Jack Ouellette
Executive Chairman
American Textile Company
Jack Ouellette is the non-family chairman of American Textile Company. He began his career at American Textile in 1976 as an assistant to the owner. He was appointed executive vice president in 1982 and became president in 1991. In 1996, he became chief executive officer. Jack was appointed chairman in January 2013.
American Textile was founded in 1925 and has grown to become one of the largest utility bedding companies in the United States. American Textile manufactures and distributes bedding items to the retail market in the U.S. and Canada. American Textile has operations in Pittsburgh, PA (corporate headquarters), Tifton, GA, Dallas, TX, Salt Lake City, UT and San Salvador, El Salvador. It has sales offices in New York, NY and Bentonville, AR. The company has a product development and marketing office in Davidson, NC and a sourcing office in Shanghai, China. It has more than 400 employees worldwide.
After graduating from the United Stated Military Academy at West Point, Jack served as an officer in the United States Army for nine years. As an officer, he completed Army Ranger School, served as a Company Commander in Germany and was a pilot in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star. He went on to teach military science and earn his MBA from Duquesne University.
SESSIONS
The Role of Cultural Fit in Recruiting Non-Family – Panelist
Recruiting non-family executives involves more than just selecting someone with the right skills and experience for the job. Senior managers joining a family firm must understand and be comfortable working in a family business environment. Perhaps most important of all, their personal values must mesh with the family’s values. Panelists will discuss their recruiting experiences.