PPB June 2016

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32 • PPB • JUNE 2016 INNOVATE
GREATEST COMPANIES TO WORK FOR 2016
WHAT EMPLOYEES SAY ABOUT PRO TOWELS, SUPE-
RIOR DECORATING AND KANATA BLANKET |
Twelve-year Kanata Blanket employee
Bryson Rochelle, one of 43 employees who
nominated the trio of companies for the
honor, says the management-supported cul-
ture is what makes the companies a great
place to work. “Ownership always takes the
time to listen to all employees regardless of
the department they work in. Everyone’s
opinion is always welcome and people feel
that they are part of moving the company
forward—a true team effort.” His colleague
and fellow nominator, Minne Tutor, works
at the reception desk and has been at Kanata
Blanket for five years. “The accounting
department enhanced my skills and taught
me invoicing, billing and collecting pay-
ments,” she says. The
ability to learn new
skills is also noted by
nominator Edith
Oropesa, an 11-year
employee at Pro
Towels, who says, “I
love working at this
company because it
has given me the
opportunity to use
my knowledge and
skills. My company
recognizes, values
and appreciates me and my work perform-
ance.” She adds, “There is also the feeling of
belonging—being a part of the whole com-
pany rather than just being an employee.”
Nominator Sharon Griffith, a 15-year
employee who is now vice president of mar-
keting for the U.S. and Canada, was working
for Kanata Blanket when it was acquired by
Pro Towels in August 2015. “When Kanata
Blanket became part of Pro Towels, I was
concerned we’d lose our family feel and just
become a corporate division and not listened
to at all,” she says. “That absolutely has not
happened. Kevin Nord, owner and president,
communicates regularly with all locations and
is willing to listen to suggestions, openly dis-
cuss issues and implement changes. It’s no
easy task to ‘gel’ four locations and systems
together but he makes Kanata feel part of the
larger team and that our opinions and experi-
ence matters.”
HOW IT DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF AS AN EMPLOYER |
The company’s mandate is to never miss a
delivery date, says Griffith, and employees
often go above and beyond to achieve this—
even hiring a small
plane or driving 12
hours themselves to
make a delivery.
“That makes it easy
to give customers the
confidence they need
for our product and
service. When Kanata
joined Pro Towels
last year, Pro Towels
promoted from with-
in to create a new
position to ensure all
employees were properly trained and came
together as one. Nominator Stacey Fleming,
a 17-year employee, says that during some of
the hardest economic times, the owners and
managers pinched every penny to keep from
having to lay off people or shut the doors.
“They are very aware of the needs of their
employees and try their best to keep that in
Top Executive
Kevin Nord, Owner and President
___
Company Type
Supplier
___
Location
Headquarters in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania with additional offices
in Abbeville, South Carolina;
Camarillo, California and Richmond,
British Columbia.
___
Website
www.superi-
; www.kanatapro-
___
Year Founded
Towels Etc., founded in 2001, pur-
chased Professional Towel Mills in
2006 and became Pro Towels. It
acquired Superior Decorating in
2010 and Kanata Blanket in 2015.
___
Total Employees
275
___
Company Motto
“Our mission is to become your
business partner and provide you
with the solutions to best fit your
promotional needs.”
___
Perks
Heathcare benefits; paid holidays,
personal and vacation days; appreci-
ation lunches and dinners; monthly
potluck; dinner and gift cards at
Christmas; Employee of the Month
Award with t-shirt and $25 gift card
for the winner; monthly paid lunches
for production team in California;
massages in California; Thanksgiving
turkey in the U.S.; subsidized fit-
ness club membership in Canada;
basketball and volleyball leagues in
South Carolina (games are held dur-
ing work breaks); English and com-
puter lessons in South Carolina