Joe and Claire Suminski have been second generation business owners for a Macon County-based global parts business for 21 years. Now the leaders of this privately-owned family business are passing it on to their children – Jerome and Annie.
When Dometrics, Inc. launched in 1986, its primary customers were manufacturers in the paper industry. Today, it’s headquartered in Franklin, with an office in Tampa, Fla., and it’s customers more than 300 factories and manufacturers worldwide.
Key to their success was her father’s and grandfather’s work ethic and influence, and those family business principles have been passed onto their children.
“Both my father and grandfather worked for Sandy Hill Iron and Brass in Hudson Falls, New York. It was a foundry that first began in 1858 to make machinery and replacement parts for the paper industry,” Claire shared. “It was later purchased by GL & V (Part of Valmet). This foundry operated for 161 years, making a big investment in the local community.”
Worldwide relevance
When Dometrics was founded by Claire’s father, Martin Gallup, in Hudson Falls, N.Y., he saw a need his new business could fulfill.
Gallup had paid attention to the paper companies purchasing Finnish and German-style-equipment that Sandy Hill Corporation and Valmet built. He realized they experienced difficulty getting replacement parts in a timely fashion. Dometrics was established to solve the problem.
Through the 40 years of being in business, Dometrics expanded beyond the paper industry and now supplies components for machinery manufacturers as well as providing replacement and maintenance parts for machinery built in Europe, United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Joe and Claire moved to Franklin in 1991 and both started working for the family business.
“Mr. Gallup hired me in 1991 and I started managing the company in 1998,” said Joe. “He had taught me vital lessons about business and sales. He was an invaluable business mentor and consummate salesman. He loved making a deal and wanted it to be beneficial for all parties involved.”
After Claire’s father died in 2005, they purchased Dometrics from the estate and took the helm.
“We could not have picked a better place to raise our four children and one foster son,” said Claire. “Some of the highlights of being here have been homeschooling, 4-H, church in the home, volunteer fire department, and various community endeavors.
Joe added, “Of course, there have been challenges. Understanding all of it from God’s Word has given us confidence to trust Him in our family and business pursuits. If it was easy, everyone would do it.
“The challenges have been momentary and the benefits lasting our lifetimes. When it comes to our marriage, working together has been highly beneficial. Being married and business partners provided the opportunity to pull together in everything. Plus, it has been more time spent together with the one I committed my life to. Best benefit ever!”
All in the family
At one time or another, all of the Suminski’s children have worked or helped out in some capacity at Dometrics, which is located on Jim Berry Road, close to their Franklin mini farm.
“Jerome has said from a child that he wanted to work at Dometrics,” explained Joe.
Now, he is the company’s new chief executive officer.
Their daughter, Annie, echoed Jerome’s sentiments early on. The torch has also passed to her, to oversee the company in its financial capacities as chief financial officer.
“They earned those responsibilities and ownership,” affirmed Joe. There are total of five employees.
Annie Suminski (pictured top with Jerome) began working part-time at Dometrics when she was 16. “I would have ‘very important’ jobs, like shredding papers, cleaning and sending faxes to vendors overseas.”
She pointed out that her job as not only CFO but also vice president enables her to realize the company has real-world impact.
She summarized Dometric’s primary role as making sure parts get from one place to another so that they benefit businesses and industries. “When I’m out and about, I see so many ways our parts are used. When I go to the grocery store, or wherever, I see evidence of our parts making a difference.”
As the CFO, her daily challenge is “being very detailed minded and looking for ways to improve operations.”
Jerome shared that what he gleaned most from his parents is a “strong work ethic and professionalism.” He added, “Plus, I have learned to trust in God as my sufficiency.”
Mutual respect while working together in their family business has also been the glue. “Everyone cares about the business succeeding, but also we support one another’s individual goals and dreams,” said Jerome.
“God gives us a standard to hold to. It’s the best standard,” said Annie. “We look at God first for our prosperity and when we need help or are going through challenges. We also pray for customers and vendors. While it can sometimes be challenging to work in a family business, it’s made 1,000 times easier that we are looking to God first as a company and as a family.”
Bright future
Dometrics is anything but a staid company. The Suminskis are continually investigating new opportunities.
Currently, the company is working with Elektror Airsystems on increasing its presence in the United States. Elektror is a leading industrial fan manufacturer located in Germany and Dometrics top vendor.
Headquartered in Ostifildern, Germany, near Stuttgart, Elektror is the main German vendor for Dometrics. The Suminskis point out that the endeavor “is an exciting opportunity for both them and us.”
Like Annie, Jerome hopes to always look for ways to grow Dometrics’s presence and diversify when it benefits the company.
“Being a third-generation majority owner of this business makes me proud of all that our family has accomplished,” noted Jerome. “I definitely feel the weight of responsibility to lead this company in a way that will cause it to continue to succeed.”
Claire and Joe are still involved in a consulting role – and wherever they are needed. Quipped Joe: “I do what the CEO tells me to do.”
Community service important
Claire said that when her family worked for Sandy Hill Iron and Brass it was very community-minded. And so Dometrics and the Suminski’s second business, Suminski Family Books (best know for its Cowee Sam book series) continued that tradition.
“My family has been very involved with the community,” said Annie, “and our parents have encouraged us to do the same. They run a home bible fellowship. I also run a home bible fellowship. My dad was a volunteer firefighter for 20 years. My Mom continues to be very involved with helping young people in the community. I am proud of their long history of service.”
Regarding the company’s endurance in an age when family businesses face increasing challenges on numerous levels, Joe advises other such entities: “Learn God’s Word, walk in love, give.”
For more information, visit: Dometrics.com and Suminskifamilybooks.com.
