Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 42
Continuous learning has
been the hallmark of Auburn
Manufacturing Inc. CEO and
president Kathie Leonard's career
in the textile industry.
42 REVIEW JANUARY 2020
woman starting a manufacturing company might not be a big deal today,
but it definitely was in 1979 when Kathie Leonard founded Auburn
Manufacturing Inc. (AMI) with one product-an asbestos-free textile to
combat extreme heat. Today AMI, based in Mechanic Falls, Maine, has
five different product lines, two manufacturing plants and thousands of customers.
An even bigger deal was Leonard's decision to challenge China in a successful "antidumping" case in 2017 after AMI had lost a sizeable chunk of its silica fabric business to
Chinese manufacturers using predatory pricing tactics. "My accounting manager told
me that we couldn't afford not to do this," recalls Leonard. AMI filed a case with the
U.S. Commerce Department and was able to prove that China was dumping its silica
textiles. The experience was an intense 18-month crash course in forensic accounting,
international trade law and the creative methods some unscrupulous foreign competitors
use to try to skirt tariffs. But Leonard says it was worth it. "This case showed that we
weren't going to take it lying down. We may be a little company, but we're going to stand
up for ourselves."
Leonard's career has involved a lot of learning by doing. Her first job in textiles was as
secretary to the president of a manufacturer that dabbled in heat-resistant fabric. He asked
her to do some marketing for that product,
and Leonard discovered she was good at it.
When a coworker approached her about
starting a company to focus on advanced
textiles for extreme heat environments,
she decided to go for it. "You know that old
saying, 'Ignorance is bliss'? Well, I lived
it," she says. She joined trade organizations
and attended meetings and conferences
to learn about the industry and develop
customer relationships-and when she
realized that wasn't enough, she went back
to school. "I can't fake it, so I had to do
the work," Leonard says, referencing the
classes she took in accounting, economics
and management.
The work paid off. AMI's business
took off, and Leonard, both a successful
small business owner and a woman in a
male-dominated profession, began getting
asked to sit on boards, talk to lawmakers
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover1
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover2
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 1
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 2
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 3
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 4
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 5
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 6
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 7
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 8
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 9
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 10
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 11
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 12
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 13
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 14
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 15
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 16
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 17
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 18
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 19
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 20
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 21
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 22
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 23
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 24
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 25
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 26
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 27
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 28
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 29
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 30
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 31
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 32
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 33
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 34
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 35
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 36
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 37
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 38
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 39
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 40
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 41
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 42
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 43
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 44
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 45
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 46
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 47
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 48
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 49
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 50
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 51
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 52
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 53
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 54
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 55
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 56
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 57
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 58
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 59
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 60
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 61
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 62
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 63
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 64
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 65
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 66
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 67
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - 68
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover3
Specialty Fabrics Review January 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2025
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ata/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-january-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-december-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-november-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-october-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-september-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-august-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-july-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-june-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-buyers-guide-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-may-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-april-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-march-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/specialty-fabrics-review-february-2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0121RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1220RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1120RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1020RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0920RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0820RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0720RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0620RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG20
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0520RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0420RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0320RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0220RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0120RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1219RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1119RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1019RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0919RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0819RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0719RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0619RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG19
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0519RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0419RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0319RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0219RV_Feb
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0119RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1218RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1118RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/1018RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0918RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0818RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0718RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0618RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0518RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/RVBG18
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0418RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0318RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0218RV
https://www.nxtbook.com/ifai/specialtyfabricsreview/0118RV
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com