MEMBER PROFILE Sue Frank: Genuine Leader and Inspiring Executive Sue Frank was born in Ohio and moved to Boston when she was six. Her mother, Judy, was the director of a YMCA and worked hard to put her father, Bill Patterson, through college. In 1976 the family moved to Colorado when her father took a mechanical engineering position at Gardener Denver. Patterson was the chief engineer when Gardner Denver moved to Roanoke, Va., but decided to remain in Colorado and start TEI Rock Drills in 1980, when Frank was in junior high school. Patterson began as a consultant for the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and Frank learned the industry terminology as she helped her father by typing reports he dictated. Frank completed a business program in high school and started working at a bank, then as a manager for Enterprise Leasing. She married David Frank and they had a son, Zach. She worked long hours, had her son in daycare, and was not pleased with the attitude at Enterprise, which clearly put family secondary to work obligations. So in 1988, when TEI moved from Aurora to Montrose, Colo., Frank joined the company. She worked her way up from receptionist to accounting and then into management. TEI was making parts for Gardner Denver when Patterson had the idea of mounting a drilling attachment on a backhoe and invented and patented a three- piece feed design. Frank’s mother, who later became CFO, was managing the financials, and her oldest brother, John, was president. Frank did the purchasing of raw materials. In 1989, her brother Glenn joined the company. Frank commented that her “Dad dreamed it, and Glenn made it work in the real world.” Her brother Joe joined in 1992 after helping out at a trade show in Las Vegas. He thought that rather than selling many different products, the company should focus on its own ideas. So, TEI began concentrating on a line of original products. have that she and TEI Rock Drills will deliver as promised and support them in the field. Frank has consistently committed the company to invest in the future with new automated equipment, employee training and meeting the ISO requirements for quality control. Her leadership has contributed to the solid growth in sales and products at TEI.” Frank’s husband, Dave, describes her as Executive Role In 2006, the board of directors of TEI selected Frank as president to lead the company toward this goal. Since that time, TEI has doubled in size and is currently manufacturing and selling 100% original products, including its patented drifter ham- mer. Because balancing work and family is so important to Frank, she passes this flexibility on to the employees of TEI and believes that good employees won’t take a d v a n t a g e o f i t . Currently, the firm has a plant in Montrose with 40 employees. When Frank took on the role of president, the rate of return customers was 40%. The board of directors set a goal to increase this to at least 60%. For the last 4 years, 70-95% of sales have been to existing customers. Patterson commented, “clearly this is an indication of the leadership provided by Frank and the trust that our customers “the complete package — she knows the ins and outs of the industry, is genuine and friendly, and inspires loyalty, even in her competitors.” He ascertains that “under [Frank’s] leadership, the employees of TEI have more pride in their products and company than ever before.” Citing her 26 years of experience, Dave remarks that Frank “has forgotten more about the industry than most people know.” Industry Involvement Frank believes that it is important to join together to be one voice toward the agencies to help affect change for industry advancement. Frank joined DFI about five years ago and ADSC eight years ago, and enjoys seeing new and old faces at various events. She par- ticipates in the DFI Tiebacks and Soil Nail- ing Committee, DFI Drilled Shaft Com- mittee, joint DFI/ADSC Micropile Committee, as wel l as the ADSC Anchored Earth Reten- tion Committee. Frank attends the committee meetings to hear the concerns of contractors and find out the types of new technology they are looking for. She believes it is important to join together as one voice speaking to the agencies to help affect change for industry advancement. Frank realizes the importance of research, and is committed to furthering the industry with in-kind company contributions. She is interested in new technologies that will DEEP FOUNDATIONS • JAN/FEB 2015 • 49