June 7, 2012 Morristown, Tennessee – Five Morristown officials and representatives of the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce gathered in the sunshine Wednesday morning in the parking lot of a former Berkline building to celebrate the repurposing of the empty space on Pope Road.
Team Technologies, which purchased the building earlier this spring, announced that the former cutting facility will be used for packaging for the dental and cosmetic industries according to Steve Henrikson, president, CEO and owner.
The company will hire 20 to 25 people in the beginning for the 136,000 square feet facility with plans to grow into the space. Henrikson said that if all goes well, he could hire between 100 and 200 employees over the next 24 to 36 months. The purpose of the building is for normal growth of the company and to be used for new clients.
“Morristown is where we have our corporate offices,” Henrikson said. “We couldn’t be happier to be in Morristown and growing in Morristown.”
Team Technologies currently employs 500 people in Morristown and 800 people overall in its 11 companies around the country. It typically invests between $3 million and $5 million every year for expansion and new equipment according to Henrikson.
“That means a lot,” said Randy DeBord, chamber chair-elect. “Congratulations, job well done.”
“It’s certainly a pleasure to watch Team Technologies grow year after year,” DeBord said. The company has five locations in Morristown, he added “and that’s a great thing for our community.”
Henrikson said production in the new facility is scheduled to begin at the end of July, with work going on now to prepare the inside for what Industrial Board chair Jack Fishman pointed out is a very different skill set from what the building has housed in the past.
“Team Technologies is a real success story for Morristown,” Fishman said, congratulating the company on that accomplishment. “They continue to grow and this facility here … brings a new type of technology.”
Henrikson explained that Team Technologies is a custom contract manufacturer serving a number of different industries including dental, cosmetic and medical industries. Among other things, he said it is the world’s largest supplier of nail polish brushes. He hopes to make the new facility something special among his plants.
Morristown Mayor Danny Thomas indicated that any time there is company growth like this “it’s a time to shout for joy.”
He pointed out that most investments and jobs in the community come from existing business and industry and congratulated this existing industry on being a part of that.
Hamblen County Mayor Bill Brittain said he has watched the company grow over time.
“I’ve done it with admiration,” he said, describing it as “a group that is willing to take risks and work hard and get the job done.”
“Our business has continued to grow and flourish,” Henrikson said, “and we’re proud to be here.”
“Once we start, I’m sure that’s going to grow,” he said. “It is a commitment to Morristown and Hamblen County that we’ve been very successful being here and we continue to want to be here.”
“The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank Team Technologies for their continued job creation and investment in Morristown,” said chamber president and CEO Marshall Ramsey. “Hamblen County’s strength lies in its existing industries and this expansion is a positive indicator of what the future may hold for not only Team Technologies, but other existing industries in our region. The most effective way to grow jobs and investment is through existing companies realizing that Morristown/Hamblen County is the best place in the state to do business, and the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce will strive to assist companies in their expansion or relocation needs.”
For more information about Team Technologies, visit the website: http://teamtechinc.net.
