The American Dream—the idea that every U.S. citizen has an equal opportunity to achieve happiness, success, and prosperity through hard work, determination, and creativity.
MRA member Brentano Fabrics in Wheeling, IL, is an example of this definition. The company was started in 1990 in the garage of husband and wife team Iris Wang and E-Kwan Chen, Iris serving as the design director and E-Kwan as president. From their modest beginnings, along with a lot of hard work and passion for their craft, they have created a premier textile house with their fabric designs seen in hotels and restaurants around the world.
Iris was born in South Korea to parents who had fled Chinese Communism. In 1978, she came to the United States to complete her Master of Fine Arts degree at Kent State University, which she earned in 1981. When she was working with an interior designer in Chicago, a project involving fabric covered ceiling tiles sparked her interest in textiles.
E-Kwan grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, and studied biology at Fu Jen University and then earned a Masters of Anatomy at Kent State University. It was personal projects involving the construction of upholstered panels that inspired his fascination with textiles.
Solidifying Their Strategy
MRA is an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to Iris and E-Kwan’s business growing smoothly. Brentano Fabrics employs 42 people and MRA has helped position Brentano for success by taking the reins on the organization’s HR tasks, including:
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Updating their handbook
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Conducting supervisory training
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Refining the performance management process
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Adding "stay interviews"
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Starting an HR procedure manual
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Completing a HR audit
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Finishing an employee benefits analysis and setting up a Benefits Education Day
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Completing a safety audit and starting a safety committee
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Implementing a service award program
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Supporting the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® assessment
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Facilitating a strategic planning session
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Crafting an employee morale program
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Developing a five-year transition plan
The successes that Brentano has seen with these HR initiatives have made a big difference for the company. For example, the stay interviews have encouraged more conversation and fewer emails. Employees like the frequently scheduled talks, making the supervisor/employee relationships better.
The benefits analysis revealed several gaps in the benefits package prompting Brentano to introduce employer-paid life insurance and disability programs. They then brought in an investment advisor to the company-sponsored Benefits Education Day so employees could learn more about their retirement plan, which is 100-percent employer-funded.
The employee morale program was designed around the idea that if work is enjoyable, employees will feel like an appreciated part of the team. Fun activities like a monthly raffle for a giveaway, potluck lunches, holiday parties, and the publication of a quarterly employee newsletter help strengthen the bond of the Brentano work family. It is important to Iris and E-Kwan that employees want to come to work every day and know that they are valued.
The transition plan that MRA developed spells out how Iris and E-Kwan’s sons, Alan and Leo, will take over the business in five years. With this plan, the next generation will start running the company on solid ground and be able to execute and manage the business successfully.
Brentano Fabrics is living proof that the American Dream is alive and well. Hard work, dedication, and knowing when to partner with experts for the business needs outside your wheelhouse can lead to great success.
By Sue Piette, Writer, MRA - The Management Association
