Dan PeltonDALTON - Dan Pelton shed his jacket inside W.F. Taylor's new Dalton headquarters after delivering a short speech in the sultry Southern heat outside minutes prior.
Guests mingled on the main floor of the College Drive office building, sipping on sodas and bottled water and snacking on broccoli and cookies.
Pelton talked like the grand opening of the company's new headquarters is only the first ball to drop in a series of investments by the company in Dalton, after its move from Fontana, Calif.
"This is kind of the point when we mark the beginning of the future for Taylor," Pelton said Wednesday.
W.F. Taylor is a company in transition. A maker of adhesives and coatings used in the flooring industry, Taylor was long a family-owned operation before its recent acquisition by Dominus Capital.
W.F. Taylor LLC was founded in 1977 by Wallace F. Taylor, a chemist. In 1984 Taylor was sold to a British company which retained ownership until 1989, when the present management purchased the company.
Pelton was named CEO of W.F. Taylor early last month. And now, he's made the 2,100-plus-mile leap from sun-soaked Southern California to carpet belt Northwest Georgia and is leading a team of 10 top managers and roughly 30 manufacturing employees in the process.
But this is good change, he said at Wednesday's ceremony.
While Taylor has a deep history and plenty of ties out West, being in Dalton puts Taylor in the heart of the floor covering universe, at a time when the company's new leadership seeks to springboard into an aggressive growth plan which includes future acquisitions and more ribbon cuttings.
And Taylor officials and representatives are simply closer to a big customer base here in Dalton.
"We want our customers to know that we're here," Pelton said.
Leaders from and with the city embrace the new corporate headquarters.
"It's extremely meaningful for Dalton," said Rob Bradham, president and CEO of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce.
"As an economic developer, I tell everybody every day this is a fantastic place to bring your business," said Carl Campbell, executive director of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority.
He said Taylor's work to anchor the company in Dalton now tells the same story.
Mike Babb, chairman of the Whitfield County Commission, spoke from the perspective of thousands of Dalton locals - as someone with a personal stake in the success of the city's famous flooring industry.
"My son-in-law keeps my daughter and [grandchildren] fed by laying carpet," Babb said. "So thank you."
Pelton sees growth opportunities in consumer sales. Right now, Taylor sells mostly to commercial and industrial customers, but the company is committed to increasing retail lines.
He said Taylor will maintain its Fontana plant, but will also be acquiring new properties and hosting more ribbon cutting ceremonies like Wednesday's soon in Dalton.
Taylor already has a national distribution presence, but looks to grow its place as the national leader in adhesives and coatings.
"We believe Taylor is really uniquely positioned for growth," Pelton said. "Obviously, this is the first step."
Contact staff writer Alex Green at agreen@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6480.