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26 Can you provide some historical perspective on Metro? In 1929, Louis Maslow founded the Metropolitan Wire Goods Company. In 1958, he moved the business to Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The growth of the business required larger facilities and the cor- porate offices have been based in Wilkes-Barre ever since. Under the direction of Louis' son Richard Maslow, many new and creative applications for the flagship product, Super Erecta ® wire shelving, were developed and marketed glob- ally. Since its introduction, it's the number one brand globally for commercial usage in stor- age and transport applications. Because of its versatility, strength and innumerable options it has become the premium foodservice solution. But it is also very significant in the healthcare and commercial/industrial markets, where we service supermarkets, convenience stores, manufacturing facilities, laboratories, electron- ics and research facilities. The company had predominantly been a wire-based business until venturing much more heavily into fabricated metal. In 1985, we added plastics molding capabilities. This was signifi- cant for driving growth in new markets. Another critical strategy was evolving our business from being a shelving company to a storage solutions company. This provided growth and innovative new product categories. We subsequently transitioned again into space and workflow optimization, making custom- ers more productive and more efficient at what they do. Essentially, we transitioned over the years from being a product-based company to being a very heavy solution-based, space-and workflow-optimization-based business. Why do you think Metro has remained successful in the face of tough competition? We look at what we do as not being only product-related but also being solution- and service-related. Approximately 20 years ago, we be- gan working with the key restaurant multi-unit chains and hotel chains. We created a strategic accounts group that worked closely with these business groups. We inte- grated with their design teams and helped them maximize efficiency of their locations. We do that through various services, such as 3-dimensional layouts, automated in- formation systems, space optimization audits, easy-to-assemble master packs, and much more. Our strategic accounts team works in their stores to ensure we have a clear understanding Metro's Banquet Cabinet MetroMax Metro: A Growing Industry Leader With its broad product portfolio and focus on continual innovation, InterMetro (Metro) is uniquely positioned for growth. John Nackley, president and CEO of InterMetro Industries Corporation, discusses Metro's historic past and bright future. PEOPLE