Dr Jeff Cornwall

Richland, LLC is a custom steel manufacturer and industrial contractor located in Pulaski, TN. It employs 65 people and has projected 2005 sales of $6.2 million. It is a service business that combines modern know-how and old-fashion work ethics. Since opening, the company has provided custom steel fabrications as well as becoming an industrial contractor with experienced craftsmen in machinery moving and installation (in and out of the United States), mechanical piping, electrical installation, concrete (forming and finishing), and machine coolant systems. Richland, LLC’s products and services are used in the construction of automotive manufacturing, wastewater treatment, heating and cooling systems and other end-use industries. Jim Greene (Belmont University MBA ’04) recently succeeded his father as President of this family business.
Jim is an engineer by training. He began his career working in large engineering firms, doing substantial work with NASA, DOD and the telecom industry.
Jim knew that he needed to distinguish himself from the rest of the engineers in the market to continue to advance in his field. He considered getting a graduate degree in Engineering, but decided that an MBA would differentiate him best. He chose Belmont because it has “high quality and an entrepreneurship program.” In fact, he liked it so much that his wife started her MBA, as well.
After graduation, Jim was still employed by a large engineering firm, but knew he wanted to set out on his own. It was a contact of his father’s that got him started. His father had been contacted by a German firm called GoGaS that was manufacturing a new high-capacity infra-red burner for use in the paper industry. Using new technology to burn at a higher temperature and with the same efficiency how to buy topamax in canada that is currently on the market, this burner can save substantial time, especially when one considers that a single hour of down time in the paper industry can cost $100,000 to $1,000,000. When Jim realized the opportunity offered by this product, he quit his job and was on a plane to Germany the next day.
The German firm held a 9 year patent on the device, and Richland, LLC was offered the exclusive distribution rights for all of North America. His challenge now is to market and distribute these burners through the new product line they have created called GoGas by Richland. Putting his entrepreneurial skills to work, Jim saw applications for the infra-red burner in other industries. Richland, LLC recently completed testing for use in the custom mold industry, where he discovered that the new design system can cure molds up to four times faster than conventional methods. Given this initial success, Jim is confident that Richland, LLC will find many other industries for this product.
Jim projects sales from their GoGas line to reach $3 to 4 million by 2006. Industry experts fully expect this technology to dominate the market in 10 years, meaning that Richland, LLC and its exclusive rights will be well positioned for success.
Jim’s career change has been eye-opening. Jim has been faced with the challenges of taking over the leadership of a successful and thriving business. At the same time, he has been leading the launch of the new product division GoGas, facing its unique challenges of dealing with customs and international law.
“I have learned more in the last 3 months from the Division Managers and Richland, LLC management than I could have learned in 20 years in my old job.”