This Blog gets personal.  I am writing about a friend. 

Sid Peterson will be retiring from the construction products industry after more than 40 years at the end of this month.  He served in Vietnam for the United States Air Force and began his career in 1968 for Phelps Dodge Aluminum.  The aluminum portion of that business evolved into Consolidated Aluminum and then Sid was the first person hired to sell Metal Composite Material in theUnited Statesback in 1977 to introduce Alucobond®. 

Shortly after Reynolds Metals Company introduced Reynobond®, they hired Sid in 1990.  Alcoa acquired Reynolds in 2000 and in 2003 Sid was named Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Alcoa Architectural Products. 

Sid has served on the Board of the Metal Construction Association (MCA) since 2005 and this year was the recipient of the Larry Swaney Award which honors those who have given great service to the metal construction industry.  It is similar to a life time achievement award. 

Carole, his lovely wife, and Sid live in “Chicagoland” and have two sons and four grandchildren.

That information gives you all of the pertinent biographical information and his accomplishments are abundant and well deserved.  Now I get a chance to editorialize about the man. 

Sid has a favorite saying that I have heard him voice in corporate and board meetings that goes something like this, “doing things right is not as important as doing the right things.”  I have witnessed Sid living this philosophy. 

First, I have seen Sid work hard to help build an industry by promoting the benefits of the industry, not just his specific product.  When Sid began his career in the Metal Composite Material (MCM) business back in 1977, the sales were zero.  Through his efforts and others, MCM is now one of the “go to” products in the highly engineered walls industry. 

His efforts on sales calls to architects, general contractors and building owners have helped to establish the product category as a valued solution for highly engineered walls.  This has been accomplished by honestly presenting the benefits of the product category. 

His efforts with the MCA have paralleled this same approach.  By doing things that help the industry, he has benefited his own company and given greater stature to the product category. 

Second, I have seen Sid do the right things on a personal basis.  We have been customers of Sid for many years.  A customer gets to view a supplying partner and its representatives in a very bright light.  If there are flaws in their personal approaches to business, they are very apparent.  Many times it may seem much more convenient to shade the truth or tell a little white lie. 

To my knowledge and experience, Sid has always told me the facts.  Sometimes I did not like the answer, but that is acceptable.  If you are given the facts you can make informed decisions.  Without the facts, or even worse, with false or misleading information, informed decisions cannot be made.  Telling a customer the facts rather than what they want to hear is doing the right thing. 

Sid, you have done “the right things.”  We wish you and Carole a very pleasant retirement.  Your accomplishments both personally and professionally are worthy of honor and praise. 

I happen to know that they are kicking off retirement with a wonderful cruise fromVancouvertoAlaska.  Bon voyage! 

Tool of the Week, Day, etc. – Check out Alaskan Cruises at:  www.princess.com.  Post your comments and let us stimulate the discussion.

Thanks, 

Ted S. Miller