Heiman Transitions from Standard to SK
August 27, 2008
CINCINNATI, Ohio - As previously reported, Kim Heiman bought 79 percent of SK Holdings this year and currently sits as president of SK Textile. She adds SK to a large roster of activities, which include maintaining the position of senior vice president of decorative products at Standard Textile and organizing multicultural events in Cincinnati. Heiman spoke to F&FI what the sale of SK means for the future of SK and Standard, as well as her function at both companies, and discussed with us her active role in her community.
Heiman finalized the purchase of SK Textile in February after four months of negotiations with the company. "SK is very customer oriented," she said in a May interview. "They have relationships with the customers. To me that was the most attractive thing about SK.."
The sale of SK gave rise to questions about the future of SK and Standard as separate entities. With a 23-year career at Standard Textile and a husband who is president and chief executive officer of Standard, Heiman has deep roots at the company. Did the personal acquisition indicate a merging of Standard and SK?
"The two companies have different ownership and there is no plan for any sort of merger," said Heiman. "Going forward, Standard Textile may utilize SK for our manufacturing capabilities and expertise and SK may decide to work with some of the fabric lines Standard Textile offers in the marketplace."
Heiman is now responsible for SK's operating and strategic development, finance and human resource. She indicated that her top responsibilities include making sure the management infrastructure is top-notch, overseeing computer systems, resource management and increasing SK's ability to manufacture different kinds of products with higher volumes. "This is an opportunity for me to bundle my various business experiences in sales, marketing, production, finance and operations and apply them to the challenge of growing SK into a major supplier of decorative products in the hospitality industry," she said.
As for her continued presence at Standard, Heiman functioned in a management position at the time of interview, occasionally going into the office but largely overseeing her team from outside the office. ''I have a great team and I trust them to do their job," she said. Heiman also indicated that she did not know if she would stay with Standard in the future.
Heiman surrounds herself with a strong network of support systems at Standard and SK, she indicated, In fact, the management has stayed mostly the same at SK since she took seat as president. "I am fortunate to work with Stanley Kassap, executive vice president, Debra Centurion, vice president of sales and marketing and Todd Kassap, vice president of operations," she said. "Their dedication to our customers and the depth of expertise in this industry are unsurpassed."
Running an entire company while retaining an advisory position at another keeps Heiman extremely busy, but surprisingly, she still makes time for what she values important - her community. Past president of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Heiman co-organized the city's first Multicultural Music Festival. The event brought together Israeli, Ethiopian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern sounds, and took place just before HD Expo in Las Vegas, which she also attended.
Heiman is an executive committee member of Rockwern Day School, Yad Vashem and serves as the campaign chair for Israel Bonds of Cincinnati.
Her work towards multicultural unity goes back to the late nineties, for which the Cincinnati Enquirer named her Woman of the Year. Heiman's management of international operations at Standard resulted in Israelis and Jordanians working together, despite being longtime adversaries in a politically unrest land. According to the Enquirer, it was Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel, who nominated her as Enquirer Woman of the Year.
Keeping a packed and determined schedule, Heiman has demonstrated the change an individual can realize in her workplace and local and international communities. ''Margaret Mead said, 'Ô Never doubt that a small group of concerned people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,''' Heiman said.
Heiman finalized the purchase of SK Textile in February after four months of negotiations with the company. "SK is very customer oriented," she said in a May interview. "They have relationships with the customers. To me that was the most attractive thing about SK.."
The sale of SK gave rise to questions about the future of SK and Standard as separate entities. With a 23-year career at Standard Textile and a husband who is president and chief executive officer of Standard, Heiman has deep roots at the company. Did the personal acquisition indicate a merging of Standard and SK?
"The two companies have different ownership and there is no plan for any sort of merger," said Heiman. "Going forward, Standard Textile may utilize SK for our manufacturing capabilities and expertise and SK may decide to work with some of the fabric lines Standard Textile offers in the marketplace."
Heiman is now responsible for SK's operating and strategic development, finance and human resource. She indicated that her top responsibilities include making sure the management infrastructure is top-notch, overseeing computer systems, resource management and increasing SK's ability to manufacture different kinds of products with higher volumes. "This is an opportunity for me to bundle my various business experiences in sales, marketing, production, finance and operations and apply them to the challenge of growing SK into a major supplier of decorative products in the hospitality industry," she said.
As for her continued presence at Standard, Heiman functioned in a management position at the time of interview, occasionally going into the office but largely overseeing her team from outside the office. ''I have a great team and I trust them to do their job," she said. Heiman also indicated that she did not know if she would stay with Standard in the future.
Heiman surrounds herself with a strong network of support systems at Standard and SK, she indicated, In fact, the management has stayed mostly the same at SK since she took seat as president. "I am fortunate to work with Stanley Kassap, executive vice president, Debra Centurion, vice president of sales and marketing and Todd Kassap, vice president of operations," she said. "Their dedication to our customers and the depth of expertise in this industry are unsurpassed."
Running an entire company while retaining an advisory position at another keeps Heiman extremely busy, but surprisingly, she still makes time for what she values important - her community. Past president of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, Heiman co-organized the city's first Multicultural Music Festival. The event brought together Israeli, Ethiopian, Caribbean and Middle Eastern sounds, and took place just before HD Expo in Las Vegas, which she also attended.
Heiman is an executive committee member of Rockwern Day School, Yad Vashem and serves as the campaign chair for Israel Bonds of Cincinnati.
Her work towards multicultural unity goes back to the late nineties, for which the Cincinnati Enquirer named her Woman of the Year. Heiman's management of international operations at Standard resulted in Israelis and Jordanians working together, despite being longtime adversaries in a politically unrest land. According to the Enquirer, it was Ehud Barak, former Prime Minister of Israel, who nominated her as Enquirer Woman of the Year.
Keeping a packed and determined schedule, Heiman has demonstrated the change an individual can realize in her workplace and local and international communities. ''Margaret Mead said, 'Ô Never doubt that a small group of concerned people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has,''' Heiman said.
