A Perfect Fit

At Dalsin Industries, we have been able to grow at a rate that is significantly higher than the industry standard. Tom believes the effort, strategy, and execution required to maintain that level of growth takes a commitment from everybody involved. The vision that Tom has aligns with Dalsin Industries’ core values. “Never be satisfied with the status quo,” says Tom. “We are always looking to improve, whether it is a process, technology, capability, performance, growth, or personal development. We always want to improve.”  This also accentuates how Tom has helped others in achieving growth. He shares, “Many years ago, when I supervised a distribution area, there was an hourly employee that I thought had potential. I encouraged her to get her degree, which she did and was able to move to the next level in her career. I like to think that I had a very small part in helping her achieve her ambitions professionally.”

Tom is part of a professional roundtable that helps deal with issues and challenges that each of them faces. He also has breakfast once a month with a mentor, which allows them to talk through the challenges and opportunities each of them faces. He shares, “Someone that can set a vision with an “end in mind” and get the entire team focused on achieving that vision and inspire you to focus beyond yourself and do what it takes to help the team achieve that result.”

Looking Forward: Business Plans and Future Prospects:

Tom shares, “We have a fair number of new projects with current customers and have brought on new customers to keep us focused on the growth in our contract business.  We are in the process of opening our Lakeville facility, which has brought new technology and capability and is giving us opportunities with an expanded customer base. So, the short-term looks very encouraging on the contract side. For Memphis businesses, we will continue to monitor the economy and consumer sentiment. Business is softening some on that side, so we are focused on expanding our product offering and the dealer network and preparing for the upside in the economy and consumer confidence.” In addition, they are very excited about the contract side of the investment that they have made in their new Lakeville facility. It will give them new and expanded process capabilities, allowing them to expand their customer base and reach out to new industry segments. Meanwhile, on the Memphis side, they forecast a lot of growth driven by their product plans and expanding the dealer base.

Tom’s long-term goals are to see that their 3–5-year long-range plans materialize for both businesses. They have worked very hard to create a culture where people are excited to be every day, communicate that vision, acknowledge the importance of everybody’s role and progress towards their plans, and reward all of their employees for that success. He wants to take both businesses to a level that never seemed possible to the founders or current shareholders.

While, personally, he and his wife are enjoying the next phase of their lives as “empty nesters”. They plan to enjoy their interests, the outdoors, travel more, spend time with their grown kids and with friends, and find a way to give back through volunteering, etc.

Tom hopes that his legacy will be reflected through what they have built; a team and culture that looks for the greater good of the company and can take pride in their part in building this company and their professional development. Tom wants employees’ experience at Dalsin Industries to be one of the best in their professional careers.

He signs off on this note: “Focus on what your company does well and build off that,” says Tom. “That will help you focus on the appropriate customers and develop your capabilities and processes around that success. Take care of your people and build a culture that encourages people to help the company succeed. Lay out a vision and set people up for success and development in their careers and execution of that plan. Communicate often about the progress toward that vision. You will know when you start to get alignment throughout the organization and build off that momentum.”