Team Insight

with different corporate cultures, we stress that as a company we need to have a higher sense of urgency than other brands while maintaining our core values. I constantly think of business as a team sport with players at every position working together to contribute, while constantly keeping an eye on the scoreboard. How do you track that? Every morning Ryan and I both run a series of reports to see how we did in all facets of company performance the previous day. If we scored poorly in any facet, we try to figure out how to improve it. Ryan is now much more involved and aggressive in these efforts than I am, but I don't hesitate to offer my point of view. So what's your role at Champro these days? Ryan runs the company, but I try to help coordinate between different departments and offer suggestions without getting into micromanaging. We have great players on our team so they don't need constant direction from me. Since Champro has been growing at a rapid pace, there continues to be opportunities for me to help. Anything specific? I am currently working to improve efficiency in our screenprint operation while serving as "Interim" Sourcing Manager and "Interim" Key Account Sales Manager. Once we fill these two roles I will see if I can help in other areas. What's a typical day like? Fortunately, there are no typical days. I heard a quote not long ago that "the pace of change in the world today has never been this fast, yet it will never be this slow again." Yes, that certainly sounds about right. It is important that as a company we recognize how quickly the world and our industry are changing and think about what's next and what we need to do to stay ahead of the changes. At this stage I think of myself as a trouble shooter, helping Ryan identify operations and processes we need to improve as a company. I truly enjoy being in the office and the interaction with our team. When I am in town, I am in the office five days a week. A typical day for me is sometimes shorter and more frequently remote as I am traveling a little more for fun. Fortunately, I can work every day from wherever I am. Champro is certainly committed to the team dealer channel. Why is that partnership so successful? We have been an important partner for team dealers because we have constantly tried to learn about their businesses and understand what they need in order to succeed. I attribute our success to listening to and learning from our customers — team dealers, brick-and- mortar retailers, as well as e-commerce companies. We know they need product quickly, they need simplicity in the relationship and they need product quality and value that enable them to compete and make a reasonable profit. You work closely with your son, Ryan. Please explain your feelings of that and some of the challenges and benefits of working with your son. Ryan started working at Champro when he was in grade school loading and unloading trucks, picking and packing orders and assembling bases. Ryan has worked in almost every operational area of the company. His transition to president has worked out extremely well for me and the company and I think also for him personally. His wife, Megan, has been manager of quality and compliance since 2010. Our other two sons, Evan and Nolan, spent quite a few hours aer school and summers working at Champro when they were younger, but went in other directions to start careers. Evan is now a pilot and Nolan is a risk management field consultant for forestry companies. My wife, Terese, also helped out a lot in the early days doing whatever was necessary. Any hobbies/pastimes our readers should know about you? I love sports, but the only one I still attempt to play is golf. I play golf whenever opportunities arise. Champro supports a school in Karsa, Ethiopia. Can you explain how that all came about, what you do for the teaminsightmag.com May/June 2023 ~ Team Insight • 15 Bill Hunt (with scissors) opening at the opening of Champro's sublimation factory in Dominican Republic in 2018. Sakira factory name is combination for Ryan's daughters names — Sara and Kira.

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