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ebecca
Herwick has been in love with motorcycles since
she was a little girl growing up in southern Illinois.
She
rode mini-bikes when she was eight and graduated
to smaller dirt bikes, which she rode with her friends
on the farms and back roads of Mascoutah.
She
purchased her first Harley-Davidson, a 1976 Sportster,
from friend and dealer Russ Frieze in Belleville,
Illinois (now deceased, his wife and daughter continue
to grow the dealership). Herwick was the only Harley-Davidson
rider at McKendree College, where she graduated
with a degree in chemistry.
Her
motorcycle delivered her to her first job, where
she again stood out as the only female chemist on
a Harley. "I had been ostracized all my young life
for riding motorcycles and associating with folks
who did," Herwick says. "Now it's a dream come true
that I own a business associated with the motorcycles
that I love."
Herwick
joined Global Products, Inc. in 1983 as a partner
in the proprietorship. She became vice president
in 1995, and through a reorganization of the company,
became president and CEO in 1999.
Global
Product's primary focus is the manufacturing and
distribution of Harley-Davidson multi-media apparel,
custom products, giftware, and novelties. The company
posted 2002 sales of $12 million and expects 2003
sales of $13 million.
Global
Products is the only Harley-Davidson dealer with
exclusive distribution worldwide and is one of five
official licensees for HD dealer apparel in the
United States. She holds the exclusive license for
decals, emblems, magnets, pins, custom ceramics,
and novelties.
With
offices and a manufacturing facility in St. Peters,
Missouri, Herwick directs a staff that includes
artists; embroidery specialists; screen printers;
customer service specialists; warehouse personnel;
accounting, maintenance and IT support; plus a sales
force of 12 reps. She has distribution facilities
in Burlington, Canada and Ottobrunn, Germany to
serve the Canadian and European markets.
Her
two sons, James Dean and John David, are shareholders
in the company (non-voting shares) and will own
the company when Herwick steps aside. James and
John are also the owners (in a irrevocable trust)
of a unique collection of more than 30 antique Harley-Davidson
motorcycles - one of each of the first
and last years of each engine model change-that
Herwick has collected over the past 20 years.
Herwick
said a turning point for her company came last year
when Mike Schmidtt of Harley-Davidson's supplier
diversity team, introduced her to the Women's Business
Enterprise National Council (WBENC). "Mike recommended
that I become certified as a women's business enterprise
(wbe) and encouraged me to attend the WBENC conference
in June," Herwick said. "I followed his recommendation
and became certified, which has opened up a number
of new opportunities for my company. Ford has now
offered us an opportunity to be a licensee, as has
Cary Chen (the famous marine artist) for licensed
products in the salt water and sport fishing arena.
These are all very different product logos, but
we would utilize the same manufacturing and logistic
skills we have at Global," Herwick adds.
Herwick
substantially increased her Canadian and European
sales when she opened the distribution facilities
in Canada and Germany. "Other licensees with Harley-Davidson
have utilized our international locations to provide
the dealerships with product without having to deal
with duties and international freight costs," she
says. "Also, working in their own currency makes
a big difference to these dealers. We've made it
much easier for them to have the same products as
their U.S. counterparts."
Herwick
is now considering adding a Pacific Rim distribution
center with the enormous expansion in the Asian
market.
She
is also in the process of finalizing the trademark
on her own line of spiritual products called "Divine
Threads." The products will be ecumenical, representing
all areas of faith and spirituality.
Herwick
is proud to be a platinum member of the Women Presidents'
Organization (platinum membership requires annual
sales of $10 million plus). The support she receives
from both WPO and WBENC has helped her improve her
presentation skills and become a more effective
CEO. "I appreciate everything that has happened
in my life since my initiation with WBENC and WPO,"
she adds.
An
important focus of Herwick's company is giving back
and "job-carving" for people with disabilities.
She works with the Center for Head Injury Services
and has become acutely aware of the importance of
providing jobs for individuals with special needs.
"I hope that I can send a message to other business
owners who have the ability to carve out jobs for
people with disabilities. Working with the Center
has taught all of us at Global to be more patient
and more aware," she says.
(This
article is reprinted from the Fall 2003 edition
of Enterprising Women magazine. Copyright
2003, Enterprising Women Inc. Reproduction in whole
or part is prohibited, except by permission of the
publisher.)
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