Collaborating for Collective Growth
By Arianna Whitehair
Two of the nation’s leading businesses, Toyota Motor Manufacturing and Procter & Gamble, are making a home for themselves in the Mountain State and elevating local small businesses in the process. With the innovative merging of a big business mindset and small-town charm, West Virginia is now enjoying more job opportunities, increased state revenue and successful expansion of its ever-growing small business community.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing
Photo by Toyota Motor Manufacturing.
“It’s the old adage proven true—if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together,” says David Rosier, president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia (TMMWV).
Rosier has seen the tremendous impact Toyota has had on the local community of Buffalo, WV. Toyota, a multinational automotive manufacturer, has been on top of its game for decades—a game that has now come to the Mountain State, bringing lasting relationships, a multitude of jobs and an abundance of revenue. In the 1990s, Toyota, with hopes of expanding its U.S. manufacturing footprint, searched for a location that would complement its vehicle plant in Georgetown, KY. Upon an order from former U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller, the company considered and eventually decided on Buffalo to be the home of its new plant. To this day, TMMWV is the company’s only combined engine and transmission plant in North America. In the past 15 months alone, nearly $500 million has been invested in the plant.
“Toyota West Virginia’s initial project was to produce four-cylinder engines, but soon after that it was announced that we would double capacity with a second production to build V6 engines for the Camry,” says Rosier. “Toyota continues to invest in West Virginia because of our strong workforce. The teams who come to work here every day are smart, safety-minded, innovative people who solve problems and refuse to back down from a challenge. In short, they get the job done.”
The company employs more than 2,000 people and has made a $10 million investment in the state through its philanthropic efforts. Earlier this year, it also announced the Toyota 4T Academy, a career development plan that brings high school seniors and juniors into the plant to learn more about advanced manufacturing.
“This is our community. This is where our employees and our customers work and live. We want to make it great,” says Rosier.
West Virginia’s largest woman-owned engineering firm, TERRADON, has seen its company’s growth soar since working with Toyota.
“TERRADON is fortunate to have such a wonderful partnership with Toyota. The positive impact of the plant has been felt by so many in our region, and TERRADON is no different,” says Bill Hunt, president of the company. “Our work at the Buffalo plant has allowed us to add the means to handle the quantity and complexity of work Toyota brings. Working with a technically proficient client like Toyota for engineering projects is exciting and adds a level of professionalism that isn’t overlooked by our staff.”
Edward Tucker Architects, Inc., a full-service architectural firm located in Huntington, is just another business that is receiving lasting benefits through a partnership with Toyota.
“We provide architectural services for Toyota on various projects, and we appreciate greatly the opportunity to do so. I think they appreciate working with a local firm because we are accessible and responsive,” says Phoebe Patton Randolph, AIA, principal for Edward Tucker Architects.
Jefferds Corporation, a material handling equipment supplier in Putnam County, also shares close ties with Toyota and has experienced exponential business growth since working with the company.
“We are proud to work with Toyota, and we value the relationship. We have been pleased to win many of their Suppliers Awards for Excellence over time,” says Richard Sinclair, president of Jefferds Corporation.
Thanks to this multinational business finding a new home amongst the mountains, TMMWV is now paving the way for the people and businesses of West Virginia to prosper in ways more far-reaching and innovative than ever before.
“Toyota always has an eye toward tomorrow. We are well-positioned for the next 25 years as we continue to not just grow, but thrive, in the Mountain State,” says Rosier. “Toyota West Virginia has proven that companies in the Mountain State can compete and thrive on a global scale. West Virginia has a storied history of production and manufacturing. Toyota is proud to be a part of this tradition.”
With the continued incorporation of big businesses throughout the state, West Virginia’s future as a major global manufacturing industry looks promising.
Procter & Gamble
Photo by Procter & Gamble Company.
The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation founded in 1837. P&G supplies nearly $10 million worth of products to the state of West Virginia and during the previous fiscal year alone made a $250,000 charitable donation to local organizations. In 2018, as part of its strategy to develop a highly responsive supply network, P&G chose Martinsburg, WV, as the next location for its newest project: the Tabler Station Business Park. Upon its completion, the 456-acre plant has over 2 million square feet under its roof and houses state-of-the-art manufacturing processes and distribution facilities. The station employs approximately 1,650 workers and makes products for brands such as Bounce, Swiffer, Head & Shoulders and Herbal Essence.
“We found a great hiring pool for strong employees at reasonable wages,” says Steve O’Brien, human resources director for P&G. “The location is great for shipping. We have great access to highways to get our products around the country in less than a day for 80% of the United States. Both Berkeley County and the state of West Virginia were very supportive of us getting established.”
O’Brien also credits the three-lane expansion of Interstate 81 and the West Virginia Manufacturers Association for helping P&G establish its business successfully.
“There are many businesses that have come to call the panhandle home over the past few years. P&G is happy to be part of that growth,” O’Brien says.
One small business that has been impacted by P&G’s expansion is XLC Services, a single-source provider of manufacturing services and warehouse management. Priding itself on being a low-cost, high-quality business, XLC specializes in distribution and manufacturing environments throughout the U.S. and Canada.
“XLC has had the opportunity to work with P&G in several locations across the country, and Martinsburg is meaningful since it is our first venture in West Virginia,” says Eric Cheatham, talent acquisition director for the company. “P&G has been a valued client of XLC Services since 1988. We are both headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and our strong and positive business relationship has continued to grow throughout the years in multiple locations throughout the Midwest and South. Having a new operation in West Virginia has provided us an opportunity to further diversify our business footprint and provide employment opportunities to a greater number of talented candidates in the region.”
Since starting its new location in Martinsburg in early 2021, XLC has already experienced significant growth in the number of workers hired into permanent positions for the company.
Another business that has grown significantly since partnering with P&G is Manpower, a staffing and recruiting agency that prides itself on being highly ethical.
“P&G has been in the Martinsburg, WV, area for about four years, and its presence has had a huge impact on our local Manpower office as well as the local economy for the Eastern Panhandle,” says Lisa Coblentz, franchise owner of Manpower. “After 35 years in Martinsburg, we are very pleased to continue to be a major employer in the region. It has enabled us to have a positive impact on both the local workforce and the local economy.”
Technimark, a plastics manufacturing service and leading supplier for consumer goods, health care and global industrial companies, works alongside P&G to help meet its ever-increasing customer needs. With a location in Martinsburg, Technimark has been able to expand its footprint in ways once thought impossible.
“As a company, we have presence in West Virginia, thanks to P&G,” says Erika Cordero, human resources and organizational development manager for Technimark. “We opened our site in West Virginia to be an in-house strategic partner in a real-time, fast-paced environment. We started the site with around four employees that transferred from our headquarters. As of today, we have around 80 employees in our site, all thanks to P&G business.”
Because P&G firmly planted its roots in the Martinsburg area, the entire state of West Virginia is reaping the benefits and will continue to for years to come.
“P&G has come in with 1,650 jobs in the area and with that comes another 1,000 jobs with our direct partners and another 300 construction jobs,” says O’Brien. “As we onboard new hire classes, we discuss where everyone is from. It is great to hear the number of people that say they grew up here, left for several years but have come back home now that there is more opportunity in the area.”
