Jim Prestipino has almost spent his entire career after college focused on textiles. From swing shift work at his hometown mill to more than 22 years at TVF, Jim’s knowledge, first-in-last-out work ethic, and dedication to customers have set a bar high for anyone in his orbit. After more than 40 years in the industry, Jim is retiring.
Jim refuses to take all the credit for his successes, which include multiple top salesperson accomplishments at TVF, “I have to rely on everybody… a salesman is only as good at the people behind you.” He adds “I make the promises, but there’s a million people behind me that actually make it happen.”
His first experience came at the nylon and polyester texturizing division at Milliken & Co. in South Carolina, working all shifts needed at the mill before requesting a different position. That decision led him to carpet sales with Milliken in Connecticut – a move that helped him meet his wife – followed by about a decade at the former Amerbelle Textiles dye house in Connecticut – a move that connected him with TVF.
A transformational moment for TVF – transitioning to an employee-owned company – occurred in 2012. While Jim says the benefits of becoming an ESOP took a while for him to fully realize, it’s been “amazing” for his retirement and the entire company. Jim has been a champion for the ownership mindset and the drive for accountability that is built into employee ownership. “It makes you think about the whole picture every time,” he says, “and when I sit across from somebody new and say ‘hey, we’re an ESOP, we’re employee owned,’ that means everybody’s got a financial stake in this thing… You look at things a little differently because now what I do affects 70 or 80 other people.”
Jim says he plans to spend retirement with his wife, his children, and his family and friends. The biggest decisions he hopes to make from now on? “When am I going to have lunch?” he says with a smile.
His lasting message to the team revolves around two words: “be accountable.” Jim adds “The whole company’s accountable… if we don’t ship it right, we won’t get the next order. If we get the wrong paperwork and the customer can’t get it in from the port because the paperwork’s messed up… Accountability is everything. You got good people behind me. They know their jobs. Just help them out… At the end of the day, just do your job.”
Thank you, Jim Prestipino, for more than 22 years of dedication to TVF!
