VDTA inducts successful leaders into Hall Of Fame

Five industry leaders were inducted into the VDTA Hall of Fame on February 20, 2008, during the 2008 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 2008: Gary Phillips of Gary’s Vacuflo, Edwin Price of Buckeye Vacuum Cleaner Supply, and Diana Richards of Vacuum Systems 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.

Gary Phillips
Gary’s Vacuflo
In 1982 Gary Phillips began installing Vacuflo systems as a side job in Anchorage, Alaska, after his career as an air traffic controller was grounded. A native Oregonian, he returned to the Portland area and restarted this satisfying business from his garage in 1987.

Gary’s Vacuflo has grown into one of the largest central vacuum dealers in the country, with more than 50 employees working from showrooms in SE Portland, Beaverton and Bend. Due to Gary’s marketing efforts, personal drive and the well deserved good will of his customers, he has brought recognition of the central vacuum industry to the Pacific Northwest and has popularized central vacuums with both builders and consumers.

Gary’s Vacuflo is consistently honored by various organizations and Gary has been a HBA board member for years. He is a long-time member of the VDTA and has given numerous educational presentations at VDTA conventions. Gary continues to give back to the industry by educating Green Building organizations on the benefits of central vacuum systems and by sharing his knowledge with other dealers. He has been instrumental in helping other dealers grow their businesses.

Gary is a very hands-on owner ensuring the company’s vision statement “Delightfully exceeding expectations at all times” is always in focus.

Edwin Price
Buckeye Vacuum Cleaner Supply
Edwin Price was born in The Bronx in 1931 and moved to Philadelphia at age five. At 16, he began working in the vacuum cleaner industry at one of his father Jack’s stores after school. Jack Price had started selling vacuum cleaners at the height of the Depression in the early 1930’s. Edwin worked part time until his freshman year in college when he entered the service in 1951. That same year, he married his high school sweetheart, Flossie. He was discharged from the service in 1954 and joined his father at Price Vacuum Stores.

Edwin opened his own store in Trenton, NJ, in 1956. Two years later, he sold that store to his manager and moved to Miami, FL, to manage a store for the 65-store chain of Atlas Sew Vac Centers. He quickly became a supervisor and traveled the country for Atlas. In 1962, Edwin went to work for Paul Genoa at Flicker Vacuum as a salesman and later sales manager. He and Paul became partners and opened Genvac in Riviera Beach, FL, selling that branch 10 years later to Genvac in Texas.

Edwin went to work for Kenard Strauss at Buckeye Vacuum Cleaner Supply shortly thereafter. Edwin’s greatest contributions to the industry have been his ability to know the needs of the vacuum cleaner dealers and through the years has set up sales organizations to fulfill those needs. In addition to his ability to be the consummate salesman and teach others to be almost as good, he has taught dealers excellent sales methods to create a win-win situation between dealers and their distributor. In the 60 plus years Edwin has been in the vacuum cleaner industry he has given much valuable advice to many dealers and has helped guide them to success.

Diana Richards
Vacuum Systems International
Diana Richards began her career in the vacuum cleaner industry as a door-to-door sales person in 1972. Three years later, she opened and co-owned Richards Sweeper Center in New Castle, PA. Diana became manager of Forest City Vacuum in Cleveland, OH, in 1992 and managed five vacuum cleaner sales and service centers. In 1995, she founded and is President and CEO of Vacuum Systems International.

Vacuum Systems International (VSI) began with a single client wanting a resource for store associates to call and troubleshoot vacuum repair issues. It has grown into North America’s largest vacuum cleaner remanufacturer, assisting nearly 70,000 facilities in five countries to manage their floor care equipment. VSI’s call center, The Vacuum Helpline, is staffed by highly trained support specialists who trouble-shoot vacuum repair issues over the phone. If other repairs are needed, VSI offers its Vacuum Rotation Program, sending a replacement and completely remanufacturing the broken vacuum cleaner. This program helps protect the environment by saving a yearly average of 250 tons of waste from entering landfills.

Diana has received numerous awards throughout her career, including Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Certified, Women’s Business Enterprise 2006-7, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year-Regional Award Winner and Finalist - Northeast Ohio in 2006, National Association of Women Business Owners’ Top 10 Women Business Owners of N.E. Ohio in 2003 and 2006, Enterprising Women Magazine - Board of Directors, Retail Construction Magazine Top Facility Maintenance Providers in 2006, DiversityBusiness.com Top Small Business and Top Woman Owned Businesses in Ohio in 2006, Sterling Jewelers Specialty Maintenance Vendor of the Year in 2006, YMCA Women of Professional Excellence in 2004 and Weatherhead 100 Award - Outstanding Growth Companies in 2000.

Reprinted from Floor Care Professional, March 2008