Press Release from Chattooga Chamber of Commerce

The 2018 Leadership Chattooga class had an eye-opening industry tour on Thursday.

The group (pictured above with Blake Weaver, Sales & Operations Manager of Smith Ironworks) started off the morning at Smith Ironworks in Lyerly to see steel fabrication at its best.

Next, they went next door to Try-Con Tufters, Inc. Beth Houser briefed the class on the history of the company and their main client, Shaw Industries. If you’ve ever stayed at Disney World, walked into a high-end hotel, it is very likely you walked on carpet made at Try-Con.

The next company on the tour was Showa Manufacturing, best known as Best Manufacturing in Menlo. The group toured the dipping plant and were guided by David Durham, Plant Manager. From household latex gloves to Kevlar, this company has been “hands down” the Best glove company with their largest client being Amazon.

Trion was next on the tour, and Mount Vernon Mills laid a table for the Leadership Chattooga class before taking them on a two-hour tour from the bale of cotton, winding and twisting to form the yarn, through the dying process, and on to the finished product. This mill rolls out a mere 5 miles of product each week.

Forget the yellow brick road! Pave ours in denim!

For November, Leadership Chattooga will delve into the Tourism industry and learn about those who lead that trade in Chattooga County.