SPOTLIGHT We are always awed by the great folks we work with. We want to introduce you to some of them here.
Today’s Spotlight – Tom Andrews of Turning Star
Melinda loves working with Tom! Tom is a big thinker and loves to geek out analyzing his business, making our collaboration fun and productive! We’ve made significant changes over the years, doing so with that rare combination of planning and entrepreneurial leaps of faith. So, a bit of Tom …
Tom is the president and has over 25 years of experience in the fire-retardant industry. He is certified by the New York City Fire Department and the California State Fire Marshall. He is a member of the National Fire Protection Association and the International Code Council.
Turning Star, Inc. is a privately owned manufacturer of flame-retardant products and a fire-resistance service company. The company manufactures flame-retardant chemicals for industrial applications, fabrics, and decorations. Its flame resistance services include treatment, testing, certification, consultation, and training.
Their flame retardants have gained nationwide recognition for their high quality, ease of application, and non-toxicity. As a result, Turning Star products and services are endorsed by fire safety and fire enforcement officials across America.
Which three words would you use to describe yourself?
Tom: Optimistic. Insightful. Generous
What was the worst job you have ever had?
Tom: The job I disliked the most at the time was in college. I worked as a midnight- 8:00 a.m. stocker at a grocery store. The schedule threw me off, but the job was not terrible.
What part of your daily routine do you enjoy most? Why?
Tom: Waking up and having coffee. It’s a very peaceful and calm time.
What is the last thing you read?
Tom: I’m reading Noam Chomsky’s Who Rules the World. He is a brilliant writer whose point of view resonates with me. The central premise is that the US is a major imperial power and that capitalism, as an imperial force, necessitates exerting influence over resources (such as oil). This identity as an imperial power has simultaneously eroded our democratic constraints on power, increasingly leaving corporations to the rich to act as they please.
Why did you want to be an entrepreneur?
Tom: I didn’t want to be an entrepreneur per se. I wanted to work for myself. I had no big plans to create a big company and go public. Instead, I wanted to take control of my life and make enough money.
Why did you start working with Zumifi?
Tom: Like many people who start their business, I’m good at what I do. I started working for myself, and the business grew around me. At a certain point, I realized I wanted to do more with the company, especially managing the financial side to benefit the operational side. Luckily, I knew I could do better with input from someone else. However, I didn’t want to commit to hiring a CFO, and Zumifi’s weekly consulting model aligns well with my needs.
Are you running your business differently now than you did before? If so, what are the changes?
Tom: On the one hand, yes, things are different. On the other hand, I’m still the same person, and the company reflects my approach to doing business. Well, maybe things have tightened up a bit. The main difference is that I used to work for people, get paid, pay my employees, pay bills, etc. We’d make a profit; some months, we didn’t. At the end of the year, it was OK, but nothing was planned. We create a detailed financial budget for all our expenses and income, and compare the budgeted income against past years’ actuals.
And that’s a change?
Tom: After many years of doing this, our budgeting is more accurate yearly. If anything, we’re sometimes surprised by an increase in sales, then we analyze how it happened and whether it’s repeatable. Our customers aren’t on contracts with monthly sales. We look at how to increase sales and actively plan to do so. After a few years of working with them, I wish I had started earlier.
Follow us on LinkedIn – Zumifi.
Zumifi is how I manage my company efficiently, easily, and effortlessly (on my part), almost as if it were magic!”
– Gary Levenberg, KID Group, San Francisco, CA