In the 60 years that Acorn Engineering has been in business they’ve had only three presidents. Tom Duddy is our third and current president, and he brings a unique perspective to the job.
Acorn Engineering, the founding company of Morris Group International was started in 1954 by Earl L. Morris as a manufacturing division of the Earl L. Morris Company (ELMCO). Morris spent years selling plumbing products and found the type of products he enjoyed selling the most were those specified by the engineer.
Acorn Engineering is best known as a manufacturer of heavy-gauge stainless steel plumbing fixtures, including hand washing stations and wash basins, toilets, urinals, showers, and precast solid surface shower bases and mop sinks.
Did You Know?
We use 80 percent recycled stainless steel to manufacture our products. Using reclaimed stainless steel is something we’ve been doing since the very beginning, before anyone talked of being green.
Not only is it an ecologically responsible material, it is an economic solution: Acorn’s stainless steel products are less likely to need replacing than porcelain or china fixtures. They need only be installed once, providing long-term monetary savings for customers.
In addition to creating the products that engineers and contractors need, it’s imperative to develop an efficient process for getting those products into their hands.
Duddy brings a unique perspective to Acorn Engineering. We’ve always been committed to our reps, but he has years of experience from the rep standpoint—experience from the outside looking in.
Dad put up the strong foundation. I put up a building on top of that foundation. Tom Duddy’s job is to build a high-rise.”
— Don Morris, President and CEO, Morris Group International
Crucial to building that high-rise, Duddy says, are the relationships we have with our reps and making it as easy as possible to do business with us. To that end, he meets with reps from all markets and says, “Tell me about your business. Tell me what would make your job easier.” He also asks them to talk about the issues they’ve had with Acorn Engineering. In which areas are we doing well, and where is there room for improvement?
The reaction to the transition has been positive. The reps feel good about having one of their own as the head of Acorn.
“They understand I’ll have more empathy and generate income for both sides. It’s been a positive experience, whether speaking with reps I’ve known for years or with those I’ve never met,” says Duddy. “They like dealing with someone who understands them.”
Not only are we celebrating 60 years in business, but also those who contributed to this success. It’s a celebration of new leadership. It’s a celebration of our employees—some who have been with the company through multiple generations—and it’s a celebration of our reps.
Duddy’s familiarity with the rep side of the business helps him understand the pressures they experience. “I want to make it easy to do business with us, so they want to choose us when they go on a sales call,” he says.