Company address: 1228 Hickory St. Pewaukee, WI 53072
Company Web site: www.industrialcurtains.com or www.goffdoors.com
Industry: Manufacturing
Number of employees: 27
Education: Catholic Memorial H.S. & S.O.H.K. University (School of Hard Knocks)
Family: Dawn, Chace & Faith
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“We hired a corporate coach to facilitate our 18-month strategic plan. It was created by my senior management and me but the formal process really helped to get my managers on the ‘same page.’ We started with a revaluation of our company values, mission and vision; and the plan was borne from that foundation. Sharing the vision and creating constancy throughout the organization has moved us towards our vision of ‘consistently exceeding customer expectations,’ as well as our internal goal of being a world-class organization.”
What’s new at your company?
“Externally, we’ve entered several new industries, including woodworking, racing, distribution centers and the car wash market. Internally, we have continuous improvement initiatives in six key areas that is keeping us all very busy.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“Yes. Our VP of sales & marketing is retiring mid-2009, so we will be looking for his replacement. We just hired a manufacturing engineer, director of sales support and several production members in the past few months. We’re always looking for great people to join our team.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“Managing growth, dealing with fluctuating raw materials costs and increasing business expenses.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“Use of flexible partitioning to maximize use of available space while containing contaminants & saving energy costs.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“Try every day to consistently exceed customer expectations, work hard, and the rest will fall into place.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“Definitely my father, Bob Goff, of Goff’s Auto Body. He ingrained in me the entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. I also admire other self-made entrepreneurs like Richard Branson who really embodies the idea of ‘happy achievement.'”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“Don’t try to do everything yourself. If you do, the business will never become bigger than you, and none of us are all that big!”
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened to you in your career?
“In the early days, we once carried an entire tradeshow booth on a Funjet. We dragged these long metal pieces with us and had to stuff them into the overhead compartment. People looked at us like we were insane. On that same trip, we took a bus from the airport to our hotel (too cheap for a cab), and as we exited the bus, we were welcomed by news cameras in front of us and a parade of hundreds behind us. Our timing had us appearing to lead a gay rights parade!”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I am the singer and leader of the local bands ‘The Boogie Men’ and ‘Band X.'”
