John Sullivan is National Sales Manager at Plating International, a one stop shop for chrome plating chemicals and equipment in North America where they manufacture both liquid and dry materials, as well a high speed blends.
He was hired in 2014 as sales engineer for multi-state territory, starting with three customers in Texas and by the end of 2017 that list has grown to over 60 customers in 14 states. His father was James Sullivan, who managed numerous finishing operations in his career and was on the board of the NASF before his passing in 2018.
How did you get your start in the finishing industry? My dad was in the industry for 40 years, and owned his own shop in Texas and helped manage a few others in Illinois when I was a child. One of those places was Bales Mold Service. I started there in high school cutting the grass, blasting parts and working in the shipping and receiving department. I then went on to work at North American EN, where I was responsible for checking daily chemistry, helping run the electroless nickel line. The owner of Plating International, Matthew Pankow also worked at Bales Mold Service in the late 1990s. We stayed in touch over the years, and he hired me for a sales engineer position at Plating International in 2014.
What do enjoy best about the industry? Our industry is small, but it touches so many aspects of our lives that most people don’t even think about: airplanes, cars, industrial lift equipment to decorative applications. We are a small industry with a big reach.
If money was no object, what would you do all day? Golf and hang out with my family.
If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to? Probably a year during the roaring 1920s.
How would your friends describe you? Competitive and diligent.
What are your hobbies? Golf, spending time with my family, and watching sports.
What is the best gift you have been given? Life.
Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without? Sunglasses; the sun is bright here in Texas.
Two pet peeves: Not being on time, and a compromised coffee lid.
Where do you see yourself in five years? Still working for Plating International achieving our goal of becoming a top metal finishing supply company in our industry.
If you were a super-hero, what powers would you have? The ability to be anywhere at the push of a button. You could get a lot done that way.
What would you do if you won the lottery? Take all my family and closest friends on a vacation.
What's your favorite zoo animal? Alligator.
If you could go back in time to change one thing, what would it be? Honestly, nothing. Everything happens for a reason. It’s all led me to the point in life where I currently am.
Would you rather trade intelligence for looks or looks for intelligence? Looks for intelligence.
What's your favorite holiday? 4th of July.
What's the most daring thing you've ever done? Six years ago, I moved my wife and I from Chicago to Texas. We were not too sure what we were doing. It has worked out great and we now have two daughters.
What was the last thing you watched on TV? 60 minutes.
What was the last book you read? Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are.
What's your favorite type of foreign food? Mexican.
Are you a clean or messy person? Somewhere in between.
Who would you want to play you in a movie of your life? I have no idea. This was the hardest question on here.
What's your favorite fast food chain? Portillos, a Chicago fast-food chain.
What's your favorite family recipe? My Granny’s macaroni and cheese.
What's your favorite family tradition? Opening one present on the night of Christmas Eve.
What is your favorite childhood memory? Playing sports year round, while my parents helped coach.
What's your favorite movie? Any 1990s action movie.
John Sullivan is national sales manager with Plating International; visit platinginternational.com.
