Nearby Hamblen County Expansions To Bring 175

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Thursday, January 23, 2014

THE GREENEVILLE SUN

A-9

BUSINESS

Nearby Hamblen County Expansions To Bring 175 New Manufacturing Jobs MORRISTOWN — Expansions by two Hamblen County industrial companies are expected to bring 175 new jobs to the area, local economic development officials announced Wednesday. The two companies announcing expansions are Colgate-Palmolive and OTICS USA, Inc., both of which already have operations in Morristown. The announcements came in joint news releases by the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Morristown Industrial Development Board. COLGATE -PALMOLIVE One news release stated tht Colgate Palmolive will build a new manufacturing plant to make oral-care products in Morristown. Colgate-Palmolive will invest $ 25 million in manu fac tu r i ng e qu ipment , a nd bu i ld i ng a nd i n f rastructure improvements, and create 75 new jobs in Hamblen County, the release says. Colgate-Palmolive plans to build a stand-alone facility adjacent to its current Colgate Total toothpaste plant, which opened in Morristown in 2008. Construction work on the new facility, which will include pro-

Converse Starts on Page A-8 into full operation,” he added. He said he hopes eventually to be employing around 500 people here. Converse said that his plans call for the local plant to be doing not just assembly but every aspect of product-manufacturing. “That [vertically-integrated manufacturing] is the only way the economics work out,” he stated. “We have some basic manufacturing to do,” he noted. “We have to build some dies, etc. We’re going to build everything new again.” The only factor that might accelerate the process of getting into operation, he said, is that some Chinese companies want to buy American-made air purifiers. “That may speed us up,” he said, since when Chinese companies place orders, the orders are very large. WHY MOVE OPERATIONS HERE? Why move his operations to Greeneville? the Sun asked. Converse was emphatic in his response. In part, he said, the problems of trying to produce and market a product from China are “immense.” But more important than the severe challenges of operating from China, he made clear, are his strong positive feelings about the workforce of Greene County, and East Tennessee as a whole. “I have known from my experience at Alpine,” he said Wednesday in the interview, “that if you get workers from around here and get them {fully involved and engaged] in the company, there is nobody in the world that can touch them.” “They did quality work. ... The number of bad products [from the local Alpine operations] was essentially zero.” “I guess you have to go away from here,” he added, “to realize how good a workforce East Tennessee really does have — loyal, hard-

duction of products sold to dental professionals through the company’s Colgate Oral Pharmaceuticals business, will begin this year. Occupancy is slated for early 2015 and full employment by late 2015. The release stated that most of the 75 new jobs will be dedicated to general light manufacturing positions, including line operators, mechanical and electrical, and warehouse. “We’re pleased with the opportunity to open this new operation in Tennessee and to build on the success we have had in Morristown,” said Mike Corbo, Colgate-Palmolive Vice President, Global Supply Chain. Colgate-Palmolive’s brands include products such as Colgate toothpaste, Palmolive detergent, Murphy Oil Soap, Ajax and Speed Stick. The company is supported by a global staff of more than 30,000 employees. OTICS USA The other news release stated that OTICS USA Inc., a Tier 1 Automotive supplier, plans to expand its Morristown operations and facility. This $106 million expansion

working, conscientious.” SPEAKS FROM EXPERIENCE Converse can speak from a good deal of experience. In late 1996, the engineer and inventor brought his company to Greeneville from Minnesota. He seemed to fall in love with the community and its people from the start, and quickly set up his local air and water purifier manufacturing operation, Alpine. The company established its headquarters here, began operations quickly, and for several of the ensuing years employed hundreds of Greene Countians at its large manufacturing plant in the Mt. Pleasant Industrial Park. While Converse was the founder and held the post of president, his co-owner, Michael Jackson, was vice president and headed a nationwide multi-level sales network of thousands of distributors. Four years later, in January 2000, Converse sold his interest in the manufacturing and sales operation to Jackson, although the founder continued to take a strong interest in air and water purification technology and product development. After a few more years, however, Converse just about entirely retired even from doing product development for the thriving manufacturing-and-sales spinoff company, owned by Jackson and re-named Ecoquest International. RECESSION HIT HARD Then came the Great Recession in 2007 and 2008. After having experienced several years of explosive growth, Ecoquest fell on hard times and eventually had to file bankruptcy in 2009. The company was sold to a large creditor, and its operations were

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comes as a result of the awarding of a new engine product to the company by its current customer, Toyota, according to the news release. The new project will require the addition of 96,000 squarefeet of manufacturing space and will create approximately 100 jobs over the next three years, the release says. OTICS USA Inc. has been in operation in the East Tennessee Progress Center since 2001. The Morristown facility is the first plant located by the company in the United States. The company is currently operating in approximately 259,000 square-feet with more than 200 employees. This addition will be the third expansion for OTICS. “The opportunity to expand and grow in the Morristown area is a positive impact for both our company, our customers and for the community,” said Charlotte L. Jennelle, OTICS USA general manager and division head. “We appreciate the support of our employees and their families and recognize the Morristown and surrounding commuting area for their support as well.”

subsequently moved to Bristol and merged into another company. Although Converse was not an owner of Ecoquest and was not affected by its financial problems, he said Wednesday night, the dramatic downturn in the economy dealt him severe financial setbacks also, especially in his efforts to sell a large tract of prime property off West Allens Bridge Road. The property, including his large residence there, was originally priced for sale at $13 million, and it was marketed aggressively here and elsewhere. But in the real estate market of 2008 and 2009, the property did not sell, and eventually he lost it to foreclosure, he said. As a result, he explained, “I had to rebuild.” And rebuild he has. NOT READY TO HIRE YET He said that he has re-hired Tony Chang as chief engineer. Chang had the same position with Alpine Industries. Coverse said he is not yet ready to begin hiring. When he is, he plans to coordinate it with the Greene County Partnership, he said. He noted that he has been keeping GCP President and CEO Tom Ferguson generally informed about his plans, adding that Ferguson had been very helpful. Once he gets the plant operating, he said, he does not plan to oversee it on a day-to-day basis but instead focus his own efforts on his main strength: product development.

Chuck Bowlin Joins Takoma Fdn. Board Chuck Bowlin of Greeneville Light & Power System (GL&PS) has joined the Takoma Regional Hospital Foundation Board of Directors. “We are excited to have Chuck join our Foundation board,” said Daniel Wolcott, Takoma’s president and CEO. “His commitment to our community through his role at GL&PS matches our other Foundation board members’ passion to help Takoma in our journey to CHUCK BOWLIN world-class health.” Bowlin was born and reared in Maryland, graduated from Tennessee Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and worked in Chattanooga for 10 years before moving here to join GL&PS in 2001. “I feel blessed to be able to raise my family in this community and am eager to give something back,” Bowlin said. Bowlin and his wife, Tammy, live in Chuckey with their four children. He also serves on the Comcare board, is president of the Greeneville Lions Club and is active at First Christian Church.

Melisa Brown Opens Outlet To Provide Massage Therapy BY O.J. EARLY STAFF WRITER

Melisa Brown says she has long wanted to work close by her mother. Now she’s getting the opportunity. “It’s kind of a mother/ daughter thing,” Brown said with a smile. “I wish we could have started doing it a long time ago.” Brown operates Melisa’s Massage and Bodywork, a recently-opened massage therapy outlet in Greeneville. Her shop, located at 183 Britton Ave., is housed in the same building as her mom’s place of buisness, Jan’s Beauty Shop. Jan Brown has worked as a beautician for 52 years, and has been at her current location for more than 40 years. What circumstances made it possible for the two family members to work in the same place? Melisa Brown divorced several years ago and moved back to Greeneville. In the process, she explained, she wanted her career to move in a different direction. “I just wanted to do something to help me heal and, at the same time, help others,” she said. “It’s helped me heal and helped others at the same time.” Some of the benefits of massage therapy, according to Brown, include stress relief, improved circulation and reduced muscle spasms. Massage therapy almost always helps those who suffer from arthritis, diabetes and headaches, Brown said.

SUN PHOTO BY O.J. EARLY

Melisa Brown operates Melisa’s Massage and Bodywork, now open at 183 Britton Ave. A 2013 graduate of Reflection of Health School of Massage in Johnson City, Brown has been a licensed massage therapist since August. Her shop is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday through Friday. Appoint-

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