When the chance to jump ship and work with a start up company to produce radiant tubes of an all new alternate material I couldn’t resist.  I left a company with literally hundreds of thousands of employees to become the first employee of the new company.  Starting from scratch in the basement of the founder we slowly perfected the not only the material but the processes to produce tubular shapes of the composite of silicon & silicon carbide.  Testing quickly proved that the new material would overcome many of the problems with alloy tubes.  Next, by maxing out the credit cards we built a prototype shop which the founder hoped someday to convert into a horse barn.  We began commercial sales and added staff for both product development and manufacturing.  Still later, in the early 1990s we built the current manufacturing facility and later added three additions.  Along the way, I met Jack Marino and he quite simply told me I was missing out on an important opportunity.

 That opportunity of course was to be part of the Industrial Heating Equipment Association.  I don’t have many regrets in my 59 years of being involved with manufacturing but I certainly regret that I didn’t join IHEA sooner.  Not only have I personally gained from the many seminars and meetings but I am also sure that INEX gained immensely by the networking opportunities within IHEA.  I have many, many fond memories of the associations I have had the privilege of making thru the years with IHEA.  All members can rightly be proud of the work of the various committees and the contribution to enhancing the knowledge base within the industry.  I have particularly enjoyed the affiliation with our counterparts in Europe and Japan.

 To all within IHEA, please know that I will miss the comradery of the many friends I have made as a result of the association.   Jack Marino-thank you.

INEX is now in the capable hand of Mike Rumfola who now will lead INEX into the future.   And now it’s time for me to try and spoil six great grandchildren.