Chapter 3: A New Career

"Okay, gentlemen," Leo said, "Here's what I've decided. We will order one press now, along with a laminator and a pouch machine. Ralph, you indicated that the laminator and that one larger press were available almost immediately, correct?"

Ralph nodded.

"The pouch machine comes from Japan and delivery is minimum sixteen weeks," Ralph confirmed. "The press and the laminator will be on site as soon as the preliminary work on the building is done. Luckily, there isn't much to do except prepare the floor and upgrade the electrical and emission controls. I'd guess we're three to four months away from having them installed. We're staying with the slitters they have now and won't replace them until necessary."

Leo nodded. "Any questions?"

"Can we start ordering now?" Ralph asked.

"Yes. Make sure they understand to time the delivery with our work in the plant. I don't want crates of new equipment sitting around cluttering up the workplace while we're trying to get prep work done."

"Got it," Ralph said.

"Dave, assign one of your accounting people to manage the cash and invoices. Don't pay any invoices more than a day before due, if then, okay?"

"Sure, Leo," he chuckled.

"Okay, that's it. Andy, stick around. We need to talk."

I saw Dave wink at me as he left the room, closing the door behind him.

"Dave seems to think you can handle the Tracy operation," Leo said seriously.

"If we make Mike Knowlton a regional sales manager it would be doable."

"I'm sure it would be. However, that's not what I was thinking. I was thinking of making you general manager of Tracy. You'd be responsible for the entire operation."

"Me?" Leo had caught me completely flat-footed. I didn't know what to say.

"I gave you this project to see how you worked with Dave and Ralph and to see how realistic your objectives were. You satisfied me that you understand what we are trying to do in the marketplace and know how to go about achieving results. You've already proven yourself as an excellent sales manager. This is a step up and a challenge. Do you think you can handle it?"

"I don't know," I said, shaking my head. "It never entered my mind that you might offer this to me. I'd like some time to think about it. You said Dave thought I could do it?"

He nodded. "Yeah, you impressed him. He's my number two guy in this operation. He's not just some bean counter, he's senior management material. At some point, he's going to be the head guy at Flex-Tek. You probably can tell he knows the business inside and out. I trust him and he hasn't let me down."

"No argument, Leo. Dave and Ralph were great to work with. I mean, I really relied on both of them to make this work. If I was to take this job, I'd need two guys I could count on in accounting and production. I'm not qualified in those areas."

Again, Leo was nodding. "I know that. We wouldn't leave you out there on your own. But, in order for that plant to function, we are going to need to build sales and do it as soon as the equipment is installed and running. I can shift some production from here, but that won't fill your press or your laminator. You'll need to get that extra from the market."

"Well, I'd have a two-to-three month head start, so that would help. Ralph also cautioned me that the equipment wouldn't be producing very much finished product to begin with. A lot of training and fine tuning is required. Anyhow, Leo, let me think about your question over the weekend and we'll talk on Monday if that's okay with you?"

"That will be fine, Andy. Take it easy and don't get too uptight over this decision. Dave, Ralph and I think you can do the job, so keep that in mind."

"I will," I smiled, "Thanks."

I was pumped up as I left Leo's office. Susan, Leo's secretary, waved and smiled at me as I walked by. It dawned on me later that she knew what the meeting was all about. And Dave's wink as he left Leo's office told me he knew as well. It seemed I had a lot of support for something I would never have expected to be offered.

I went to my office and sat behind my desk. I wasn't able to focus at that moment. Too many things were going through my head, all colliding with each other. I wasn't going to be much use that particular Friday morning. I needed some advice and I had an idea of who might provide it.

Bill Costello was my largest and favorite customer. He was officially the assistant general manager of Wildwood Coffee, but in reality, he ran the business for his absentee owner. For some reason, this sixty-year-old man and I had hit it off almost right away and developed a business relationship that evolved into friendship. He was a widower for the past six years and had survived a cancer scare himself.

I had visited him in the hospital many times when he was undergoing treatment. We would play cards and generally talk about what was going on in our world. Bill had a common sense perspective about life and business in general and it was that which I sought today.

"Bill, it's Andy. How are you?"

"Fine, thank you. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call," he chuckled.

"Can I buy you lunch and get some advice at the same time?"

"I like the lunch idea," he chuckled, "but you know what they say about free advice."

"Yeah ... you get what you pay for. On the other hand, you're one guy I have confidence you'll steer me in the right direction."

"Very flattering, Andy, but if this is about your divorce, I'm not available."

"No, no, nothing like that. I wouldn't do that to you."

"Okay, just make sure you don't try and manoeuvre me around that way."

"I promise. Scout's honour."

"Were you ever a scout?"

"Nope," I laughed.

"See you at noon," he said before hanging up.

"So, now that I've been fed and you've been dancing around without saying anything, what's this all about?" Bill asked.

"In confidence, Bill, I've been asked if I want to be G.M. at the new Tracy plant. I had no idea I was going to be offered it and I haven't really been able to digest just what it would involve. The last thing I want to do is screw it up for Leo."

"Do you think you can do the job?"

"I don't know. I'm a salesman, Bill. You know that. I know something about how the other parts work, but not a lot."

Bill didn't comment right away.

"When you were doing that proposal, did you understand all the parts that were going into it?"

"Well, some of the financial stuff was beyond me, and when Ralph was discussing the electrical and environmental equipment, I won't pretend I got all of that. Generally, I knew what they were talking about and why it was important."