The employees at Chase Plastics popped their umbrellas bravely up last Thursday and marched into the November wind and rain to celebrate groundbreaking of the company’s new building.
Although the weather was nothing to cheer about, the company’s executives and employees all welcomed the project’s kick-off.
‘The start of this building is a testament of your contribution and commitment to the company,? said Carole Chase, vice president of Chase Plastics. ‘We’ve grown by double digits each year and not only provided growth opportunities to each of you, but also grown in our community and established a premanent presence in Clarkston and Independence Township.?
‘We’ve outgrown our building,? said Chase, adding that the new building will be one of the largest in the township and provide an additional 5,000 square feet of floor space. ‘This is a tremendous growth opportunity for all of us.?
As a Clarkston-area specialty engineering thermoplastics distributor located near I-75 and Sashabaw Road in Independence Township, Chase supplies plastic resin to the automotive and transportation industries, as well as to companies manufacturing products like electronics, medical supplies, sports equipment, construction materials, and furniture.
Founded in 1992, the company has $90 million in revenue, crediting much of its success to the 30 employees based at the Clarkston-area corporate headquarters, as well as the additional 80 or so who work across the country and internationally.
But business is not just about the bottom line at Chase Plastics. Community involvement is important, too, and employees who wants to lend a hand around town are encouraged to do so.
‘Businesses have a responsibility to the communities they reside in,? said Chase. ‘It’s important to participate and try to make an impact because you do have the capacity to help people.?
The company takes part in several volunteer projects each year. Past projects have included ‘adopting? a family or senior around Christmastime, collecting items for soldiers in Iraq, helping out with Lighthouse holiday food drive, or participating in Christmas in Action, a local group helping senior citizens with household improvements and chores.
Several employees claim that, as a group, Chase Plastics feels more like home than business.
‘Working here is almost like having a second family,? said Mindy Winegar, a senior customer service representative with an 11-year tenure at Chase. ‘They’re really employee-focused. Kevin and Carole (Chase) give us what we need to do our jobs and be the best we can be.?
Chase Plastics operates on five highly regarded core values: high expectations, execution, independence, teamwork and integrity, and are all centered on customer satisfaction.
To the leaders, this means keeping the external customers ? the folks who buy the products ? happy, and it also means keeping the internal customers ? the employees ? happy, as well.
‘Our whiz-bang technology is our people,? said Kevin Chase, company president and husband of vice president and co-founder Carole Chase. ‘People make all the difference.?
Kevin and Carole both tout the company’s ‘outrageous? customer service policy as the key to success, and work to empower employees with decision-making authority.
‘Our original business plan was to hit $6 million in the first five years,? said Kevin. Instead we did $24 million. We empowered the people, and they took the ball and ran with it.?
Although he puts a great deal of trust in his employees and works hard to help them develop and advance in the company, Kevin Chase expects a lot in return.
‘You have to be the best,? he said. ‘Otherwise, Carole and I will ask you to leave.?
Chase Plastics currently has three open positions, with room for more when the new building is finished around the end of August.
‘Chase never rests on its laurels,? said Collene Marx, a certification administrator employed by the company for the past seven and a half years. ‘We have the freedom to act on our ideas, and everyone here is committed to finding a way to do things better.?
Materials Manager Laura Goik believes that Kevin and Carole Chase are good role models, and that each demonstrates the type of commitment and professionalism they expect from their employees.
‘They listen to you, they drop what they’re doing and give you one hundred percent attention,? she said. ‘They both walk the talk.?