|
|
Article: Swept away by Tennant. (Medal of Excellence) (includes related articles on Tennant history and publications) (Cover Story) (Company Profile)
- Article from:
- Purchasing
- Article date:
- September 22, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. (US). This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
"What does it mean to be preeminent in business?"
This is the question Roger Hale, Tennant's president and CEO, posed to VP of operations, Doug Hoelscher, and other Tennant execs attending a company planning meeting in early 1992.
Does it mean being the biggest company? Tennant's long-time CEO didn't necessarily think so, citing Wal-Mart as an example of a company that many consider tops in its field but which, in 1992 anyway, could not yet claim to be the largest retailer.
"If it is not size, then what is it that makes Wal-Mart preeminent?" he continued Socratically. "And do any of those characteristics describe Tennant?"
That fateful ...