Our very own Stephenie Davis was featured in NIBA’s Belt Line Publication for their Winter 2022 addition. Here is her article.
Davis Industrial is an award-winning, privately-held, certified Woman-Owned Business with locations in Tampa and Miami, FL. We specializes in solution- driven conveyor maintenance, metal fabrication,and bulk material handling components.
We have an amazing team at Davis Industrial, so I am very lucky to be able to spend my time on all facets of the business. As with any small(ish) business, the role “President & CEO” means you wear many hats. I spend a lot of time in the field with customers and our Solutions Specialists, helping them to solve problems with a solution-focused approach. I also spend time working with our Branch and Department Managers to help guide the direction of the company with new strategies and tactics to ensure we are positioning ourselves in the best way to be able to take care of our customers. I am regularly out on job sites with our technicians, collaborating to figure out what improvements we need to make internally to help them in the field. In between all of that I’m usually talking to our CFO about our growth strategy, investments, and financials. Every day is very different from the last!
Well, this was basically my first industry job. I bought the business when I was 21 after just a short stint in outside sales. As crazy as it was looking back, buying a broken business at the precipice of the recession was a great opportunity to reinvent the business and our approach to the industry and our customers. I’m proud to say that after starting with just a few people, we now have almost 50 people and two branches with solid plans for future growth. All of that was born out of a little desperation, a lot of drive, a customer-focused approach and most importantly, an incredible team making things happen.
Oh wow, there are so many things I wish I would have known, so many things that may have kept us out of some hot water over the years, but I feel like that is how we learn. There’s always something new. If I were to give someone advice today about the industry in particular, I would say grow your network. There is so much valuable information out there, much of it is bottled up in the people that have been there and done that. Tapping into the network is a game changer.
I’ve been very lucky to be able to serve on the Education and Technical Committee several times, currently serving as Chair. The exposure to the people and the knowledge they have is unlike anything I’ve experienced elsewhere. Not only have I been able to utilize NIBA to grow my knowledge, my network, and my business, I have made a lot of really great friends along the way. I would say that as with any organization, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it; personally, I decided to get involved early on and am so glad I did.
We belong to numerous other organizations to ensure we have a well-rounded view of the industry and our part in it. I would say that NIBA differs in that it is close knit and very inviting. Everyone is so genuine and willing to help one another grow themselves and their organizations. The training problems are also a huge differentiator. The in person, hands-on training is unmatched.
Attending the annual convention is an invaluable experience. Not only is it a great way to network and learn about the industry, but it is also a lot of fun! The memories you make at a NIBA convention are long lasting and the connections can be exponential. The last convention was so well put together that it’s hard to give just one answer. I’d say for me it was really the overall balance of it, there was something for everyone at pretty much any time. If you wanted to have business meetings, there were opportunities. Or to meet Women of NIBA, there was a time and place for that. Or if you were a first timer, there was a reception for that. If you were one of us under 40, there was a place for you too. And if you wanted to chill by that awesome pool with a beverage in hand, you could do that too. I think NIBA is doing great things, and this was our best convention yet.
I recently attended the Heavyweight Splice School hosted at the Almex Institute in Decatur, GA. No matter how many times I attend this school, I learn something new. The trainers are truly experts in their fields, they put on a very informative and engaging course. They were able to captivate the attention of attendees no matter their position or background, we had attendees that have been in the industry anywhere from a week to several decades with various backgrounds and lots of really good questions; none of which stumped the trainers.
We’ve been having the same problem as long as I have been in the industry, it’s the lack of qualified people. The issue now is that the problem is bigger than it ever was before. The knowledge base that is retiring or moving on compared to the workforce coming up is leaving us all at a big disadvantage.
I think the NIBA Board is setting the focus in the right direction. They are intentional about providing value to NIBA members and helping them succeed in business. Businesses need resources and training for those resources. The focus on Educational and Technical training made available to NIBA membership is going to help businesses train their new employees or refresh the training of their existing employees to get them up to speed faster to help their businesses thrive. Our expansion of these training courses over the past year and future years to come is not only what sets NIBA apart in the industry but also makes it The Place to be, true to the motto “If you’re not in NIBA, you’re not in belting.”
Belt Line Winter 2022 Publication