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Show Page A6 Thursday, March 3, 1988 Phil Thompson a 1 3(MMMt If Parkite Phil Thompson juggles most of us would be proud of . by HEIDI WEST Record staff writer (J nder the circumstances, you expect Phil Thompson to be tense, up-tight, too busy to talk for long or have any of that perspective only quiet thought can provide. After all, he is the president of Industrial In-dustrial Supply, the largest equipment equip-ment and supply distribution company com-pany in the entire Rocky Mountain Moun-tain region. But, the man is a surprise. He is relaxed, introspective, a self-described self-described "people person" willing to spend as much time as it takes to answer a reporter's questions. He often pauses, kicked back in a comfortably padded chair with hands crossed behind his head and elbows high in the air, before giving his answer. In a humble office cluttered with family pictures, various awards and shelves andor piles of books Seven Summits and The Terrible Truth About Lawyers lie side by side this 10-year Park City resident A MEMBER OF THE SEARS FINANCIAL NETWORK PARK CITY BEST BUY! Great location near ski base in popular project. Breakeven cash flow after normal down payment. In house management. ,940 square feet, 2 bedroom, 2 bath. Unit C Edleweiss $89,900. Bonnie Peretti 649-4400. HOME OR SKI CABIN Beautiful home or ski cabin on 1 .5 lots. Close to resort, immaculate condition, close to everything. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. 950 Empire Ave. $105,000 Greg Gorman 649-4400 mi ft if "Agent of the Week" Twenty-two years ago John Jenkins moved to Park City from Salt Lake and the town hasn't been the same since. If you know John you understand why, and if you don't-well, I suggest you give him a call for your real estate needs. When he's not working hard in the office he can be caught doing the things he likes doing best- skiing and fishing. Park Record If . . f II h I V f ; . business, family, community IParfc City Profile reflects on how he got to where he is now. "My ancestors are Mormom pioneers," he says. In fact, Thompson's great-greatgrandfather is none other than the man himself Brigham Young. "I'm one of the many hundreds of offspring he reared or was responsible for." He attended high school and college in Salt Lake City, and joined the family business when he was 15. Since then, he has "done everything in this place imaginable" im-aginable" from janitor to operations opera-tions manager and finally president presi-dent at age 38. Although it may seem natural to install the owner as president, Thompson, now 44, was actually the first family member to take over since his grandfather died in 1963. It's a little like pulling teeth, Raise your lOHN'S PROPERTY PICK BANK OWNED-FINANCING AVAILABLE Spectacular views, clubhouse amenities, ski to and from Park West Ski lifts. Large master suite with fireplace, on-site management, hot tub with greenhouse window. Close to lakes, skiing, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. T-24 Red Pine Townhouse $90,000. John Jenkins 649-4400 life full of r H JSOEK i . r Heidi West and time alone in a way but Thompson finally admits he is president because those in charge at the time recognized his administrative ad-ministrative ability. Since 1978, when he was installed as CEO, Thompson has shown time and again how considerable that talent is. Industrial Supply for years had as its two major clients Kennicott and US Steel. But the "reduction of smokestack industries" as Thompson calls it, made him nervous ner-vous enough to seek new and diverse markets, particularly aerospace and construction. The move saved the company from collapse, when, in 1985 both USX and Kennicott shut their doors. He is also responsible for an excellent ex-cellent on-site employee fitness ! and wellness program which includes in-cludes a gym with weight-lifting equipment and stationary expectations. tit x u 4 BEDROOM HOME ON 13 ACRE Exceptionally clean 4 bedroom home expanded and remodeled in 1985. Large family room, excellent storage, large shaded yard. 2,090 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 2 bath. 95 E. 1st North Kamas $79,900. Karen Mahoney 649-4400 '., J....'.-.. BEAUTIFUL HOME-GREAT VIEWS! Passive solar design. Open, but formal kitchen, dining, living rooms, separate spa room. Quality builder. Oak trim throughout, 3,163 sq. ft., 4 bedroom, 3 bath. 3529 Wagon Wheel $172,000. Julie McKay 649-4400 "'i i f .A I i i it mmmw i . rrrm. Y u gusto and in balance bicycles, aerobics classes and even "health risk profiles." The program came out of Thompson's own interest in running. "I didn't have anywhere to go out here, or to change and take a shower." It started with a few showers on site, and grew to a facility used by an estimated 40 percent of the employees and their families. The emphasis on exercise, a "clean-air" "clean-air" office (where no smoking is allowed) excellent physical condition condi-tion and a willingness to work hard has combined to increase the company's productivity by 40 percent in the last three or four years, says Thompson. The gym "has paid for itself many times over," he notes. It has also earned earn-ed the company an award of excellence ex-cellence from the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness for the second year in a row this year. The diverse market and increased in-creased productivity helped Industrial In-dustrial Supply gain recognition in the distribution world, and in December 1986, the company garnered the title of one of four "Distributors of the Century" from the trade publication Industrial In-dustrial Distribution Magazine. To be selected, a company had to have increased its profitability and productivity, lived through adversity and made major changes to stay in business. The award "was really given on behalf of the hundreds of other people" involved in the growth and development of the company over the years since its inception, says Thompson in typically humble hum-ble fashion. He can't help but add Industrial Supply was the only company "west of the Mississippi" Mississip-pi" to receive the honor. Though he's proud of his company, com-pany, Thompson is far from all business. A rare smile brightens his face when the subject of his family comes up. There's four children Amanda, 21, Kelly, 18, Jessica, 13 and Matthew "who just turned three last week." Amanda and Kelly both attend college. Jessica is a 7th grader on the ski racing team and "an excellent ex-cellent tennis player, good student and all-around good person," says an obviously proud dad. Then there's Pam, Phil's wife of 16 years. "She's very capable and a wonderful partner," he says. "A substantial part of the luck and good fortune that has come to me has come through that woman. Of course," he says ' "I love her dearly." " '..',' The Grub Steak For a Great Lunch We're changing our lunch menu! Sue Haygood will be preparing two "Homemade Soups" daily. The restaurant will have an all new Sandwich Buffet with all the trimmings, changing daily. Buffet includes our famous salad bar. Prices range from $ 1 .50 to $6.25 The two of them don't expect to live life through their children, but nonetheless get "a lot of personal per-sonal satifaction from them. It's not that we want them to make us happy," he grins, "but we're pleased that they make themselves happy." Although family has always been important, Thompson says he has only put it all in perspective perspec-tive in the last five years, after a "classic mid-life crisis." He admits ad-mits that at one point, right around age 40, he was obsessed with training for long-distance runs. "I was a 50-mile-a-week guy for five or six years," he says. It took up his time, his energy, his attention and it detracted from all else. A few medals and pictures of him crossing the finish line adorning the office walls attest at-test to his success at the sport, but it left him feeling something was missing. And it "actually -caused stress for me" rather than relieved it, he says. "There was a void in the blend of my life." The stress of competition and training, and a self-admitted inability in-ability to "say 'no'" to anyone who asked for his time led Thompson to seek counseling and eventually to alter his life. Now, he says, things are "much better." bet-ter." He is "much closer" to that ideal blend, and at least feels 20 to 25 years from now, he will look back and say "I made some of the right decisions." He has installed executives at Industrial Supply who are capable, and that leaves him more time; time to spend with Pam and the kids, for community activities, for church, for exercise exer-cise much moderated now and time for himself. It has paid off. Thompson is driven now by an intense desire to learn from people, and to deeply connect with as many people as possible. "I chose people I feel I can learn from," he says.,"I feel absolutely blessed with the wonderful people around me my parents, Pam and the children, our wonderful friends both in Salt Lake City and Park City, our employees, my customers... I'm always hoping there's another great friendship around the corner." cor-ner." Church is something new for Thompson as well. When he and Pam moved to Park City in 1978, she was a former Presbyterian and he "a non-practicing Mormon." Mor-mon." Intrigued with the blend of . people and "generic Christianity" Lunch Served Monday-Friday 1 1 :30 Saturday 12 to 2:00 at the local community church had to offer, the Thompsons began to attend in 1983. Today, Thompson is the lay leader of that church, and finds the fellowship and weekly messages an integral part of his commitment to growth and learning. "We try to absorb whatever it is that week," he says, "to take a tli in rt hnma with lie " Until (ivtiiv mm mw he began to attend the church, Thompson says his own spiritual side "was very dark." But now, again he uses the word "balance" to describe the mix of phases in his life and spiritual seeking is high on the list. The Thompsons are also involved involv-ed in community activities, although over-involvement in Salt Lake has helped them be selective selec-tive in choosing just where to put their energies. They support the race team, the Egyptian Theatre, and co-sponsor with Gary Cole the 1 .it - r t 1 i-tr 1 ii annual 4in 01 juiy ai run warn where all proceeds are donated to a local cause. He and Pam both love Park City, Ci-ty, and Phil even calls the drive up to his mountain home each evening "almost spiritual." It's, "a very special place," he says. "I get to leave what has driven me crazy at the office all day. ' When I see those mountains, it's just not an experience most people peo-ple have driving into their little subdivisions." Besides the mountains, Park City Ci-ty is special because of its people, he says. "It's full of people focused focus-ed on what they want. They want a quality of life, and they've given up the wealth and riches they might have had to be here." It was his exposure to those people that helped him understand what was most important to him, he says. "It got me back to reevaluating re-evaluating what was going on with me." The desire to learn from life is a sign of it, but Thompson describes himself as "really living liv-ing life with a lot of gusto." "I'm always happy about life," he says. "I like to experience it." Although he says he has had his share of problems, he has always tried to "gain strength from them." Such a positive attitude may be the reason Phil considers his life unusually smooth and problem-free. "Each year has been better for me," he says. "I've had more joy, fulfillment, love and value in my life. And, I'm determined to work j toward that being a continuing ' process." . to 2:30 Park City's Favorite Restaurant S I A I K A N Ashton Genesis Resort 649-8060 1750 Park Avenue 649-4400 |