Leading in Crisis: Remembering 15 years ago
On May 14, 2001, the little town of Ansonia, Connecticut was shaken by a devastating fire at a business that Peter DeMarco served as COO. While navigating the crisis was certainly no joyride, the relationships forged with employees and the community, and the leadership lessons learned, have left the author deeply grateful. Click here for the full story in the American City Business Journal.
| Before the fire | During the fire | After the fire |
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| Coverage of the Fire | Impact on Local Business | Priorities in a Crisis |
| Environmental Impact | Communicate Hope | Use All Resources Available |
| Modelling our Rebuild Options | ||
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A brief history of Latex Foam
- Founded in 1975, LFP grew out of the molds and presses salvaged from a fire that burned a BF Goodrich latex foam plant to the ground
- At 10 AM on May 14, 2001, a fire destroyed the Ansonia, Connecticut LFP production facility and company headquarters
- Purchased building in Shelton, Connecticut and rebuilt production infrastructure: back in operation by late 2002
- Plant running at 60% capacity by early 2003, at which point Peter DeMarco departs LFP for other opportunities
- Business back to full capacity and production in 2005: with business highly profitable, Steve Russo departs LFP for other opportunities
- In 2012, one of the subsequent CEOs and his HR Vice President embezzled millions from the company; they were convicted and sentenced to jail
- A variety of factors contributed to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy declaration in 2014
- Also in 2014, the new facility had another smaller fire, but it was extinguished
- Renamed Talalay Global in early 2015, and now produces 22,000 mattresses and 1 million pillows each year to over 300 companies
- Expected to emerge from bankruptcy in July 2015
Other community fallout
The subsequent Anthrax scare claimed the life of an esteemed elderly woman in my own town of Oxford.