Interview With Eric Navarro from Central States - TRANSCRIPTION

Heidi J. Ellsworth catches up with Eric Navarro at the National Frame Builders Association Show. 

The following is a conversation between Heidi J. Ellsworth and Eric Navarro from Central States at the NFBA EXPO/CONFERENCE. Watch the interview on Youtube.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Hello, and we're back at the National Frame Builders Association Show, and we are so excited to be in Central State's booth with Eric. Eric, thank you so much for taking some time-

Eric Navarro: No, thank you.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: ... out to visit with us.

Eric Navarro: Oh, I know. Great. Thank you for coming to our booth, at least highlighting what our strengths is and what we're about.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: That's so cool. Okay, can you introduce yourself to everyone and just tell them what you at Central States?

Eric Navarro: Sure. Well, my name's Eric Navarro. I am a business development manager for Central States, and I currently cover the northern Illinois and northern Indiana territories.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Okay, very cool. You're getting some snow up there today.

Eric Navarro: You know what, there's a fine line, a fine line of weather.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Is there?

Eric Navarro: Yeah. Basically the very... like north of Chicago's the area that's getting most of the bad weather right now, and then north of that Wisconsin, Michigan.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, they're getting hammered.

Eric Navarro: We kind of lucked out, I think.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: It's kind of everywhere. It's really crazy. So speaking about being everywhere, Central States is so well known. You have such a great reputation.

Eric Navarro: Yep. Thank you.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: If you don't mind, talk a little bit about the company.

Eric Navarro: Sure.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: I know that it's employee-owned too which is pretty special.

Eric Navarro: It is. It is. Central States is an employee-owned company, and I invested a couple years ago so I'm pretty happy about that. I know my wife is very excited about it.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: That's great.

Eric Navarro: We've been around for about 35 years. We cover, as a company, just about everything east of the Rockies. The only places we don't get to are Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, or southern Florida, unfortunately, because that's kind of where I would like to be.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Right. Yeah, who wouldn't.

Eric Navarro: None the less, we cover a good portion of the United States, and it's exciting to be and working for a company that continues to grow.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: You have a real strong history, a 35-year history, of quality metal systems.

Eric Navarro: Correct. Yep. Absolutely.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Maybe talk a little bit about some of your top systems, what are the contractors asking about?

Eric Navarro: Our bread and butter, the product that really is top for us is our Panel-Loc Plus which is our AG panel, and it's a top quality product. It is an 015" min spec on that panel so you're going to get true 29 gauge panel. The paint system is a premium paint system, and we partner with Sherwin Williams for that.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yes.

Eric Navarro: Yes. We do use a great paint system.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: You guys are also part of the Roofing Passport and MetalView, all the great stuff that's coming out on a lot of new innovative initiatives.

Eric Navarro: Yes. Roofing Passport is a great imitative that I'm not still fully aware of what the potential and what it can do so I think it's going to be a great opportunity for customers and for [inaudible 00:02:39].

Heidi J. Ellsworth: There's so much. It's really... Yeah.

Eric Navarro: For sure.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Well, good. The show so far, how's it been for you?

Eric Navarro: It's been great. It's been great. We have a lot of great feedback with customers, a lot of interaction with customers so it's been a great show so far.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: I have to say, I've been seeing these all over the place, so watch out.

Eric Navarro: You know, those came out a couple years ago, and they've been a big hit with the big kid in everybody.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Yeah, yeah.

Eric Navarro: Yep.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: From little kids, which there are a lot here-

Eric Navarro: Big kids, yep.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: ... to the big kids.

Eric Navarro: Absolutely.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Well, Eric, thank you so much-

Eric Navarro: For sure.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: ... for taking the time out and for everything you do.

Eric Navarro: Absolutely, thank you. Yep.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Great. And thank you all for being here. We are going to keep bringing you live from the show. We'll be checking it out here real soon so stay tuned.

Eric Navarro: Make sure you see the Central States app.

Heidi J. Ellsworth: Central States app. There you go.

Learn more about Central States Manufacturing in their Coffee Shop® Directory or visit centralstatesmfg.com.