Historical October 1994 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Neville Vatcha and George Genung, inspect wheelchair seat hooks off their assembly line in Wellston, MO. OFF.721-5600 RES.463.0220 SHOKFFA,D ASSOCIATE RENNI SHUTER, GRI LIFE MEMBER MILLION DOLLAR CLUB RELOCATION SPECIALIST DANIEL B. FEINBERG REAL ESTATE 360 N. SKINNER BLVD. ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63130 KINGSBURY ANIMAL HOSPITAL 420 N. Skinker ( at Kingsbury) Stephen A. Bremmeler DVS! Connie tlandlovIts DVM Full Service Groaning Available Hans By Appointment 9.6:30 Mon.-Thurs. /9.4:30 Fri.,/ 10-2 Sat. 721-6251 NUVO CLEANERS Complete Dry Cleaning & Laundry Service Leather & Fur Cleaning Alterations We Accept All Competitor Coupons 32I N. DeBaliviere 367-1172 October 1994 The TIMES of Skinker DeBaliviere Page 3 at New Company Neighbors Create Jobs SDCC and CWE Bank Pursue Recognition for Joint Efforts by Lana Stein Neville Vatcha and George Genung both are longtime residents of our neighborhood. Both served on the Skinker DeBaliviere Community Council and each was treasurer for a couple of years.
They also had something else in common.
They had worked together at Sinclair and Rush. George left that business about 6 years ago and Neville last year. Both men were tired of the downsizing and the politics of working for a large corporation. Joined by Joe Giambalvo, another veteran of their old firm, they formed DMX Industries and decided to start their own business in their middle age.
They enjoyed a great deal of support from family and friends and a group of investors who had faith in their idea and their talent.
In fact, some of the original founders of their old firm–which had been bought up by a large corporation–invested with Neville, George, and Joe.
They also were able to secure a Small Business Administration loan from Boatmen’s Bank. Neville and George searched the area for an appropriate site with the requisite square footage on a single floor.
They found what they needed in Wellston on Martin Luther King.
They also were able to buy the industrial division of Gemini Industries and move its equipment to their site. Open just 6 months, they have been buoyed by the positive response of customers and suppliers. “It’s like they are rooting for you,” Neville said.
There are 12 workers at this plant. Half are people they worked with before and half are new. DMX fabricates plastic parts for industrial and commercial uses. Neville has also developed a squirrel repellent that is now being reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency.
He told me that this repellent will protect tomatoes in the garden but also keep squirrels from biting in the plastic parts on power lines. George is the marketer.
He described his task as one of niche marketing. “You pick areas where material using Neville’s expertise can outperform other items out there. We’re looking at various products and deciding where we could make that improvement.
It starts with the material.” It’s not an easy task to start this type of business. Neville mentioned that he is putting in 12 to 15 hour days. He’s “tired as hell” but feels like he is really creating something.
The work done here comes from the heart. Both Neville and George wanted to do their own thing and get away from corporate politics. Neville also mentioned his strong belief in the need for smokestack industries in the U.S.
The country needs to make something.
He decried the emphasis of the 1980s. People got carried away with their own thing.
He said we weren’t creating.
There were too many office parks–not industrial parks–and too many shopping malls selling imported goods.
He asked, “How many manufacturers receive subsidies compared to office space?” A plant such as DMX does not employ a great many people but it does employ those who work with their hands.
I left Neville and George agreeing that more plants like this one would be good for St. Louis and other metropolitan areas. Their success brings special joy to those who know them and it causes me to applaud their skill, hard work, courage, and be grateful it is being rewarded today.
Original photograph caption
Neville Vatcha and George Genung inspect wheelchair seat hooks off their assembly line in Wellston, MO. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1994.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1994_10.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
