by the wayside. And so he did, and TPM became an Autodesk Authorized Reseller to the AEC industry. “Anything that needs a design, pretty much uses CAD software. Software is the core of our business. We sell it, and we have certified engineers on staff that train all of our customers and assist with proper implementation,” Cooper notes. In the 1990s, TPM branched out further, becoming a SolidWorks Authorized Reseller which brought 3D CAD solutions to the manufacturing and industrial markets. As the manufacturing space continues to automate, TPM is helping companies optimize their designs and workflow by combining the SolidWorks suite of products with 3D printing technologies. In 2000, TPM opened their color graphics division, known as the Color Lab. “A lot of reprographics shops saw color as the next wave of revenue for them, and we wanted to stay on top of it—trade shows, vehicle wraps, building wraps, or almost anything you can think of—we can print in-house,” Cooper says. “TPM’s Color Lab is the Carolina’s largest provider of large-format graphics specializing in fabric applications, trade show displays and hardware, vehicle graphics, flatbed printing, and indoor/outdoor signage,” adds Fay. Some TPM Color Lab examples include the silos off South Boulevard, two large building wraps for Charlotte Area Transit System, as well as multiple fabric and tractor trailer wrap projects in the NASCAR industry. Enlarging the Original TPM has always been a family-owned and family-run operation for the Coopers and they believe that has been an important element to its success. So, when they decided to extend their footprint into Charlotte, embracing another family-run business made sense. Forrest Kenley Sr. had founded A&E Printing and Graphics (originally A&E Reprographics) on South Boulevard in Charlotte in 1982. A&E specialized in reprographics, printer sales and service, color/graphic solutions, and AEC products including OCE, Canon and HP wide format plotters, service and supplies. Forrest Kenley Jr. had helped out in the family business as a youngster and formally joined ranks with his father in 1989 after graduating college. “We’d talked with a number of different companies, but before TPM came along, nothing ever seemed to click,” Kenley Sr. remarks. A healthy regard and professional friendship between Cooper and Kenley Sr. helped speed the process along and in August of 2007, Cooper and Kenley Sr. consummated TPM’s acquisition of A&E, allowing TPM to bring its broad array of solutions to an already strong foothold in the Charlotte marketplace. Just recently TPM extended its reach even further with the establishment of a new office in Raleigh. TPM is leading with their manufacturing division in this new marketplace. As Fay describes it, “Our strategy is to identify opportunities in fastgrowing new markets with significant growth potential that can benefit from the full array of TPM solutions.” Cooper adds, “We see Charlotte and Raleigh as hotbeds for technology with significant growth opportunities. That fits right in with TPM’s mission. There are some competitors of course, but none that offer the full array of solutions that we do.” At present, TPM has approximately 90-plus employees in total; 50 at the main office in Greenville, and 20 at each of their Columbia and Charlotte
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(l to r) Kasey Cooper Fay Business Development Todd Brown Vice President Forrest Kenley Jr. General Manager of Charlotte Office TPM of Charlotte, LLC
offices, with it being too early to tally the Raleigh headcount. As Cooper touts, “We’re small enough that no one’s face is going to be lost in a crowd, but we’re big enough to handle ambitious jobs for clients throughout the region.” All in the Family Carrying on the legacies that their parents built, Cooper’s daughter Fay and Kenley Sr.’s son Kenley Jr. work together to keep the ink flowing at TPM of Charlotte. Fay actively handles business development primarily from the headquarters office and Kenley Jr. manages in the Charlotte office. “I was raised that God was first, family was second, and TPM was third,” Fay recalls of her early days. “I don’t have any brothers and sisters, but I’ve always joked that TPM is my big brother.” “I remember my dad giving me my first time card when I was four years old,” she boasts, making a light-hearted joke about child labor laws. “I’ve never wanted to do anything else: I’ve always loved working for my dad since day one.” Fay never strayed too far from home, attending college at Clemson University where she majored in management and entrepreneurship. Kenley Jr. has similar fond memories of his father’s legacy at A&E: “I learned a lot every night at the dinner table. My mom worked in the business, so we talked about it all the time. I very much respected how my dad
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