Kait Morrell | Sourcing Manager, Newell Rubbermaid

“Chess Barbatelli owned LC Products from 1997 until 2007, during which our window furnishings business was his largest customer. Originally supplying only our Newell production facility in Illinois, Chess maintained and grew the business to include Kirsch products in Michigan, Levolor products in Georgia and Utah, and several product lines in our Mexico facilities. From our sourcing headquarters in High Point, North Carolina, as well as from our facilities, team members in engineering and in quality functions worked with Chess to meet and score well in ever more stringent Supplier Performance Assessment requirements, develop innovative and cost-saving product designs, and participate in kaizan events in our facilities, as well as at LC Products, in order to reduce production costs while improving quality and logistics efficiency. Chess is an excellent communicator orally and in writing, and could speak the language with any level of management or staff with whom he interfaced. While Newell/Rubbermaid consolidated its’ window fashions businesses from 2001-2006, Chess and LC Products maintained consistant production, high quality, and competitive pricing despite the numerous changes occurring within our organization. We applaud Chess’ management ability and flexibility to meet changing requirements and new demands under strenuous timeframes and cost parameters. I am confident when you engage Chess in matters as challenging as those indicated above that you will be pleased with the outcomes.