Tuesday, March 15, 1994

Why Markem? Clinton likes its success

By Peter Fabris

Sentinel Staff

Markem Corp. of Keene, a relatively small manufacturer that excels in foreign markets and emphasizes worker training, provides a good forum for President Clinton to speak about his favorite economic topics. Clinton, who spoke Monday at an international jobs conference in Detroit, likely has companies such as Markem in mind when he thinks about the future of the U.S. economy.

That vision includes a highly skilled work force staffing firms that can excel in a world increasingly moving toward free and open trade. Markem fits that profile. The Keene company is a leading manufacturer of industrial printing systems, and does half of its business in countries outside of the United States.

Pushing for free and open trade has been an important part of Clinton's economic policy. Any move in that direction is welcome at Markem, said Richard P. Church, a vice president at the company. Treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement, which moves toward unification of the U.S., Canadian and Mexican markets, helps Markem sell more products, he said.

"We do good business in Canada and Mexico," Church said. With NAFTA, "we expect to do even better. Anything the government can do to make trade freer is good for us," he said. Conversely, anything it does to stifle free trade, such as a possible trade war with Japan, is bad.

Markem has pushed hard to expand its foreign business over the past 20 years - and that's where the company's growth has occurred during the last several decades.

Foreign economies rise and fall, international currency swings are not always positive, but in recent years, Markem says its emphasis on foreign markets has paid off. In the last five years, Markem has averaged 7 percent sales growth per year. Last year, the firm, employing 800 in the United States and 650 in Keene, topped $180 million in revenue.

Since 1989, the company's global work force, now at about 1,600, has grown by 18 percent - not bad for a time when most businesses slumped during the worst economic decline since the Great Depression. In addition to its export business, Markem's worker training programs fit Clinton's vision.

Just last week, the president outlined a plan to revamp the country's unemployment system, emphasizing re-training for laid-off workers. Since technology and economic conditions change rapidly these days, workers must be prepared to change jobs frequently, Clinton says. That means constant retraining and upgrading of skills.

Markem strongly emphasizes worker education and training, and exemplifies what Clinton has in mind, Church said. The company supplements frequent in-house training with seminars and courses from other sources, such as Worcester (Mass.) Polytechnic Institute, Church said. The firm also encourages workers to further their education at area colleges.

For Janet Morse of Harrisville, chosen by company officials to present gifts to Clinton today, the training has really made a difference. She said Monday that she will tell Clinton how her training has led to several promotions at the company. Morse started on Markem's circuit-board assembly line, was promoted to supervisor of that area, and is now a supervisor in the quality control department.

"They've sent me to a lot of one-day seminars" and to classes at Franklin Pierce College, she said. Morse will present a Markem sweatshirt to Clinton - company employees hope he will wear it while jogging - plus a Markem baseball cap and N.H. maple syrup.

The president's visit has workers oozing excitement and pride, Church said. What does it mean for the company?

"A very important man singles you out for something you are proud of," said Church. "It's a great honor."