Robert Cole

owner, IFAI Honored Life Member

Goodwin-Cole
Sacramento, Calif.

IFAI member since: 1953

Most valued benefit:
The opportunity to become acquainted with suppliers and others in the industry.

Demand + supply = prevail

October 1, 2015  |  Awnings & Canopies, Business, Features, Management, Markets, Perspective, Tents

Robert Cole brings decades of experience and common sense to the time-honored but always evolving economic model of supply and demand. One of the great things this industry has to offer is the quality of its suppliers,” says Robert Cole, IFAI Honored Life Member (HLM) and owner of Goodwin-Cole, Sa…
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No fear

September 1, 2015  |  Features, Perspective

Per Lindstrand sees obstacles as stepping stones as he develops new methods and products for fabric engineering. Never be afraid to stick your head out. I’d rather have my head slapped one time too many than too little,” says aeronautical engineer Per Lindstrand, founder and president of Lindstr…
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Selling shade

August 1, 2015  |  Awnings & Canopies, Features, Markets, Perspective

Conrad Masterson builds his business by focusing on what clients really want—and what employees need. “The first thing I learned when I entered the shade sail industry was to focus on what the customer really wants,” says Conrad Masterson, president of SHADE Industries, Phoenix, Ariz. “T…
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Beyond the competition

July 1, 2015  |  Fabric Structures, Features, Perspective

Patty and Charly Smail build their business by learning from each new customer—and finding gaps in what the competition offers. We’ve always been service-oriented people. That’s our style,” says Patty Smail, president of Shelter Structures Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa. “We wanted to find marke…
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Form & function

June 1, 2015  |  Features, Perspective

Dr. Maureen MacGillivray uses her functional apparel expertise to design and test textiles and teach those skills to the next generation. By Sigrid Tornquist People sometimes feel like all the good ideas have already been thought of and nothing new can be created,” says Maureen MacGillivray, Ph.D.…
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From surviving to thriving

May 1, 2015  |  Business, Features, Management, Perspective

Dan Hooks propels his organization to new heights by maximizing regional opportunities and building a management team. “Surviving the latest recession taught us several lessons about the financial health of our company and what we needed to change in order to go from surviving to thriving,” …
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Productivity paired

April 1, 2015  |  Features, Management, Perspective

Father and son team Stewart and Ross Brown embrace the challenge of change by making the most of their strengths.
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Good better best

March 1, 2015  |  Features, Management, Perspective

Charles Webster uses lean techniques to continuously improve production and efficiency. What we try to do better than other companies is give our customers more than they ask for, sooner than they expect it, in higher quality than they’re used to,” says Charles Webster, president and CEO of DOWC…
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Trendsetter

February 1, 2015  |  Features, Management, Perspective

Vern Schaefer is what is known as an “early adopter,” trying new equipment as soon as it’s available. As he transitions company leadership to his daughter, he’s still setting trends. “I don’t believe in being locked into one way of doing things,” says Vernon Schaefer, MFC, CEO of G…
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Rest stops on the road to success

January 1, 2015  |  Features, Management, Perspective

David Snoad implements systems and empowers employees so his business can flourish—and he can take a vacation. “I’ve been away six months of this calendar year and we’re about to have our most profitable year ever,” says David Snoad, managing director of Pinz Pty. Ltd., Seaton, Austral…
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