I S S U E 1 3 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 4
Obviously one of the biggest components in electroplating is electricity, so I suppose it made sense - and certainly it turned out to be a big opportunity for me.
Continued from main page.
Well, it sure sounds like you’ve led an interesting and fortunate life, in a very accomplished family.”
“I've been a very lucky guy, there’s no question.”
“Can you tell me again the story of how your current position as president of Signature actually started by being an electrical contractor? Am I remembering that correctly?”
“You are. So, I was married when I was in the Marine Corps and my wife unfortunately passed away. Some years later, I remarried, and my second wife had four children. I needed to support them and at the time, I was working at a car dealership in Columbia SC. There was an internal rift going on there and a few of us got let go. As I left that day and was driving home, I saw a help needed sign in front of an electrical contractor business. I went in and applied at West Electric, in Newberry SC. That was about 35 years ago I guess, and I was hired.”
“So, you were a trained electrician?”
“Not anywhere even close. But they needed a guy in the warehouse, and I needed a job. After three or four months, I was sent out in the field to help on a Saturday. The foreman wound up liking me and a few weeks later, he put me on his crew. The foreman’s name was James and I have remained friends with him ever since. In fact, his family and mine are all going on a cruise together in March. It was James who trained me to be an electrician.”
“Ok, and how did that connect you with Signature?”
“Well, there’s a lot more to the story, but long story short, I became a journeyman and one of my first gigs was in Cibolo. I was hired to wire Signature’s new facility as they were first getting the company started. The short story is, they liked me and after completely wiring the place and pretty soon they asked if I’d like to come aboard. I quickly said yes and became employee # 2.
Obviously one of the biggest components in electroplating is electricity, so I suppose it made sense - and certainly it turned out to be a big opportunity for me.
I'm the one that wired the plant of course, so in the beginning I brought all the equipment online. I also assisted with all the chemicals and baths getting installed. It was a brand-new facility expressly designed for electroplating. We didn't take over somebody else's building - it was all designed and engineered for us.
From there I worked my way up to Director of Maintenance and eventually Director of Operations. It was in that position when my mother passed, and it hit me pretty hard. I needed to step back, so I retired for a few months. And I stayed retired right up until my wife called one day and she said, ‘what are you doing?’ I said, ‘I'm watching a movie, what are you doing?’ She said, ‘Working to support you.’ I finally heard her and decided it was probably time to go back to work.”
They took me back at Signature and about the same time had started hunting for a General Manager. They put the word out and the only two applicants we’re a no call / no show and a guy that had been acquitted of murder. Frank said to Larry, what the hell are we doing? Call Paul. And there you have it, all at once I was GM of Signature and I really settled into the position. I loved it. It was at that point, they allowed me to buy 10% of the company. I did of course and became a 10% owner. Larry and Frank remained the majority owners. A couple of years later, Larry wanted to get out and do something else - and so Frank and I got together and bought him out. At that point, I took over as President and became an equal stakeholder. And the rest, as they say, is history. As of 2017, we supported 22 families and today we're up to 48.
“So, you’ve doubled in size since 2017. Sounds like life is good in Cibolo?”
“Yessir. We have a tight group and provide extremely high-level product and services to our clients.”
“I assume the facility itself has also grown in that time?”
We're actually in the process right now of putting on a 2000 square foot warehouse and at the end of last year we broke ground and have since brought online a 5000 square foot addition to the back of our main building. The two expansions will increase our process flow by an estimated 25%. Also at current, everybody's walking from the front to the back, inspections are up front and polishing and plating are all in the back. So, we're going to plop inspection down right in the middle of all that and have them go in a circle instead of going backwards. It will improve the overall efficiency of our operation dramatically.”
“Paul, can you tell our readers a little about the internal culture of Signature?
“Sure, and that always starts with safety. We have a very safe culture and work environment. It’s one of the things we have to manage very diligently – but it pays off in keeping our workers safe. Many of the chemicals in the plating tanks, on the floor are very dangerous – so yea, that’s paramount above everything.
In terms of the more general aspects of our work culture, that would be openness and transparency to our employees. As an example, the only time I ever close the door to my office is when I'm in a conference with someone. Period. I believe in, and practice, a true open-door policy. When I’m walking down the hallway in the morning and see someone coming, we greet each other, say good morning and have a quick chat. It feels good and builds comradery.
Frank and I truly believe we're here to serve it up to our people on a silver platter – that our biggest responsibility is to give them the knowledge, skill and tools to do their job effectively and efficiently. If we don't, we're setting them up for failure . . . and we don't do that here.
“So, it sounds like you have a pretty happy group of people that work there?”
“Yes, as of about February last year, our average employee retention was 8.5 years. And many have been here much longer.”
“Before we close, I know the designers and centers would be interested in anything new you might have coming online, products that perhaps extend beyond typical electroplating.”
Actually yes. We have a custom anodized range of colors – a relatively new offering for us. It’s been very popular and extends our range of finish options for designers.
We also have ‘tinted paints’. We start with a base coat of like gold or nickel and if you put a blue tinted paint over the gold, each becomes two completely different colors and with a unique depth and appearance as compared to standard plating.
“What sort of applications would those support?”
Most often it will be latch handles and other pieces of hardware where a hybrid option might provide a more refined look or otherwise provide relief from surrounding materials. This product is proving to be popular in the Super First-Class market – the pods, which of course are high-use environments. This product not only offers extended design possibilities but capitalizes on being more durable than standard electroplating.
“What sort of applications would those support?”
Most often it will be latch handles and other pieces of hardware where a hybrid option might provide a more refined look or otherwise provide relief from surrounding materials. This product is proving to be popular in the Super First-Class market – the pods, which of course are high-use environments. This product not only offers extended design possibilities but capitalizes on being more durable than standard electroplating.
Well, Paul, I have to say, you have a remarkably interesting story and certainly Signature Plating is one of the top aviation plating companies in the aircraft interiors market. As I alluded in the beginning, I already knew that via my own personal experience – but it’s great to learn more about what really holds Signature as one of the top players in our industry. Thank you for your time.
I wish you, Frank and all your families there a very Merry Christmas and a great start to the new year.
Cheers!
To learn more about Signature Plating, visit: signatureplating.com
Also be sure and visit Signature’s ad in this issue.
