Speaking of Rochester; 122; Bal Dixit

How do you do ladies and gentlemen. I'm Barbara Connell and this program is called Speaking of Rochester. In the course of this program we try to interview people who are important to this community and who have views on Rochester's past its present and sometimes its future. We have a guest today whose name is Bal Dixit. He isn't originally an Indian national has become an American citizen. He lives in Pittsford. He came to this country. In 19 64. To get a master's degree and in Texel technology. LOL in Massachusetts. And subsequently he came here to Rochester where he has after a couple of years that in Palmyra working for Governor Locke. But here he has created a very interesting business.

And has created a number of jobs for Americans. He is not a foreigner sent to this country to run an American business. Well there are some of those now days. He has created an American business himself and is responsible for its growth and its success. Baldrick's it is an interesting citizen he's involved in a great many things. And I'm proud to have him as a visitor on our program today bow welcome. Thank you. Having to have your player to be here. Well thank you for your. Tell us about your business. It was organized. Apparently originally in your garage and it involves substitutes for asbestos mask which is now banned in this country but which was originally the basis of most fireproofing in this

country. That's right. And the sense that it was not going to be considered a successful product because of the extent to which asbestos. It tends to gather in people's lungs and cause cancer and things of that sort and came up with an alternative. What basically is the alternative. Well this is a fiberglass based product. We start out with the fiberglass filament which is also totally inorganic and that's why her glass of course is just it's just silicone comes from saying I and they we took the filament and we can water that to match the properties of as pastors. There are several things that we have to be looking at not only just the temperature part but the insulation part the availability and the cost factor was very important. So what we came out with was an economically viable substitute totally asbestos free substitute. What with our products we want after the industrial market primarily and then I went after the insulation

market. So it has the good qualities of asbestos without the bad quality without the bad quality and then you can weave it into cloth or you make you make a wall coverings. You make mittens. You make safety clothing safety fighting for you know fighting pursuits and proximity so what else have tapes and ropes and braided tubing and it's is that successful as asbestos for instance with a pair of your new techs gloves new techs is the name of your business right now with this new texts substitute. You could handle something of tremendous heat and not get burned. Well I think with the development that we have carried out over the last several years there is no need to use as best as we can to replace his bases in 99 point nine percent applications so it has been very successful and now the product is cheaper than asbestos also. So cost wise Also there is no reason to use as basis anymore.

You had to do quite a bit of development work to get to this level of success where your factory is in vector isn't that correct. That's right. And how many people do you employ there. About hundred people about 100 people you have other factories. You have one in Kentucky don't you. We have one in Kentucky in Murray Kentucky and we have a warehouse in Seattle a warehouse in Seattle. Actually you produce not just for America but for the world market too don't you. That's right I think the total number of countries that we have exported to is about 80. And regular exports go about 60 countries and about 30 percent of horse sales that oversees all of this is developed since 1964 1968 63 78 78. Oh yes of course you had it when you went to school and you were God and Union Carbide Carlock and Union Carbide before you conceived this idea and and brought this dream into existence in your garage.

That's from whence you now have a large factory and vector or factory in victories about 52000 square feet. And then we have ten thousand square feet in Murray Kentucky and about 4000 square feet in Seattle. You know. How come when you got your education you decided to try to do business here instead of back in your originally home country of India. Well I think when I came to you know us for studies I came only for three and a half years in the beginning. And I was supposed to go back when I came here. I liked what I saw and I decided to stay. And it was my ambition right from the beginning to be in my own business eventually and I want to watch that go as as I was working in the Union Carbide and in dialogue. And one of the reasons I went for the MBA program listed on my education. Yes you had to. You had to get the commercial skills and the development skills and the marketing skills.

Well I think the scientific skills that are the basis of your business. That's right. So you you were willing to take the time along the way to have a comma. A balanced entrepreneur and it is proved very successful. Well thank you. There's another thing about you about what I think is important to understand. Many people who come from foreign lands originally come here without an awareness of the American tradition of public service. You have been very active in the community. You've worked been on the board of comp here you've been on the Chamber of Commerce. You have accepted the various responsibilities that go with community life. And and in that sense have you have if anything improved on the American tradition of service you're also currently the chairman of the board of

directors of the. Of the Federal Reserve Board at Buffalo are you not. That's correct. So that your your economic skills have been used also in public service. Well I think it's important to understand that because so many I know when I was at the World Bank. Many of our people from other lands and three quarters of the staff of the World Bank was non-American. Many of those people did not participate in the community at all. And even though they benefited from the various community services that were provided in the American tradition by nonprofit organizations. I want to congratulate you on your role in accepting full responsibility of American citizenship. Well I think I have benefited myself too personally. I mean it's just not you know I I think when you get involved with this community activities you learn a lot more Budget Committee also. May I ask you why you chose the Rochester area to settle in.

Well I used to work in Palmyra. And so you were familiar with this area generally. I was familiar with there yeah I knew the but like you know the bankers and you know I knew where to go for things that I needed. When you start a business. The time was of Essence for us we didn't want the world to leak out so for me to uproot the family and worry about where the children were going to go to school or worrying about where to buy the house or hanging and drapes and taking care of all the things to me that was not essential at that time. New York State also had very good programs to promote these type of you know start a business training program training program for instance tax incentive to accelerate and progress a problem now. Yes. But that's what you offer here. Tell me more about why you settled here. It seemed like the the place where you could get a quick start is that is that correct. That's correct. Could you have done that in the year.

I could have done that in India in fact it was interesting Barbara. And when I started the company and the speed with which we could get the things done when I started I resigned on 13th of March and we were in production in the first week in September. No this included not only just the advertising brochures in the office and factory space and we had to bring the power and we had to install machines which were imported from Europe so doing all of those things and being in production the first week of April and my father had a lot of connections a lot of you know you know excuse me you were in production the first week of April you said you for the first week in September September September. So in less than six months and handling all the financing the banking transactions getting these be a guarantee. All of those things were accomplished within the short period of time you could have done that in India could you or couldn't have done that even as you remind us of your bureaucratic lag. Yes inevitably and Indian business and that bureaucracy is feeding itself essentially and my father when he looked at the speed with which he did it he himself said

you could have done this in India in two years what you accomplished here. So so you saw the opportunity and you seized it and Rochester because you were familiar with the area and knew the people seemed like an appropriate place. Have you regretted coming to Rochester at all. No I like the community I think Rochester is a very very nice community. We have a lot of advantages here there's a very plain good pool of people you know they're talented workforce workforce here. I think the community itself I think when you look at bringing children in this community I think you can find a better community to bring children I think. And you have you have a family. We have a family I have one daughter and one son one daughter and one son. Well. If you had serious problems with your business ever is it been just a matter of good concept that grew naturally. No it we had problems and we had some unexpected problems like the fire we had you know

you had a fire we had a fire in the factory in 1980 which almost destroyed the factory we had bought at that time of one hundred twenty thousand dollars worth of damage. There was no roof left practically and we had to rebuild our treatment facility which was completely destroyed. So that people said back we had we had a couple of issues regarding the cars you were insured we were insured but you know it didn't cover completely the losses you know really. Yeah because what happened was the business was going so fast that we didn't know just the loss of profits and the insurance policy. So we ended up eating at some of that down. You know those losses. But we learned a lot from that experience too. Well Sometimes adversity does provide a steal for your character. That's right and any other difficulties of that. It will be the way of your current success.

Well I think the other difficulty we had was I think when we are you know when we started out in the beginning I didn't know about these trademarks and the registration of trademarks and the laws regarding trademarks. India is not strong on intellectual property or property. Well also I have I was not I guess but for me over the legal system we used the name of a product that was also used for us past us and a company that was making us but has threatened to sue us in fact they were going to bring an injunction against us and we had to fight that you know and we changed the name within six months of starting the company. Well rather rather than get into protracted legal suits. That's right I mean you adjusted quickly. That's right. Well that was that was probably good judgment on your part. We we may not be. A interminable bureaucracy we are a very litigious society. Well I think you know we didn't want to spend money fighting a legal battle

because the other company was much shorter and much deeper you know with much deeper pockets and so we decided that it's better for us to spend that money in promoting the business and it was kind of painful to switch the name because all of our advertising all over brochures everything was printed with the name that was used for spices. But you stuck with it and it's proved to be in the long run a very happy and successful business hasn't it. That's right I think that in fact the name that we came up with is very worried you know. And it is because the text says time is fighting great that's how he takes came about and people like it I mean they remembers E-Tecs it's a very catchy name for the product. Oh. You have plans for further expansion perhaps abroad. You'll be continuing to work the export market will you not.

Well I think that's what we're working to watch. We want to make that the future of America. We we are the most competitive society in the world. We are the world's largest exporter. This is particularly true of that of an area like Rochester where where a great deal of our power. Activity or industrial activity is aimed at X the export market. You'll continue to do that too will you. I think so I think we're going to have to become a global player in our But compete effectively I think in the marketplace. We need to expand overseas and we are looking at some opportunities right now. Well I think it's important to be competitive. Yes France and Germany for instance have 11 12 13 percent unemployment at this point. Well we have what is it 4.4 percent. And that's because American business has been aggressive and has done what's necessary to remain competitive.

And clearly that's part of your THE your business tenets. So. Well I think the surprising part that we are able to compete in spite of the fact that the playing field is not level. And I always say because we have more regulations regarding the environment of our factory or shop regulations which companies overseas are not subjected to. And that's that's the cost that we had to break into or our product cost and we're still able to compete and I think that's the beauty of the American business I think that we can react to those type of pressures and these regulations however burdensome they may be do have something to do with the quality of life here in America. That's right. Well I want to talk to you a little about the Indian community East Indian community here in Rochester. I'm impressed by the number of strong educated

you. And effective members you have in the Indian community here. I think many righteous terriers are not aware of the size of that community can you can you give us an estimate of how many Indians live in the Rochester area. I think there are about 4000 4000 4000 here and many of them are highly educated people. I have been distressed as a farmer man interested in the development of the Third World to that. India spends so much of its education budget on higher education. Instead of fighting the illiteracy of the lower classes there. It seems to me that that India does not have the potential for generating the kind of business you have generated here with the highly trained and skilled work thats available to you. Workers that are available to you. Because in India there is a great deal of illiteracy.

And so many Indians who are highly educated frustrated by their ability to put together the kind of enterprise you have have come to other countries particularly the United States and here in Rochester that's true many many also professional people from India have come here. That's right. The Indian community has a building that is a place for the community all to come together. Is that isn't that correct where is it. That's the India community center. And where is it located. It's right past spend Fred I mean east of you know right out of the window when you have regular programs there. Yes or you can retain some of the cultural. Memories that are important to people who grew up in India. It also is a place where I'm sure you exchange a lot of information about the activities of the Rochester area or. And

it is important probably the Indian community here is much greater leadership role than many people realize. Can you can you tell us anything more about it. Has it been growing very fast lately. I think it is growing very well and I think it's going in the right direction also as more and as people are settling down. You know we went through a transition when we came to the country forced we were more interested in stability settling down. Now most of the people are settling down. They're looking at other aspects of life like the culture. There are more cultural programs that you have seen there. And you know the diversity of culture in India. So you're seeing all of these you know diverse groups that are coming to Rochester now which were not there before I mean we can afford to bring them before. So there is a lot more activity. I think the community is a it's like a a in a in a smaller or a micro sense a little India and

Rochester you know with the different ethnic groups and the diversity that we have. That you see in India you see the same diversity in Rochester. Well it's part of becoming an increasing part of America too. Preserve cultural diversity and to use it as an enriching factor for Americans as a whole. You don't have any regrets about coming to this country I'm sure you have been such a successful person here and and I am sure that the Indian community here encourages others to take that step. We have an influx of many and Asians in America nowadays and mostly there are people with strong family values with a with a work ethic that I'm afraid third fourth generation Americans to some degree have lost because our prosperity has spoiled us.

And I think we can look forward to an increasing contribution by Asians to the success of America. That's one reason I particularly wanted to have you on this program because you've contributed a lot to this area individually not just as part of a new community here but individually and I think it's important for people to understand that that here's an American we can be pretty proud of. Who does not reflect the old European background that most of us have as part of our heritage. I think essentially the spirit that you're seeing amongst these immigrants from from India or from Asia is the same type of spirit that was there when the migration from Europe took place. People came here to prosper yes to war cause it was a place of freedom. It was a place for freedom. And I think the beauty of I think United

States is that it doesn't hold anybody back if you don't like something you can always change your country and you can find your own way and get through that. Get to where you want to go. You know you don't you're not held back by you know. There may be obstacles in the way but there is nothing that stops you from doing what you want to do here. I hope America will always have be this kind of a place. I realize that there's increasing regulation as our society becomes more or complex and as our problems become. Of a different nature than they used to be back on the front tier. But but that doesn't mean that we can't learn a lot from people of different background and and interests than than the traditional so-called traditional American. I think it's a great message to all Americans

to realize that while we may have some degree of relative poverty we are a card spot that tracks people from everywhere. Lots of Americans don't appreciate what they've got. I think of the travel they would find out how lucky they are. Well they do travel more and more and that's why I'm not sure that most many of them don't travel to two garden spots rather than two to see the slums of slum today for instance with which you would be familiar with the largest slums in the world or in Bombay. And that doesn't mean Bombay isn't a glittering city also but it's easy to visit Bombay without seeing the slums at all. Yes. Well Beau I appreciate your coming on the program I think diversity is one part of the richness of Rochester too.

And I think we have a lot to learn and from others we have. Potential members of the community here that can greatly add to the not just a diversity but to the success of Rochester as a community and you have done that and in the process have made us proud that you are an American. BB I also have benefited too. I mean you know not only that it's something that I am I'm glad that I was able to contribute I do able to get involved with the the community activities. And I wish more office would get involved in the community activities because there is so much that we can do. I think it's the community is us and what we do for the community I think reflects you know and overall that I think the standard of living that we have here.

I hope you're and you're working on the Federal Reserve Board up at Buffalo to you'll be able to to contribute significantly to regional development that's something that we always need. Well that's one of the mandate that you know that we have to reach out to even with the various programs that the Federal Reserve has. Thank you for being on the program today about it's been a great pleasure to have you. Ladies and gentlemen our guest today has been Val Dixit. A new Texas Industries head to head Victor in New York. He is originally from India is a member of the Indian community here in Rochester. A fine American. This is Barber accountable. Thank you for listening. If you'd like a copy of this program send 1095 to WXXI. Post Office Box 21 Rochester New York 1 4 6 0 1.