Trevor Morgan is president of Triple Cities Metal Finishing in Binghamton, New York, running three shifts in a 125,000 square feet production facility. TCMF was founded in 1945 and is AS 9100 rev d certified, NADCAP accredited, and RoHS and REACH compliant.
How did you get your start in the finishing industry?
I was born into it. I honestly wanted no part of the finishing industry when I graduated high school or college but was drawn back within two years of graduating. Now I could not imagine doing anything else. I came back with the intention of working on finance and accounting functions, but now my favorite aspects of my job are working on the engineering and the operations aspect of the business.
What do you enjoy best about the industry?
I enjoy the comradery of the industry. It is amazing how people truly want to help each other, which I do not think is typical of any other line of work.
Is your glass half-full or half-empty?
I would say it depends on who I am arguing with. I love to debate and think about both sides of everything. When someone is negative, I try to look at the positive side, but also try and keep people who are always positive grounded.
What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
Today, I would say, my family, a fishing pole, and enough beer to get me through until our new ERP is working 100% the way I want it to. And I hate to fish, but we have to eat, and I think I could figure out a way to start a fire.
What was your favorite subject in school?
In grade school, I would say math, but once I got to high school and college, I enjoyed both computer classes and physics. I really enjoyed engineering but knew I wanted to run my own business, so I decided to take the accounting in college. It worked out as now I am able to work on engineering functions every day while running a business.
What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
I would have to go with escargot. I am typically not very adventurous when it comes to eating, but I tried that on a cruise and loved it. I am a person who finds one thing they like at a restaurant and am hard-pressed to try anything else.
Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Extrovert, which is good considering we are due to have our 5th child in a couple of months, and I am never alone.
Which of the five senses would you say is your strongest?
As you can see from my photos, it definitely tastes.
What do you do to keep fit?
I probably shouldn’t say anything here, as I may kill their stock, but I enjoy our Peloton. I was able to lose a bunch of weight a couple of years ago, but Covid has not been real kind to my poor scale.
Does your family have a “motto” – spoken or unspoken?
Not really, but I am a big proponent of not worrying about the past and addressing the past only in a way that will make the future better.
If you were ruler of your own country, what would be the first law you would introduce?
I am going to put this into terms of our own country, and I would say that it would have something to do with getting people back to work. I am sick of hearing about people not being able to find jobs and needing stronger unemployment when we can’t find people willing to work anywhere.
What three things do you think of the most each day?
My family, work, and travel. I love my job, but my wife and kids are what get me through the day, and my favorite thing to do is travel with my wife and kids, so if I catch myself daydreaming, it is about going somewhere with my family.
If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Probably something to do with me being extremely competitive, or that I will say whatever is on my mind. I will turn anything into a competition and want to win at everything.
What song would you say best sums you up?
I guess I would go with ‘No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems’ by Kenny Chesney. I work hard so that I can kickback. My happy place is not Mexico, but on my wake boat driving my kids around while they wake surf and wakeboard.
What celebrity would you like to meet at Starbucks for a cup of coffee?
I probably would go with Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim. I am a huge Syracuse fan and would love to talk to him about the way he does things his own way, even though everyone does not always agree. He is crazy loyal, as he had so many opportunities to leave Syracuse, and is honest almost to a fault. He says what is on his mind, maybe even more than I do.
What’s the most interesting thing you can see out of your office or kitchen window?
My kitchen window is the first place I walk to when I get home in the Summer. My kids generally are already swimming, waiting for me to get home and jump in with them before cooking out on the grill.
On a scale of 1-10, how funny would you say you are?
10. No one thinks I am funnier than I do, so this is probably not a fair question to ask me.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Still in my same role, however, we want to grow. Our goal is to grow through acquisition and organically. We are three times the size we were when I came back into the business just over 10 years ago, and my goal is to continue on that path.
What was your first job?
I was racking parts at TCMF. I hated it at the time because I generally missed out on every snow day I should have had and seemed to get the jobs no one else wanted to do, but it helps me understand what my employees deal with on an everyday basis, and appreciate the jobs they do even more.
Who is the most intelligent person you know?
He is no longer with us, but I would have to give this to my grandfather, Joe Morgan Sr. He is the one who taught me that there is something I can learn from everyone I meet, from executives to the general laborers. He was so good with people and knew that our employees were our most important resource, and if given an opportunity, teach you something.
If you had to describe yourself as an animal, which one would it be?
I would say maybe a dog. I am extremely loyal and care about everyone. I want to make everyone happy and will do anything I can to try to make that happen.
What is one thing you will never do again?
I never say never. Life is too short, and you just don’t know what it will throw at you.
Who knows you the best?
My wife and it is not close. She has been my best friend since I was 16 years old and knows me better than I know myself.
Visit http://www.tcmfcorp.com
