviate this project going out to bid, which saved MARTA 20k+ and enabled MARTA’S maintenance staff to pick up some overtime before Christmas.

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

A: Lower Volatile Organic Compounds has been a big focal point in recent years.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: My father always told me a man is only as good as his word.

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: I would have to say my father. We lost him about 2 years ago unexpectedly, and we all miss him dearly.

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: Fran Ellison, my platoon Sargent while in Afghanistan, taught me so much about life. She worked in a male-dominated profession, but was able to skillfully negotiate her way past people’s egos and build relationships with them.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want”                -Zig Ziglar

Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.

My wife Amy and I have been together for a total of 11 years and going on 5 years of marriage. We met on the beach in Destin, FL, where I am originally from, in 2005 and started dating two years after that. She has been my rock and helped me push through so many of life’s challenges from coming home from war to starting college as a 23-year-old freshman. For the past 5 and a half years my wife, and our 7-year-old hound/collie mix have lived in Woodstock, GA. In September of 2017, we welcomed our daughter, Ellison, into the world. Now, as a 10-month old, she has begun talking and should be walking soon. My hobbies, while not spending time with family, include working out, playing golf or beach volleyball. I also enjoy watching sports. My teams are Alabama Football, Braves Baseball, Atlanta Falcons, and new to the list, Atlanta United.

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?

A: My house. To me, there is nothing better than sleeping in my own bed and waking up to my daughter saying “mama” and “dada” over the monitor. I also have a man cave with 3 TVs that I am particularly proud of. We enjoy hosting friends and family while watching sports and grilling out.

Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

I would love to be a long snapper for an NFL game. Football has always been a passion of mine, and I enjoyed playing in high school and some in college.

The post Meet the Newest Member of the Induron Team: Mike Watson appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

By: Andy Odorzynski, Induron Sales Representative

Asset owners and contractors face a vital business decision when they choose which protective coatings to use on their projects. The technical attributes of a protective coating system are only the baseline qualification for a given product to be taken into consideration. Does the product protect the asset? Is it user-friendly? Can it handle the exposure environment? Is it attractive? These are the prerequisites for consideration, but not the metrics by which a selection is actually made.

Our partners choose Induron because of the intangible attributes of our products and our people: honesty, integrity, innovation and respect.

Protective coatings become a fundamental attribute of the structures they are applied to.  The builder of a structure will, in many ways, be judged by the performance of the coating applied to that structure. Likewise, the coatings protecting the asset will greatly impact the viability and long-term cost of the operating asset. In this manner, Induron Protective Coatings become an integral part of the businesses and communities with whom we partner. This is a responsibility (and an opportunity) we take very seriously.

Our team of chemists and quality control technicians work through an extensive breadth and depth of testing and development protocols to ensure that every drop of Induron product will meet the requirements of the projects they will be applied to. We consider it part of our core purpose as a company to innovate new technologies that offer our partners specific advantages. Induron Ceramic Epoxies have embodied this spirit of innovation for nearly 40 years by evolving to bring this proven technology to new markets and reshaping its chemistry to lead the charge for greener, zero VOC applications.

We succeed together with our partners. We believe it is our job to help them find new levels of success through the expertise, relationships and products we represent. Cultivating this kind of teamwork is only possible with a truly powerful business culture. For three generations, Induron has taken pride in building symbiotic partnerships that grow our company through the success we create for our clients.

Induron team members are true believers in the power of long-term relationships. Our core values as an organization are rooted in the understanding that these relationships will only thrive when honesty, integrity and respect are delivered every day.  The individuals who manufacture Induron products on the factory floor, the sales team who interfaces directly with our end users, and the executive team that leads our organization work together to support the relationships that have enabled us to grow since 1947.

In this manner, our size is a true advantage. Induron is not a “family business” because our shareholders are related. Rather, we are a family business because we are able to treat all our stakeholders as family. Whether they are employees, contractors, asset owners, engineers or fabricators, it is our goal to support them as we would our own families.

Our core values, motivation and the way we strive to conduct business are the intangible cultural inputs that create a truly unique experience for our partners. They represent a stark contrast with those of the multi-billion-dollar global entities that we compete against.

Through generations of family ownership, Induron has enjoyed the pursuit of long-term success through partnerships that require a vision that looks beyond the next quarterly earnings report. We are on a mission to earn business through innovation, and to grow those opportunities through relationships based on honesty, integrity and respect. It is our hope that you will give us a chance to grow with you.

The post Culture is Our Most Important Raw Material appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

By Mike Nelms, Induron Production Manager

Can you be safe AND efficient? Absolutely – if you practice safety and efficiency in the correct fashion.

We’re all looking to be more efficient in our daily tasks, but safety is paramount. How many times have you heard someone in your facility say, “If you put a guard on that, it will slow me down!”?

The key to countering statements like that is to ensure you’re installing the RIGHT type of safety guard for the process being performed, the ergonomics and the machine type itself. If you do this, safety and efficiency can live in harmony.

There are measurable gains to be made in both safety and efficiency everywhere we look. Take a look around your facility and consider the following:

• Are raw materials stored as near as possible to the manufacturing area where they are used?
• Are your forklifts and other material handling equipment sized correctly for the job?
• Have you reduced double- or even triple-handling of raw materials and finished goods throughout your facility?
• Are all required work station items available there?
• Are your housekeeping habits as good as they should be?
• Are expendable tools and supplies controlled properly and readily available?
• Do you have a preventive maintenance program? Is it as effective as you want it to be?
• Do you keep critical spare parts readily available to keep machinery on-line?
• Are your warehouse operations orderly to reduce handling, packaging and shipping costs?
• Have you reduced manual lifting and carrying as much as reasonably possible?
• Do you have adequate lighting throughout your facility to perform the required tasks?
• Are your employees adequately trained to safely and efficiently perform the duties required?

If you answered “no” to any of the above questions, it may be time to reevaluate your practices. Take some time today to really look at your facility and operations, and make changes to maximize your safety AND efficiency.

At Induron, we take pride in a our safety record. In fact, we celebrate it each year at our Christmas luncheon. This year we presented our team with a “Safety Award of Commendation” from the American Coatings Association.  Read more about the luncheon and award here!

The post Can You Be Safe and Efficient? appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

We’re excited to welcome Mike Kang to the Induron team! As Technical Director, Mike will be responsible for research and development and quality control management while assisting with production and purchasing departments. To learn a little more about Mike, check out this Q&A.

Q: Tell us about your background and how you came to work for Induron.

A: I have worked as a coating chemist/chemical engineer for eight different paint manufacturers and have 32 combined years of experience in the U.S., Canada and South-Korea. I joined Induron’ s team for a new challenge.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?

A: I’ve enjoyed the constant problem solving, endless development initiatives and making cost-effective improvements as well as providing technical assistance for customers.

Q: What’s the most challenging part about your job?
A: Usually, when I start a new job, the new circumstances are the most challenging part, but the Induron family is kind and helpful, so fortunately, that will not be the issue.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.

A: Since joining the Induron team, we have been working with new technology to infuse into proven products that are applicable for wastewater immersion, fume environments and corrosive soil exposure. This innovative, new technology provides low permeation to H2S gas and chemical resistance to steel and ductile iron. It is ideal for severe wastewater and buried exposure applications.

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

A: ‘Functional coatings’ can be classified as several types depending on their functional characteristics. Traditionally, coatings are applied to surfaces for decorative, protective or functional purposes, but in most cases,  it is a combination of these. The term ‘functional coatings’ describes systems that possess the standard properties of a coating (i.e., decoration and protection), AND an additional functionality. This additional functionality may be diverse and depend on the actual application of a coated substrate.

Additional functionalities include enhanced chemical resistance, robust mechanical resistance, longer lasting UV resistance, self-healing, super hydrophobic and anti-microbial. The typical expectations of functional coatings include re-producibility, easy application, cost effectiveness, tailored surface morphology and environmental friendliness.

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: My mother. I lost her on January 1998. She would always be my very first choice, and this is why… I imagine her face and I can see how she would clap, smile and point and say, “That’s my son!” Dinner would end and we’d have to say goodbye.

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: Many people have had tremendous influence in my life. I would say that my parents have been the most influential people. They taught me the values to live by, supported me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams while challenging myself to be the best that I can be. I would not be the person I am today without their love and guidance.

Q: What is your favorite quote?
A: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be a value.” – Albert Einstein

Q: Tell us a little about your hobbies.
A: Work and family accounts for a lot of my time, but on the weekends, we like to get out and enjoy nature. We try to go to the park and walk. It’s a good way for us to refresh and rest before tackling the work week, and a great way to get exercise.

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?
A: I would say Venice. When we backpacked through Europe a few years ago, we loved it there. We got to eat some amazing local foods, enjoy different culture and see lots of history. I would love to go back!

Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?
A: I’ve always loved fishing, so it would be fun to be a professional deep-sea fisherman for a day and catch a tuna or a halibut!

The post Meet the Newest Member of the Induron Team: Mike Kang appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

We’re excited to welcome Tom Wunderlin to the Induron team! His extensive industry experience and passion for solving problems and helping others make him an excellent addition to the Induron family. To learn a little more about Tom, check out this Q&A.

Q: Tell us about your background and how you came to work for Induron.

A: I have spent my entire 30-plus-year career in the paint/coatings and concrete repair/restoration industry. It has been very rewarding. I have been fortunate to work for many excellent companies and have been coached, mentored and trained by some of the best in the industry. With my history in the industry and ongoing relationships with many national and regional companies, distributors, contractors, architects and engineers, I look forward to new challenges and opportunities. My father worked in the industry, so I’m second generation to the industry. I witnessed his passion for sales and service and helping others solve problems throughout my youth. Because Induron is a third-generation, family-owned business, the culture and values are something that I share and admire. Being part of the Induron family and team will be challenging and rewarding.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so  far?

A: Induron’s reputation is certainly a major factor. I am proud to work for a company with a 70-year history of leadership in the industry. The current culture supports teamwork, learning and development for all in the Induron family. There is a great energy with the company that starts with leadership. I feel that my values and skills align with the organization’s long-term goals and values.

Q: What’s the most challenging part about your job?

A: There are many competitors—most that are much larger than Induron. However, this provides the opportunity to improve the quality of each customer interaction and strengthen relationships. Managing conflict and dealing with those distractions can be challenging. Dealing with conflicts from clients, owners, specifiers and others must be dealt with quickly and with purpose. Whether the conflict is with a person or a process using resources, utilizing team members and communicating to find the right solution and overcome conflict is critical to demonstrating the ability to adapt and change.

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?

A: As a sales professional, I have the freedom, flexibility and the ability to improve people’s lives, in addition to the opportunity for daily learning and yielding rewards for results. The more I put into it, the more I grow personally and help the team reach its goals. I am focused on helping clients solve their business problems. I approach the process from the perspective of giving, not getting.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.

A: In a previous role, I was contacted by a large national general contractor to consult on a project at an international airport for a USDA Import / Export facility. The building was already constructed and scheduled to open but did not conform to the critical criteria needed to meet the bio security standards of the USDA. I was able to offer the solutions needed to address all issues and pain points for the corrective measures; prepare the specification for removal of all coating and substrate enhancements needed; and apply of all specialty coatings needed to meet the stringent requirements needed by USDA. The most rewarding part of the project was utilizing my network of contacts throughout the industry to solve problems and find the right vendors, equipment, specialty contractors and inspectors necessary to ensure the project was completed ahead of schedule, on budget and seamlessly.

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

The ongoing innovation and development in the industrial sector for improved and innovative products is always important because it directly impacts all industrial coatings manufacturers and suppliers. Self-healing products, functional coatings that provide unusual features and benefits, and smart coatings that address, sense and go above and beyond the normal function of a standard coating (i.e. color, corrosion resistance, waterproofing, etc.) are also new trends. Sustainability is also an industry need. The industry is attempting to minimize the environmental impact of products, manufacturing and emissions and allow for longer maintenance painting intervals.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: I lost my both parents almost forty years ago as a very young adult. I would like to share with them the values and lessons they taught and instilled in me such as tolerance, patience, understanding, honesty, determination, kindness, courage and respect, to name a few. These values enabled me to grow as a person, meet my wonderful wife, raise two wonderful children, be comfortable in my own skin and be contemporary and adjust to the world around me. I would so enjoy one more dinner with them.

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: I believe that my father had the biggest influence. He was a dynamic man of passion with boundless energy and a sense of humor.  He was determined, patient, tolerant and selfless in his effort to help others. He was always there for his wife, family, friends, neighbors, coworkers and others who relied on him. He showed me the value of having a strong work ethic and the rewards of always doing my best. My father was always there for me and encouraged me to be there for others in my family and community. He never gave up. For these reasons, my father has influenced me in more ways than anyone else in this world.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “Tramps like us baby, we were born to run” -Bruce Springsteen

Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.

A: My wife Amy and I have been married for 30 years. We currently live in Baltimore, MD. We met in Lexington, KY. Our home is not a home without her. Our family is united because of her. We have two children, Grant (26) and Anna (24). Grant is working on his PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology at University of Maryland Baltimore County. Anna is an esthetician and lives in Philadelphia. We have a rescue dog named Bueller and a cat named Blink.

I enjoy attending various sporting events—especially the University of Kentucky and Baltimore Ravens. I’m also an avid golfer and have a long-standing passion for thoroughbred racing after spending numerous days at Churchill Downs and Keeneland in Lexington with family and friends growing up. Reading biographies and autobiographies is also a passion of mine. You can learn so much about the great values and habits people have, how they have overcome hardships and adversity, and remained humble in their successes.

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?

A: My home. It is a place of family gatherings. On any day—and especially holidays, it is always full of laughter and cheer. The comfort and peace it offers me and my family makes me feel secure. Enjoying a delicious home-cooked meal, a relaxed atmosphere, an open door for family, friends and neighbors is important and really makes each day and moment special.

Q: If you could do another job for just one day, what would it be?

A: I would really enjoy being a network sports broadcaster. I would be able to express my love and passion for the event, inform viewers in a creative and impartial manner and bring a historical perspective. It would give me the opportunity to witness a great and memorable event and share that with others.

The post Meet the Newest Member of the Induron Team: Tom Wunderlin appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

After 8 years of hard work, Induron Sales Representative Dick Belliveau has announced his well-deserved retirement. Before we let him go, we asked him to reflect on his career at Induron. Here’s what Dick had to say:

Q: How did your time at Induron shape your career?

A: After working for a large corporation, the culture at Induron was a welcomed change of pace. I appreciated working for a smaller, family-owned company where my input was valued.

Q: How did the coatings industry evolve during your time at Induron?

A: Kendall Smith and I started a new division for Induron that focused on the electric power market. Specifically, transmission structure, substation structure and equipment painting.

Q: What is something you are proud to have accomplished while working at Induron.

A: In 2010, we had about $50,000 in sales in the power market, and in 2018, our sales will exceed $1.5 million.

Q: How did the relationships you built during your time at Induron impact you?

A: The support Kendall and I received from the office and production staff while building the new division was second-to-none!

Q: What’s next?

A: I chose to retire in November because the month is full of pre-deer hunting season tasks that I thoroughly enjoy. My wife and I will also have time for snowmobiling, ice fishing and other winter sports when she retires in February. We are also heading to Nevada for a couple of months of warm weather, sunshine and golf! I will also have the pleasure of acting as a consultant for Induron in the power market to continue to help the company grow.

“Dick is one of the most likeable guys who has ever worked for Induron,” said Davies Hood, Induron President. “His hands-on approach, especially regarding the application of Induron’s line of T&D products was appreciated and will be missed. However, I will miss Dick’s positive personality the most! He is always smiling and has an unforgettable laugh!”

While we are sad to see him go, we are excited to have him as a consulting member of our team going forward. Dick, you have made us and the company better, and for that we thank you. Enjoy your retirement!

The post Thank you, Dick Belliveau appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

By: George Shannon, Induron Coatings Consultant

Events happen in our lives that we cannot control. We don’t get to choose everything that happens to us. We DO get to choose how we respond to those events.

I started in the coating business in 1969 and just recently decided to retire. I was a salesman in four different territories and an executive manager for two companies. Not all experiences were good and not all were bad. Some experiences were based on my decisions, but many were based on other people’s decisions. In a nutshell, this is called ‘life.’

The past seven years were a medical and emotional challenge for me. My wife experienced two strokes, two broken hips, a broken shoulder, a heart attack and triple bypass surgery. She never lost her will or her smile. She taught me the true meaning of humility. Don’t ever give up. Accept who you are, your circumstances as they are, and those around you for who they are.

Toward the end of my career, I was fortunate enough to associate with Davies Hood, Tex Enoch and the Induron team. You don’t get to have three generations running your business by being the center of your universe. You pass from one generation to the next by caring about the people who work for you and the people that buy from you. Having relationships in business is not about selling and buying. It is about trust and a true desire to be a solution to someone’s problems.

I learned that the Hood family has built their network through trust, honesty and respect. When I buy something, I want to know that is what I am getting beyond the physical product. I wish I had more time with Induron, but like everything else time passes, people move on, and the legacy hopefully continues. With Induron, I feel confident that there will be a fourth generation holding the standards of history and legacy high.

To learn more about George’s journey, check out his book, “The Best Seven Years of My Life,” which is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Goodreads.

The post Goodbye from George Shannon appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

By: Tex Enoch, Induron Sales Representative

For the second year in a row, the Philadelphia Eagles star quarterback, Carson Wentz, went down with an injury leaving a journeyman quarterback, Nick Foles, with the reigns as they moved into the playoffs.  Last year, Nick proved to the world that he was more than a journeyman as he led his team to the Super Bowl and then beat the great Tom Brady and the Patriots for the championship.

Nick believed in himself, his organization, the game plan and, most importantly, his teammates.  Just as importantly, his teammates believed in him.  He knew his offensive line would protect him.  He knew his receivers, if he got the ball to them, would catch and advance it.  He knew the plan that he helped put together along with his coaches was one that everyone could believe in and execute.  He knew the defense would protect the lead and that belief was rewarded with success.

I sit here this Sunday morning, having just read an article about that improbable victory, waiting for the second edition of the same journey.  The Eagles will play the Saints this afternoon at 4:30. Nick and the Eagles will once again be the underdogs against the New Orleans Saints and the great Drew Brees.

I work for Induron Protective Coatings, a small, family-owned paint manufacturing company, that competes daily against the giants of the Industry: Sherwin Williams, Carboline, PPG and Tnemec, just to name a few.  I am the Nick Foles, the quarterback, in my Middle Atlantic States territory and the Water Tank Marketplace.  I need to believe in the marketing plan that Induron has put together.  I need to believe in the products that we bring to the market.  I need to believe that our manufacturing, customer service and product offerings can more than compete in this marketplace and territory.  I need to believe that my teammates have my back and that, together, we will bring to our customers the best products possible for their needs. It is the TRUST that I have in my teammates and that they reciprocate in me that makes Induron click.

Like the Eagles, Induron will compete against the biggest players and will go to the marketplace as underdogs.  However, that TRUST factor we have in each other and our company will allow us to win a lot of the battles that odds makers did not think we could win.

GO BIRDS!!!!!!!!  GO INDURON!!!!!!!!

The post The Trust Factor appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

By: Tom Wunderlin, Induron Sales Representative

A salesperson is the primary differentiator in purchases today. As products and services become increasingly commoditized, purchasers realize that they can receive a similar offering from another company. But, what they can’t get from just any supplier is the same experience and positive outcome Induron’s sales representatives strive to create.

When meeting with customers, our goal is to initiate a dialogue so that we understand your problems and pain points. We want to know what keeps you awake at night and what gets you excited.  Once we understand and identify those problem(s), we can do something about it. We can share how our products will address those problems and the effectiveness of our solution. Basically, we paint a vivid description of how Induron products will make your life easier.

We believe passionately in Induron’s products and services. Through research, relationship building and problem solving, we tailor our approach to address customers’ needs.  We will make every effort to provide you with solutions and the best coatings for your unique needs with unparalleled customer service. Induron starts with a good finish.

If you’re interested in hearing about our products and services, contact a sales representative near you. We look forward to offering a coatings solution!

The post The Induron Approach appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

By: Davies Hood, Induron President

I remember being both moved and inspired by this full-page advertisement for Maserati in USA Today a few years ago on the Monday after the Super Bowl. The Patriots won… but that’s not this story. The ad copy read

The world is full of giants.

They have always been here,

Lumbering in the schoolyard,

Limping through the alleys.

We had to learn how to deal with them,

How to overcome them.

We were small but fast, remember?

We were like a wind appearing out of nowhere.

We knew that being clever was more important

Than being the biggest kid in the neighborhood.

As long as we kept our heads down,

As long as we work hard,

Trust what we feel in our guts, our hearts,

Then we’re ready.

We wait until they get sleepy,

Wait until they get so big they can barely move,

and then walk out of the shadows,

Quietly walk out of the dark – and strike.

How relatable! Every single one of us knows the feeling of being the small guy. The new guy. The last one picked for the team. However, the true winners are the ones who learn to deal with these feelings through hard work, trust and preparation.

Induron is a third generation, family-owned and operated coatings manufacturer that competes with much larger, publicly-traded, international corporations. For 72 years, we have been working hard and preparing while some of the other guys have been getting so big that they lose focus of what is truly important.

As Ben Rowland mentions in the video above, sometimes being nimble proves to be a very real advantage for our customers. While our competitors continue to grow through acquisition, Induron responds to our customers’ true needs.

The post Overcoming Giants appeared first on High Quality Industrial Coatings.

As a third-generation, family-owned paint manufacturer, Induron is different. Our company size, passionate team members, innovative products, customer-first approach to doing business and more set us apart from our competitors.

In an effort to convey Induron’s core values of “Integrity-Respect-Reliability-Innovation,” along with our mission statement, “Reliable protection through innovative coatings,” we gave several team members the opportunity to share their perspectives.  These values and mission not only establish Induron’s culture as a company, but hopefully for our partners in their respective roles. Watch the video below to see what we define as the “The Induron Difference.”

Ultimately, we invest ourselves in the success of our customers by providing high-performance coatings solutions and superior customer service. Contact Induron today and start with a good finish!

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What gets you out of bed in the morning?  Several Induron team members shared what excites them about working for Induron in the videos below.  The responses ranged from the company’s potential for growth to Induron’s family-like culture. Check out the videos below to see what they had to say!

Andy Odorzynski is motivated because Induron is positioned for explosive growth in the market.

Induron’s nimble size and effective team work excites Mike Watson.

Having the support that the Induron team provides as well as new and creative technology to talk about excites Paul Powers.

Russell Hicks emphasized that Induron’s culture motivates him to get up every morning and get after it.

One of Induron’s newer sales representatives, Tom Wunderlin, is excited for the challenge and to be a part of the Induron family.

Stay tuned for more insights from the Induron team on #TheInduronDifference!

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At Induron, we value relationships. We invest ourselves in the success, satisfaction and reputation of our customers. Our goals are to make their lives easier and discover innovative ways to add value to what they are doing. National Sales Manager Andy Odorzynski said it best when he stated, “Success for Induron means we’re adding value to our partners.”

We believe the most effective way to do that is through building long-term, trustworthy relationships with our customers and treating them as friends. Induron Sales Representative Nick Jones pointed out that making business personal, real and human enables us to be different than our competitors.

Likewise, Induron Water Tank Manager Tex Enoch explained that when working with friends, you do not want to disappoint them.

Induron Sales Representative Russell Hicks further emphasized that “this business is all about relationships.”

All in all, we are with the customer from start to finish. We invest ourselves in the success of our customers by providing high-performance coatings solutions and superior customer service. Contact Induron today and start with a good finish!

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This year, Induron will celebrate its 72^nd year of being a small, family-owned business. Throughout those years, Induron worked through various company focuses, but its values and culture remain constant.

What does it mean to work for a small, family-owned business? In the video below, Paul Powers explains that Induron’s values and family culture were not only evident when he met Davies and David Hood (President and CEO of Induron), but also throughout the company’s internal and external relationships.

Being a small, family-owned business not only establishes a personal company culture with a strong set of values, but it also provides Induron with a competitive advantage. Induron President Davies Hood defines Induron’s size as “nimble.” Davies said, “We can and have responded to customer requests quicker and more effectively than others who must go through multiple layers of approval prior to a response. Plus, our size enables us to launch reliable products to the market more efficiently.”

Induron’s Technical Services Director Ben Rowland summarizes Induron’s size advantage in the video below.

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At Induron, we strive to manufacture and provide innovative technology to solve problems for our customers. Sometimes that means producing a new product for a specific need in the marketplace, and other times our sales representatives offer expertise and guidance on which of our existing products are best for the project at hand. Plus, the confidence in Induron’s Quality Control team empowers the sales team to sell these products with confidence.

For instance, over the past few years, Induron has introduced Indurlux 9400, Indurethane Monarch HS and CeramaPrime Epoxy Primer to the market in an effort to provide the best products and stay ahead of the curve.

In the video below, Induron Sales Representative Paul Powers emphasizes that Induron has “technology that needs to be heard.”

Andy Odorzynski highlights that Induron’s goal is to grow our business by selling innovative products and make our customers’ lives easier.

And lastly, Tex Enoch explains that having an excellent Quality Control team gives him the ability to talk about and sell Induron’s products with confidence.

All in all, selling innovative technology not only gives Induron a competitive edge, but it also enables us to serve the industry with the best and most efficient products.

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By: Jeff White, Induron EVP & General Manager

Gearheads galore! The Induron Operations team recently celebrated meeting its quarterly quality goals! These goals not only measure the quality of paint we are producing, but also how we are servicing our customers. The goals we set are not “gimme goals,” because we like a challenge. And, we don’t always reach them, but when we do, it’s worth celebrating.

For the first quarter, we hit the mark and took our Operations Department to Barber Motorsports Museum. If you are coming through Birmingham, it is one of the finest museums and racetracks in the world! It is home to the Honda Indy Grand Prix, multiple superbike races, vintage cars and motorcycle events.

We enjoyed a catered lunch while watching the Porsches zoom by as a part of the Porsche driving experience. While that was fun to watch, it was only the beginning of our adventure. Next, we went on a 3-hour guided tour of the facility. There is a lot to see, including:

• The largest collection of motorcycles in the world. They have around 1,700 total, which they rotate to display only 1,200 at one time. Each motorcycle can be started and running within 30 minutes!
• The largest collection of Lotus cars in the world. Like the motorcycles, they can be up and running within 30 minutes!
• The largest collection of outboard boat motors in the world. Like everything else they can be up and running in no time.
• Most days Porsches or motorcycles are racing around the track and that is fun to see—especially from the bridge where the photo of our team was taken.

I don’t know that we can say we are as close to perfection as the folks at Barber Motorsports, but that is what we are striving to achieve at Induron. Meeting these quarterly goals is a step in that direction. Congratulations to Induron’s Operations team on meeting their quality goals!

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By: Donna Poe, Induron Reception & Accounts Payable

Induron held its annual Memorial Day luncheon last week, and as usual, it was a hit!

We enjoyed a low country boil thanks to master chef Scott Pruitt. Everyone loved the delicious food and camaraderie. Plus, to top off the meal, we indulged in Mrs. Myra’s banana pudding, which is some of the best in Birmingham! Lastly, our annual celebration isn’t over until there’s a corn hole tournament. And let me just say, we are a competitive bunch! Congratulations to Snuffy and Linley!

While we enjoyed the celebration, more importantly, we were reminded of what Memorial Day is all about. We can enjoy this freedom today because of men and women who sacrificed, some even their own lives, to protect us. We are grateful to live and work in the United States and remember those who make it possible. We hope you had a happy Memorial Day! God bless the USA!

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We’re excited to welcome Jamie Laird to the Induron team! Jamie manages the Oregon and Pacific Northwest region. Before coming to Induron, Jamie was the Industrial Market Manager for Rodda/Cloverdale Paints. Prior to that role, he spent 15 years at Sherwin Williams in various sales and technical service roles in the protective and marine coatings division.

Jamie is very involved with both NACE and SSPC. He is a NACE Level 3 Coatings Inspector as well as an instructor for NACE CIP  1 and CIP 2. He has served as treasurer, chair and vice chair of the Oregon NACE Chapter. He is a SSPC Level 3 Protective Coating Inspector, Certified Concrete Coating Inspector, a Protective Coating Specialist and only the 36st person in the history of SSPC to attain Master Coating Inspector. He instructs Concrete Coating Inspector and Protective Coating Inspector courses while serving on the Education Committee for SSPC.

Jamie’s extensive experience and industry involvement make him an excellent addition to the Induron family. To learn a little more about Jamie, check out this Q&A.

Q: What are your responsibilities?

A: As a technical sales representative, I feel that my number one responsibility is to represent myself and my company with the utmost integrity and technical expertise. I believe in building synergy between specifiers, asset owners and the contractors who apply the coatings. I think that collaborative partnerships across projects make for better outcomes and alliances. As the face of Induron in the Pacific Northwest, I feel that my job is to handle the industrial coatings on any project from start to finish. That means doing presentations for engineers, working with asset owners to manage expectations, and ultimately, making sure that the preparation is done correctly, and the coatings are installed in the right way. From site surveys to hands-on technical support, my role is to make all parties involved trust that they are in the right hands and equipped with the right products. I want every person and company that I do business with to know that they made the right choice.

Q: Tell us about your background, experience in the paint/coatings industry and how you came to work for Induron.

A: I graduated from the University of Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry in 2000 and moved to Portland, Oregon to attend Medical School at Oregon Health Sciences University. Ultimately, I decided to go a different direction and made the move to Sherwin Williams. I was a management trainee, assistant manager, branch manager and sales rep in many segments including residential, commercial and light industrial. Later on, I made the move to protective and marine coatings as well as industrial flooring. After 15 years with Sherwin Williams, I moved to Rodda Paint, a smaller regional paint company in the northwest, to be an Industrial Market Manager for 4 years. In that role, I owned the sales process from start to finish, including formulation and logistics to marketing and sales management. After reading a Forbes interview with Davies, I decided to reach out, and we had a great phone conversation that evolved into a trip to Birmingham to seal the deal.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?

A: I embrace the feeling of family and community that every employee of Induron exhibits. I feel that everyone from top to bottom is genuinely invested in my success.  Having a supportive and nurturing team is one of Induron’s biggest strengths.

Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

A: With great responsibility comes great risk. The biggest challenge to me is making sure that I’m always giving the best advice and assistance. This goal challenges me to understand the expectations and exposures that the coatings I recommend will be subjected to. I work to be the best asset and resource for my customers.

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?

A: I love connecting with people and working together toward a common goal. I enjoy win-win business scenarios and knowing that I’m part of a bigger solution.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.

A: I’ve had a few projects that I’ve been proud to be a part of. Helping with the repaint of the U.S. Capital Dome was a major accomplishment for me. Working with forest fire suppression companies and recommending tank linings for the airplanes that drop fire suppressors made me feel like I was making a difference in people’s lives.

Q: Are you seeing any new trends in the protective coatings industry?

A: One common trend I see in the Pacific Northwest is a push to deliver lower VOC products to the market. We see this in two ways: The first is the use of 100% solid products. They work great but usually require the use of expensive plural component pumps to apply. The second is with the use of “exempt” solvents. These solvents are not any more or less dangerous for the health of the applicators, but they are just exempt from VOC requirements. Some of these solvents used in paint formulations include acetone and methyl acetate.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: “All things being equal, friends will buy from friends. But all things NOT being equal, friends will STILL buy from friends.”

A mentor I had when I was in my late twenties told me that. He said that when the buying pressures are similar (pricing, service and quality), then people will buy from people they like and feel comfortable with. But, the true insight is that when all things are NOT equal, maybe the price is a little higher, perhaps the dry time isn’t quite as fast, maybe it takes a few more days to get the product…..People will still buy from people that they like and feel comfortable with. I have witnessed this over and over during my career. Paint is a relationship sales process, NOT transactional.

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: Theodore Roosevelt. I admire the way that he handled adversity in his life. I admire the fact that when he encountered hard times, he would find an extremely difficult physical endeavor to help reset his perspective and give him clarity about his journey.

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: My parents have shaped the man I am today, but I have had so many personal, athletic and professional mentors that I feel fortunate to be able to glean wisdom and knowledge from.

Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.

A: I have three sons, Caleb (24), Kieran (23) and Aldous (19), one daughter, Ayla (16), and two stepdaughters, Emma (7) and Nellie (4). I live with my partner, Rachel, who is a fish biologist. We have a bearded dragon named Pepita. I love all things athletic, including running marathons and trails, racing bicycles for Team Oregon, racing outrigger canoes and paddle dragon boats, hiking, climbing and snowshoeing in the winter. I am a huge KC Chiefs fan and have been a season ticket holder for many years!

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We’re excited to welcome Kassidy White to the Induron team! Kassidy graduated from the University of North Alabama with a Bachelor of Science in Professional Chemistry. During college, Kassidy worked for a non-profit organization as a Lab Analyst, which gave her experience tackling tasks like what she will do here at Induron.

As our newest chemist, Kassidy will assist with the formulation, development and lab work needed for industrial coatings projects. She will also be testing, gathering, analyzing and recording data of various coatings projects. To learn a little more about Kassidy, check out this Q&A.

Q: What’s your favorite thing about working for Induron so far?

A: I have learned so much in such little time working at Induron. I came into this job with little background in polymer chemistry, but Mike Kang has been wonderful with teaching me the basics and necessities for my position. Last week, I observed in the plant, which has been amazing because I’ve been able to see the big picture of how everything comes together within the production of coatings.

Q: What’s the most challenging part of your job?

A: Strengthening my background in polymer chemistry and getting in a normal routine after starting out somewhere new.

Q: What’s your favorite part about what you do?

A: I’m constantly getting to learn new things! With research and development, you really must be able to brainstorm and explore all options, which I enjoy.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of.

A: My entire senior year of college I worked as a research assistant for my former Biochemistry professor. We tackled a project that he wanted to continue from when he was in grad school, which consisted of passaging cells every week then taking specific pharmaceuticals and exposing cells to the drugs to watch their cell-signaling receptors. I’m proud of this project because I stepped out of my chemistry comfort zone and got to learn a lot more about biochemistry and how to use different biology equipment that I had never been exposed to before.

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: The best advice I’ve ever gotten was probably from my Physical Chemistry professor. He said to never allow myself to get complacent in life and always keep expanding my knowledge, regardless of what I’m doing.

Q: If you could have dinner with any person living or dead, who would it be and why?

A: If I could have dinner with anyone it would have to be Bill Nye. He influenced my love for science at a young age with ‘Bill Nye the Science Guy, ‘and he continues to impact the science community to this day. I think it would be awesome to be able to ask him all my random science questions over dinner!

Q: What person has had the biggest influence on your life and why?

A: I can’t just pick one person, so I would say that both of my parents have had the biggest influence on my life. They both were always so encouraging and helpful in my academic career and pushed me to do my best.

Q: What is your favorite quote?

A: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.” -Albert Einstein

Q: Tell us a little about your family, pets and/or hobbies.

A: I was born and raised in Killen, Alabama, which is just about two hours from Birmingham. My dad grew up in Greenhill, and my mom grew up in Elgin. I have a younger sister who is 16 years old. My family has two small dogs, but at my apartment I have a red-eared slider turtle that I got when I was in 8^th grade and a bearded dragon that I got at the beginning of this year. While both of my own pets live in tanks, I dream of the day where I have a house with land so that I can get a husky!

Q: Where is your favorite place to be?

A: Anywhere where there is live music! I enjoy many different genres of music and I love to support smaller, local artists.

Q: If you could have another job for a day, what would it be?

A: Working as a cosmetic chemist with either makeup or skincare products.

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