This company had a choice — to save American jobs.

This comfort-stretch cinch is among the long list of Professional's Choice products that will be manufactured in southern California.

It was fun to watch the posts today on Twitter from @ProfChoice — the best one being “They’re here!!!”

“They” were a CNN news crew, working on a segment for Lou Dobbs that will air tonight (July 28) at 7 p.m. Eastern. And @ProfChoice is the Twitter alias for AQHA Corporate Partner Professional’s Choice. The two came together when Dal Scott, owner and founder of Professional’s Choice, moved a substantial portion of his manufacturing business back to southern California, saving at least 20 American jobs.

Production had originally been sent to China in an effort to decrease internal costs and pass along savings to customers. However, when Dal realized overseas production was putting American jobs in jeopardy, he knew changes had to be made.

“Most family-oriented businesses look at their staff and their employees as part of their family,” he said. Forty-two percent of his workforce has been with Professional’s Choice for more than 10 years. And five staff members have been there for more than 20 years.

So he gave a mandate to general manager Monty Crist: Find a way to keep prices stable without cutting any American jobs. The solution was to purchase, at considerable expense, computerized sewing machines that would end up saving money in the long run by speeding up production. The jobs would be saved, and retail prices wouldn’t be increased.

Dal was a little surprised that the move won him attention from CNN.

“I certainly don’t consider ourselves heros just because we’re doing what we should do,” he said. (I’d bet the 20 people whose jobs were saved would say otherwise!) ”Loyalty is a two-way street,” Dal continued, whether you’re talking about employees, customers or even partners like AQHA, which Professional’s Choice has supported for about a dozen years.

Dal hopes the exposure on CNN might inspire other business owners to take similar measures. If others joined him in thinking “How can I help keep my people working?” he says, “there could be a terrific dent in this recession.”

And maybe, some imaginative thinking is just what it’ll take to turn this economy around.

“There are always good things about tough times,” Dal says. “When you’re in a down economy, it forces you to take a closer look at what you’re doing. It forced us to look inward.”

So, as his manufacturing facilities are being modernized and streamlined, his products are getting a great made-in-the-USA quality control.

The comfort-stretch cinch is one of the products being manufactured in southern California, and “it just makes sense to make that here and make sure there are no flaws. It’s very important to the safety of the rider,” Dal says. “We are completely and totally in control of the quality of that product, from start to finish.”

Not that that’s the only benefit. Warehouse and production manager Leah Horstman says, “Not only is it easier to monitor quality control when products are produced here, but we have an amazing group of people that work for us. In these trying times, it felt so good to be the bearer of great news. Dal has a wonderful heart and truly cares about his people.”

Dal and company … hats off to you guys! I’ve got my DVR set to catch your show on CNN tonight!

Happy riding!
Holly Clanahan
Editor, America’s Horse magazine

Don’t miss the fun, educational and heart-warming stories in the print version of America’s Horse! It goes to all members of the American Quarter Horse Association, and it’ll also keep you in the loop on Association news. We want you to belong!

Related Posts:

• Professional Padding
• Ice Boots
• Professional Preparation
• Learning New Tricks
• I’m Dreaming of a Warm Christmas