Membership Memo: Old School Rules

By: Jerry Trostle

I have been in the powder coating industry since 1980. I was born in the 1950s (and, yes, to answer my daughter’s question, there were actually people around that far back). When I started in the powder business, I learned that the best way to move forward was to watch what the experienced people in the industry were doing.

We did not have cell phones or carry laptop computers around, but, believe it or not, we actually were able to accomplish the goals that were set for us. The experienced people knew the value of networking and had learned that utilizing the knowledge and capabilities of others in the industry were the keys to success. Growth was achieved by watching others and working together to achieve the common goals. The tools have changed, but the desired end results are the same.

The Powder Coating Institute (PCI) got its start in the early 1980s. The industry was growing rapidly and there was a real need to combine the efforts of the various aspects of the powder coating industry into a single, coordinated force to promote the benefits of the powder coating to a potential user base that was starved for information. They came together to promote the technology, provide reliable knowledge and offer networking opportunities for everyone. The founders of the organization never questioned the value of both the time and money that were needed to achieve the desired results.

Things have changed greatly since the early 1980s, but underneath the superficial differences are the same desired results. What you get out of being a member of the organization will be proportional to the amount of investment you put into it. Invest your time and money, utilize the tools available to you, and your odds of achieving the never-changing goals will greatly increase.

Be engaged, and I hope to see everyone involved!

Jerry Trostle is vice president of sales and marketing at Pneu-Mech Systems LLC. He can be reached via email at jtrostle@pneu-mech.net.