In the Inland Empire,
there are a number of firms
that are industry leaders
in manufacturing - the making
or processing of a raw material
into a finished product.
When Rodney
and Elma Eaton started a hot dog
cart business
as a side venture they had no
idea that it would turn
in to a full-fledged company.
One day someone offered
to buy their cart
and after building and setting
up three more carts
that were bought,
the Eaton's decided to get
into the business
of selling carts!
Operated by the Eaton's along
with their four children,
California Cart Builder has
become a premier manufacturer
of mobile kitchens,
concession trailers,
emergency response kitchens,
catering trucks
and other mobile businesses.
With customers across the US
and in Russia, Japan and Dubai,
the firm has doubled its sales
each year and is preparing
to expand to a second
manufacturing facility.
In the mid-1980's John Widly
and friend Mark Markos were
selling bean bags
on the weekends at gas stations
and swap meets.
Soon after they started a
company manufacturing bean bags
and haven't looked back.
The company,
now known as American Furniture
Alliance, has become the
industry leader
in manufacturing products
such as bean bags,
futons and futon covers,
mattresses and
inflatable furniture.
The company sends its products
all over the world
through retailers
such as Costco, Wal-Mart, Kmart,
and Fred Meyer.
Never content to rest
on their laurels,
Widly and Markos have rolled
out a new "bean bag factory"
retail merchandising concept
with Target
and Bed Bath & Beyond
that if successful will double
the size of their firm.
When Janet Steiner took
over the reins
of Thoro Packaging in 1982
from her father, she was a woman
in a traditionally male
dominated industry.
Undaunted, Steiner carried
on the tradition
of superior quality
and customer satisfaction
and took the company
to unprecedented heights
with several major expansions.
The family owned
and operated company
manufactures folding cartons
for companies in industries
as diverse as food & beverage,
medical & pharmaceutical
and consumer electronics.
One of the premier companies
in its field.
Thoro continues
to provide innovative packaging
solutions by investing heavily
in new technologies.
Give the importance
of manufacturing to our economy,
the productive output
of Rodney & Elma Eaton,
John Widly and Mark Markos,
and Janet Steiner is
to be celebrated!