Leadership & Values
It’s National Wellness Month
We’re sharing some interesting new trends and approaches to wellness that we hope will inform and inspire you. Read on! Prescribing Nature What if your doctor prescribed a 30 minute walk outdoors instead of prescribing a drug? It’s happening, and there’s solid science behind it. A study among the world’s longest living people (> 100)…
Read MoreIt’s Mid Year 2019. Time for a Turnaround?
It’s Mid-Year 2019. Time for a Turnaround? July is the heart of summer, but also marks the onset of the second half of the year. Much like making resolutions in January, the second half is a great time to reassess and get back on track for achieving personal and professional goals. Stay cool, and go for it!…
Read MoreGretchen Farb Named Crain’s Notable Women in Finance
At family-owned Hoffer Plastics, Gretchen Farb oversees the finances of the plastic injection-molding business as well as the Hoffer Foundation. She manages the company’s investments and its 401(k) plan. In the last 12 to 18 months, Farb instituted new enterprise resource planning software and helped lead the company to a record year. Revenue last year rose 12.5 percent to $90 million . . .
Read MoreLimited Growth Among Top 100 Injection Molders
Must be summer because it is time to look at the numbers behind Plastics News’ ranking of the Top 100 North American injection molders. Look to next week’s issue for the smaller firms.
There are 102 firms in the top 100 this year, that’s due to the three ties at No. 100. The companies have combined molding sales of $29.1 billion. The top 10 alone make up 34 percent of that total revenue. The average sales per firm is $284.7 million, holding steady compared with last year.
The general trend in automotive was down, although a few lucky firms managed to grow. Medical molders also grew. I read many annual reports where company executives explained that their sales increases were due to resin pricing pass-through to customers.
For those firms reporting growth at the top 100, the average increase was 15 percent. The figure rises to 23 percent if you include acquisition-related growth. Six percent of the top 100 executives in this list are women.
National Safety Month
June is National Safety Month! Learn about the devastating impact of workplace injuries and simple steps you can take to improve safety on the job. Welcome, summer, and a shout out to all the grads, dads and father figures this month. The High Cost of an Unsafe Workplace In the U.S., a worker is injured…
Read MoreNational Volunteer Month
As April transitions us with rain showers and early blossoms, it also inspires us with National Volunteer Month. A shout out and heartfelt “thank you” to all who give back selflessly in service to others. May you continue to inspire us all! Spotlight on Hoffer Plastics: A Company Culture Centered on “Service” At Hoffer Plastics,…
Read MoreIt’s All About Gratitude
For November, the month of Thanksgiving, it’s all about gratitude, with a special Veteran’s Day shout out to all who’ve served. Inspirations from Hoffer Plastics: How a Small Company Leads in Gratitude “Service” is a core company value at Hoffer. It manifests in outstanding customer service, but also in fostering a “servant’s heart” leadership model throughout…
Read MoreNational Manufacturing Month
In this October issue, we celebrate National Manufacturing Month! The backbone industry of the U.S. remains strong, growing and ripe with new, exciting career opportunities. Small Manufacturing Businesses Lead the Way The vast majority of manufacturing firms in the United States are very small. I n 2015, 98% of the 251,774 manufacturing firms were considered to be small…
Read MoreNational Self Improvement Month
September is Back to School time, and the perfect opportunity to celebrate National Self Improvement Month. An Investment that Pays It’s been long held that an investment in people development yields lifelong benefits, both for the individual and for the company as a whole. According to the Institute for Talent Development: Companies that offer comprehensive training and…
Read MoreIndependence Defined: In Celebration of Small Business
The month of July is all about celebrating American independence. As we enjoy food, fireworks and concerts typically brought to us by corporations, let’s also celebrate the small, independent businesses that many experts consider to be the true backbone of the U.S. economy. Small Businesses, Big Impact There are nearly 30 million small businesses in the U.S., compared…
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