VDTA inducts successful leaders into Hall Of Fame

Five industry leaders were inducted into the VDTA Hall of Fame on February 23, 2007, during the 2007 VDTA/SDTA Trade Show and Convention in Las Vegas, NV. Each inductee was honored during the convention at an awards ceremony. A plaque was presented to each inductee, featuring their biography and photo. A plaque for each was also placed into the VDTA Hall of Fame.

Being inducted into the VDTA Hall of Fame is a high honor for professionals in the floor care and sewing industries. Those who hold the classification have over 20 years of experience working in the industries. They have conducted business in such a manner to always reflect favorably on the industry, and they have contributed as a leader in some fashion so as to better the organization as a whole.

Following are the Hall of Fame inductees for 2007: Robert B. Booth of Minnesota Vacuum & Sewing Center, Stuart Krawll of Beam of St. Louis, Mike & June Rough of Beam “Easy Living” Center, and Donald Russell of VCP International.

Do you know of someone who deserves the honor of being inducted into the VDTA Hall of Fame? If you do, please take a moment to recognize that colleague by filling out the nomination form. Forms can be found in the VDTA publication or you can obtain one by calling VDTA at 1-800-367-5651.

Robert B. Booth
Minnesota Vacuum & Sewing Center
Robert B. Booth (Bob) was born in the heart of the Mesabi Iron Ore Range of northern Minnesota in 1934. He credits his work ethic to his parents and his older brother Don.

After having served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 1950s, he returned home, married and worked in an area furniture store. He later became acquainted with the Hoover representative who called on the store. In February of 1957 he started as a direct salesman for Hoover in Duluth, MN, where he knocked on thousands of doors and learned the value of giving good service. Bob was promoted to Dealer Supervisor, transferred to St. Paul and called on many retail stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

He moved to Rochester, MN, where he opened his first vacuum sales and service store in 1960.

He later opened his second store in 1966 in Mankato, where he diversified, selling Electro-Hygiene, Hamilton Beach, Sunbeam, and Eureka, along with Hoover.

Although Bob enjoyed the personal direct contact with customers, he decided to again become employed with a large company. Bob had the support of his wife, Shirley and now with five children, they chose to join the Electrolux Company in 1969. Bob enjoyed the direct selling and helping others learn the business. Very soon he was appointed to Field Manager and then to Branch Manager. Bob and his family transferred to St. Cloud, where he expanded his knowledge to others, teaching them the business, again as Branch Manager. Bob and Shirley’s three daughters had other talents and desires; however their eldest son Bill started learning service and repair at age 11. Three years later, their other son Don, also at age 11, joined in doing service and repair.

Bob accepted the challenge of opening another Electrolux Branch Office in Brainerd, MN, where he hired and trained many more people in the business.

Although he stayed with Electrolux, he helped his sons open Minnesota Vacuum & Sewing Center, again serving a wide area. That company has since been sold, as his sons have decided to put their ambitions and desires into helping people in another field.

Bob dealt with open heart, quadruple by-pass surgery and also a stroke in 2001; however, he continues to serve the public, working part-time with the recently formed Aerus Lux.

During his 50 years in the vacuum and sewing business, Bob has won many awards, including a brand new automobile and trips to the Waldorf Astoria in New York, Acapulco, San Francisco, Vancouver, B.C., Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and others.

Bob has truly enjoyed those awards, and he also very much enjoys helping others who are less fortunate by having given vacuums and sewing machines to persons who have lost theirs in flooding, tornadoes, and fires.

Bob is widely known in central and northern Minnesota as “Mr. Electrolux” and “Mr. Vacuum.”

Stuart Krawll
Beam of St. Louis
Stuart Krawll could have pursued a career in corporate accounting, but instead, he used his business skills to establish what has grown into one of the nation’s largest and most successful central vacuum system dealerships.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Missouri and an MBA from the prestigious Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University, Stuart began a career in accounting with a Chicago firm that later became Price Waterhouse Coopers. He soon returned to his hometown, where he worked in real estate marketing. He became interested in central vacuum systems and saw a significant business opportunity selling and installing systems.

In 1981, Stuart and his wife, Susan, established Beam of St. Louis. The couple quickly grew their business into one of the most successful central vacuum system installing dealerships in the country. During the past 25 years, Beam of St. Louis has sold an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 central vacuum systems and has earned numerous awards for sales and service excellence including Beam’s prestigious Dealer of the Year Award and has twice been named to Beam’s Million-Dollar Club.

A long-time member of VDTA, Stuart has consistently sought and shared advice and expertise with fellow VDTA members and was a strong advocate of VDTA training programs. He put much of that knowledge to work in growing his own business to a 14-employee distributorship that trains and supplies a network of 35 subdealers throughout eastern Missouri and central and southern Illinois. He also serves on Beam’s Dealer Council.

Unlike many central vacuum dealerships that offer a myriad of other installed products, Beam of St. Louis has kept its focus on central vacuums and has formed strategic partnerships with other companies that supply structured wiring and low-voltage products to assure builders have access to central vacuum systems. Stuart also has played an active role in creating lasting relationships with St. Louis area builders. A 25-year member of the St. Louis Area Homebuilders Association and a fixture on the HBA’s Home Show Committee, Stuart has played a key role in making St. Louis’ annual home show one of the most successful in the nation. Supported by an aggressive marketing program, Stuart and Susan Krawll also have built a vibrant retrofit business. In fact, thanks to their efforts, St. Louis boasts more existing home central vacuum installations than any city in the U.S.

Stuart has also played an active role in local business and civic activities, having served as Chairman of the Ronald S. Beasley School and as a member of the Development Board of St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He is currently on the West County Advisory Board for the Commerce Bank of St. Louis. The father of three grown children and grandfather of three, Stuart also coached youth soccer teams for eight years.

Donald V. Russell
VCP International
Donald V. Russell was born April 18, 1954. He married his wife Susan in 1979 and they have two children, Taylor and Michelle.

Don has been involved in the vacuum industry since 1965 when he worked weekends and summers helping his father at VCP. He joined VCP as a sales associate in 1976 shortly after graduation from Texas Tech University, and in 1978 he assumed the role of owner and CEO. In 1981, Don became a charter member of the VDTA. His dedication and commitment to the industry is seen in his service. He has served on the Advisory Board of Directors and the Bernie Epstein Scholarship Committee. Don has attended all conventions held in the United States. He was keynote speaker in 1987 for the VDTA Convention, and he has sponsored various seminars throughout the years.

Don is one of the most forward-thinking entrepreneurs you will meet. His vision has made footprints upon our industry that will be followed for years. His leadership at VCP brought about the comprehensive detailed catalog which remains a key source for customers. He was responsible for introducing the bar coding system in 1987, improving the inventory process. In 1987 he was instrumental in helping institute a motor warranty program. This added value improved VCP’s customers’ ability to compete in their market. Don revamped the shipping program and today, VCP offers same day shipping. This puts inventory into the stores quickly, allowing dealers immediate access to a variety of products. VCP’s state-of-the-art interactive Web site allows customers to access inventory availability, view account status, and monitor their purchase history. Today VCP offers Web hosting, a program offering store fronts on the Internet. This allows VCP’s customers to compete in a worldwide market. Don, who is honest, loyal and trus
tworthy, is well respected within the vacuum industry. He is known for his friendliness, warmth and kindness. Don enjoys life and is committed to his family. And, his contributions to local organizations such as Hope Cottage, Camp John Marc and Camp Fire have made an impact on the quality of life for many families in need. Don is also respectful, kind, and gives freely of his time and talent.

Mike & June Rough
Beam “Easy Living” Center
Mike Rough was born in Indianapolis, IN, in 1940; he grew up there and in Illinois.  June was born and raised in Ohio.

Mike graduated from the Illinois State University in 1962 with a degree in business. He was vice president and agency director in the insurance field and later became partners in a construction corporation. He moved to California in 1979 with his wife June and several of their nine children. They settled in Grass Valley, CA, to start a central vacuum business. Initially they sold and installed out of their garage with June sending mailings to the permit lists and Mike selling and installing the systems. Later June became the primary salesperson and has personally sold hundreds of central vacuum systems.

Due to the lack of local familiarization with central vacuums, they gave a “90 Day Money Back” guarantee in order to sell. With their commitment to the product the customers gradually gained confidence in them. Beam sent a couple of corporate executives out to see why in Grass Valley, population of 5,000, more Beam Central Vacuums were being sold than anywhere in the United States. They decided it was the “Money Back” guarantee, and Beam implemented it nationally in their literature as an incentive for customers to try their product.

In 1981 along with his former partner Bob Luglan (cousin to Bob Sampson who was for many years president and owner of Beam Industries in Webster City, IA) they opened The Beam Center, a small store in Grass Valley. Beam Central Vacuums were the main products sold. Eventually other low voltage products were added such as alarms, intercoms, and audio/video to name a few. Due to the needs of an expanding business, Mike and June purchased a 13,000-square-foot building in 1998 and remodeled it to house showroom, offices, and warehousing in a single location.

In 1999 Beam Industries presented Beam “Easy Living” Center with an award as the first dealer to purchase annually $1 million of Beam vacuum products. Every year since that time, their volume has been increasing. And to date, only three businesses in the U.S. have accomplished this milestone.

Mike retired from the business in 2002 to pursue his primary hobby of golfing, but along with June continues to stay involved with the business. Because of their efforts Mike and June placed themselves on the cutting edge of the still growing central vacuum industry. Their combined dedication to this industry through their relationships and ideas both directly and indirectly in many ways are responsible for the central vacuum industry’s growth over the past 25 years.

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, March 2007