Promotions announced

Thanks to Nick Profeta, this old announcement in early 1980' surfaced again.    It is probably in the local Yonkers paper called Herald Statesman and announced promotion of Ken Shimazu  to the Assistant Vice President and Nick Profeta to the Corporate Secretary.           Nick was the de facto corporate secretary for years while Mrs. Halpern held the title but since Mr. Halpern's departure his role was officially acknowledged.      

Ettinger and Co. in Japan

When Mel became CEO, he brought a delegation to DIC in an effort for a closer tie.     As was customary for DIC to receive visitors,  Mel was asked to make presentation regarding the state of Graphic Arts at the Tokyo plant Graphic Center.       Both Sr. Kawamura and the president Kawamura along with many from various department of DIC attended.

Mel at the Graphic Center

Bob Hallman with Graphic Arts Technical Center personnel

The days usually ended  in a Karaoke party in those days; standing is 

Mr. Hattori who was in charge of Graphic groups at that time  and Mr. Shiraishi.

Sitting from left is Cliff Coppinger and Mel Ettinger with kimono clad hostes.

Mell Ettinger our sixth president

Right after the departure of Don Wheeler, Mel Ettinger appeared as the sixth president of Polychrome.   His arrival at Yonkers headquarter was memorable as he came in a chauffeur driven limo, the first in Polychrome and the last although a limo service is a standard perk for major Japanese company executives.    As CEO he saw the Columbus factory opening in 1991.   But he is probably best remembered for closing  the company headquarter in Yonkers and then relocating it to Ft. Lee, New Jersey co-locating with then the immediate parent company, Sun Chemical.               We also saw the final closing of Yonkers plant and consolidation of the production in Columbus during his term.          His charming and dashing way could not turn around the  US business due to the hemorrhaging investment in Columbus  and probably caused his departure.
             

On the Upbeat August 1986

The Upbeat reports Polychrome's purchase of Rachwal System.          John Russell leads the year to date sales showing 171% of budget, followed by Mark Skender's 140% and Robert Morris's 135%.     Nashville branch ( Al Wierling) holds first place in the branch percent to budget race.
Read all about it HERE.

PQX team

This came from Victor Lopez and he writes,

My brain is a little fuzzy on the exact date.  But this was my first project at Polychrome.  I think the product was launched in 1991. As an aside, the PQX team was one of the first multi department product teams.  I remember catching a little flack for putting this group together.  I was inspired from the Quality Circles belief that was floating around in the late 80's.
(can you recognize all the names of the team? )

Christmas Party invitation 1969 and 1974

These are the invitations to the annual Christmas Party while Mr. Halpern was around.   No photos; just the images of the invitations to establish when and where.....

Friday Dec. 19th 1969 at the Tappan Hill Restaurant

Saturday Dec. 21st 1974 at the Hilton Inn, Tarrytown, NY

Whistle blowing encouraged in 1989

This note encourages 1200 Polychrome employees to speak up when he/she finds inappropriate actions within the company.       I have not asked Nick, the designated receiver of the calls how successful it was.         But this note by itself may also have served to indicate the management's willingness to listen and as such may have had some value.     See the full text HERE.

Better half's guide to Polychrome R&D 1996

Whenever I had an occasional R&D get together at my home, I made up a flyer to distribute to entertain the members or R&D who showed up to celebrate one thing or other.      Here is the one from 1996.     Judging from the date, Dec. 29, this must have been one for a Christmas Party.        This is a somewhat tongue in cheek description of our R&D but some are factual and good description of our activities.  
HERE is the detail with some photos from the Carlstadt Lab you might enjoy.      You can also read the  write up to identify which is true and which is not.

On the Upbeat July 1986

July must have been a good month for hiring.        Upbeat congratulates 29 years of service by Herman Wolf, 26 years by Sidney Fowlds, 25 years by Bill Young and Burt Burros.    Ray Bender reports 4.5 million impression with WGAN.                 Read all contents HERE.

Chicago luncheon photos

Manny Roth our Polychrome Chicago Almuni organized a reunion recently.      Here are two photos just arrived,     Thanks Manny!

In front     John Williams,  rear from left John Laglione Fred Marocchi 

Front   John Williams, rear from left Pat Hahn, John Rapp, Maryann Samoa and Paul Holmquist.

Retiree luncheon photo

Perhaps in mid 1990'?       I used to hear a retiree luncheon (but with some not yet retired) getting together somewhere in New Jersey.        Ralph Gigi who was not yet retired at that time suggested that I join the luncheon but I always declined saying I was too young to retire......!         Thanks to Nick I have this photo with  familiar faces.

Sydney Fowlds, Mario Rufino, Bill Salzman,?, Ralph Gigi, Nick Profeta, John Randolph, Victor Tkaczenko, Rudy Thornhill, Chuck Kreiner and Enrique Levy

Don Wheeler, our fifth president

Our fourth president Joe Piot may be remembered in three areas, 1) lavish Christmas Parties; at Tavern on the Green,  Water Club, 21 Club, Waldorf Astoria Hotel, etc. (Nick Profeta recalls that he was told not to worry about expenses.), 2) starting ill planned Columbus factory construction (listening to a junior Arthur Andersen consultant and decided to build a Just-in-time factory ) 3) bringing in McKinsey consultant.          Don Wheeler our fifth and Thomas Bittner our seventh president and others with McKinsey background joined Polychrome through his effort.             Don has inherited troubled Columbus project and ultimately was the victim of cost overrun and delay in start up probably resulting in  his  short lived tenure as the CEO.

Service Award 1987

Were you at this service award?       I see familiar names like; Ray Baer, Kathy Sharp, Ed Sabol, Stu Sherman, Theresa Wasiak,Silvia Black,Peggy Otis,Barbara Viviano,Steve Gallo,Alan Wilkes,Gordon Jenkins,Eileen Lucci and of course Nick Profeta and Herman Wolf.     See the full list HERE.

Old photos from Fred Gumbinner

Fred Gumbinner, Mr. Bob Gumbinner's son, contributed these old photos.  Thanks Fred!

,

This photo must have been taken in mid 70' just before Wes Hennessey our second president in the back far left took office.

These are probably from one of the Christmas Party pictures around the same time.

Jim Graves, Stan Eysman and Lee Bonime in the back

Barney Gold in the middle.

 Alex Halpern in the middle and Seth Cross in the back far right.

Fred Pollak old time stencil person seated in the middle. Irv Simmons of Cromatone on far left and Carol Chu on the opposite side.     Nick Profeta and Simon Chu in the back.

Ray Lauzon and his wife and Simon Chu in the back, Jill Halley and Carol Chu front right

Irv Simmons, Mrs and Dr. Delos Bown and Stan Eysman in the back row.

On the upbeat Jun 1986

Promotions of Mike Popper, Dan Cahill, Jim Deer, Noel Stegner, Joe Pargola, Dan Ferrari, Pat Duckworth, Bill Faulkner, Mark Oser and Jenny Macias are congratulated in this issue.    Simon Chu elected as the president of NALPM.      Bill Bosko returns from Japan and Hawaii, Bill's reward for winning Manager of the Year honors for 1985.          Read more HERE.

Organization Chart around 1991

Judging from the date stamps these organization charts were created between 1990 and 1992 during the reign of Don Wheeler as CEO.      You many not recognize all the names but they are all "old timers"     now.       Go through all the department HERE.

Polychrome Americas News and Views Aug/Sept 1991

In this issue Noel Stegner introduces National Account Sales Team.        Don Lynch, Mike Poppr, Bill Bosko, Hal Kohn, Jerry Publocki and John Stergis give updates on their region.       Howard Krick lead  National TSR Ranking and B. Dixon was top in top billing TSR.        Read all the details HERE.
(Thank you Al Wierling for this and other contributions)

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B9ukSP58gv17d2o3eVY5QkNlRGM/edit

1992 Service Award

Mel Ettinger, then CEO announced service award for 1992.        Recipients included Nick Profeta and Herman Wolf for 35 years of service.        Harrey Horeisch for 30 year; Marvin Lester, Gordon Jenkins and Luis Ramsey for 25 years.      See who else you can recognize in this long list HERE.

Old photos from Yonkers

 Here is the award-winning Yonkers headquarter entrance.    You may remember the spiral staircase right behind these glass doors.

Ever present Rudy Thornhill

With my partner in many projects, Jay Patel

Another Chemist from India, Ajay Shah

We used to enlist help of off duty police officers from Yonkers Police department for the night watch.

One familiar face at the reception desk.

Not yet world class maintenance department in yonkers plant many years ago.

(view from old R&D lab upstairs)

On the Upbeat March 1985

This issue says "First Anniversary Issue" suggesting that the Upbeat started March 1984.       So early few issues are missing at this point.
Canada region was 113% of budget in January 1985 and G. Jackson was by far the best performer at 204% against budget.      Read more HERE.

Mr. M. Shiraishi in New York

Mr. "Michi" Shiraishi was a DIC representative between 1984 and 1995,

a relatively long stay for DIC where rotation in 3 years or so was a norm.        He was first stationed in Kohl &Madden and then at DICA as a technical representative and was a familiar face at Polychrome in Carlstadt and Ft Lee.      You may remember him well for his ready smile and his excellent followup.          He was in New York this summer to visit his second son who works in New Jersey.            After his tour in US he went back to Tokyo and Malaysia and then after his retirement from DIC became busy in volunteering  to head Japanese School for foreigners in his city.     He comes to New Jersey often to see his second son, his wife and two grandchildren.            He says hello to all those who were at Polychrome.

Mr. Shiraishi and me with New York skyline in back

Nick Profeta's photo collection

Nick's wife Carmen kindly dug through their photo album and provided me these photos.　　　
Thank you Nick and Carmen.

Nick's 25th service award 

His 30th service award

with J. Piot... N. Profeta Street!!!? in 1987

with Bill Rowe

w. Mr. Hiroaki Takahashi, DIC personnel dept.

with E. Levy

with J. Piot, D. Wheeler and R. Muzzilo

This appears to be a pretty old Tappan Hill Christmas party late 1060's

with Mr. Shiraishi of DIC and Carmen

Mr. Shiraishi, Nick, JP, Mr. Tsuji then DIC America president and Mr. Ito then general manager of DICA

Kanpai with Mr. Tsuji

with Mr. Yujobo of DICA and Lou Kaplan 

The farewell letter from Mr. Halpern, Oct. 22, 1980

Mr. Halpern was always able to seek and find an alternative investor if a major investor became uneasy about the Polychrome's performance or Mr. Halpern's leadership.       He may have thought the situation was no different in 1978 when Rhone Poulanc management indicated their interest in raising their stake in Polychrome.        Rhone Poulanc by then was not only a major investor but also an important business partner both in marketing and in research & development.         Mr. Halpern's call to find an investor was answered by DIC whose president Mr. Kawamura was very much interested in expanding his business overseas.           This time, however, the balancing act did not work out in Mr. Halpern's favor.         Instead of having DIC to own only a part of the remaining Polychrome stock to counterbalance Rhone Poulanc, DIC ended up winning a bidding war... a first for a Japanese company to do so.... and owning most of Polychrome's share except for a few percent owned by Mr. Halpern.
Mr. Halpern still hoped to maintain his management control of Polychrome even after the company became a wholly owned subsidiary of DIC and all the indications were that DIC was willing to do so.       Mr. Halpern then made a second mistake in judgement; he panicked and feared that his remaining shares may not be worth if DIC did not honor and buy them in future.        He rushed to Tokyo and got an agreement to have them bought.         This left him to be a mere employee of the company rather than a significant share holder.                 Mr. Halpern increasingly found himself to be out of management loop, moved out of his office (and moved into my office!) then tendered his resignation.         This letter was sent to all the employees and was his farewell to his beloved Polychrome.             You can read the whole text HERE.          By the way after losing this bidding war, Rhone Poulanc pulled out of the graphic arts business.      We later bought Regma and Quadrimetal from them.