Meet John Dashler
Return to
Part I. The Short Story of My Life
Part II: The Details
For Georgians that are interested in the details of my life, here
they are:
Personal
Born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1947. Raised in Havre de Grace,
Maryland, a small town on the Susquehanna River. Dianne and I
married, my second marriage, in 1973. Re-located to Dalton, Georgia
in 1976. Resided at present address since 1983. We have four married
children and eight grandchildren. One daughter graduated from
Converse College Spartanburg, SC and taught school 14 years before
marrying and beginning her family. One son is a successful
entrepreneur. One son graduated from UTC and is a computer
programmer. After attending Dalton State College, our youngest
daughter married a few years ago and is pregnant with her first
child- due in October '05. My mother has lived with us for three
years. In answer to years of Dianne's prayers (and many of our
church family), I became a Christian in 1999. We are members of
Fellowship Bible Church.
Education
Graduated from Havre de Grace High School in 1965 in Advanced
Academic Program. Lettered in basketball and baseball and member of
several clubs. Elected mayor of city for one day, which obligated me
to give my first speech to the local Rotary Club. I chose
development of the natural landscape and riverfront. Forty years
later, it is mostly done. Attended University of Maryland night
courses for several years while on active duty. Attended classes at
Monmouth College and Trenton State University. Did not complete
degree. Significant military schooling: Signal Corps Officer
Candidate School (6 months), the Signal Officers Advanced Course (9
months), Operations Research and Systems Analyst, Telephone
Communications Officer Course (8 weeks), and Leadership Dalton.
Employment
- '65-'66: Lineman, Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company,
HdeG, Md.
- '66-'76: US Army
- drafted, served as combat infantryman, achieved rank of
corporal prior to attending OCS.
- Commissioned 2Lt in Signal Corps in May '67
- Promoted to 1Lt May '68
- Commander, Co A, 26th Signal Battalion, Heilbronn, Germany.
Unit was a mobile telephone exchange with a fixed site in the
7th Army communications network. The previous commander had been
relieved of command for incompetence. Although out-ranked by
many fellow officers, I was chosen as the new commander.
Significant foot note: was chosen for highly classified mission
(routing refugees from Czechoslavakia when Russians invaded in
'68)
- Promoted to CPT, May '69
- Telephone Communications Engineer, Republic of Viet Nam
- Commander, Co B, 40th Combat Construction Company, RVN.
Built a telephone exhange and associated outside plant for the
9th Korean Infantry Division (White Horse Division), and many
other construction projects from Nha Trang on the coast, to Ban
Me Thout in the central highlands to Can Tho in the delta
region. Most of the soldiers in this unit were a product of
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara's "Project 100,000". These
were literally young men from socio-economically depressed
backgrounds who had gotten in trouble with the law, appeared
before a judge in criminal court and given a choice: go in the
Army or go to jail. They were the hardest working, most loyal
and dedicated people I have ever had the privilege of
association.
- MACV wire officer with primary responsibility for the
"Phantom Circuit" which was the hotline between the War Room at
the Pentagon, the Paris peace talks, the White House, General
Abrams, the President of RVN, and COMNAVFORV, Admiral Waldo
Zumwalt.
- Project Officer for consolidation of military aspects of
Aberdeen Proving Ground and Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland and
established new battalion-sized headquarters.
- Deputy Commander, Troop Command, APG, Md.
- Post Communications Officer, APG, Md.
- Materiel Readiness Officer, Headquarters,7th Signal Brigade,
Mannheim, Germany. Responsible for combat readiness of men and
equipment of 5 battalions, an aviation detachment and separate
company for wartime mission of providing backbone of mobile
telephone communication system for NATO, CENTAG, 7th US Army,
Air Force and the US Army 5th and 7th Corps.
- Assistant Logistics Officer, 7th Sig Bde. Doubled up in this
capacity when it was vacant, which was often. Of significance, I
was the Officer-in-Charge of ground communications support for
mine clearing operations of the Suez Canal. Also, because I was
never one to accept things the way they were, I successfully
initiated several changes to Army regulations, field manuals and
technical manuals. I also published a booklet titled, "Hey you,
Mr. Company Commander".
- Somehow, I survived all of the reductions in force. Then
while enroute to degree completion and a masters program at the
University of Tampa, to be followed with Project Management
School and Command and General Staff College, I voluntarily
requested release from active duty to pursue a career as a
business owner.
- Awards and Decorations: Good Conduct Medal, Army
Commendation Medal (2), Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service
Medal, various US and RVN campaign and service medals.
- Resigned commission in '77.
- '76-'88: Unituft, Inc. was a small "sample" company with a
bare bones binder manufacturing capability when I joined my old
Army buddy as a minority stockholder. The company was small and,
as one of 60-70 small competitors, was relatively unknown.
Incurring debt of $100,000 dollars for my 25% and a 50% cut in
salary for this "opportunity" wasn't exactly pleasing to Dianne. I
rode a motorcycle to work for two years, as a second car was
unaffordable. Working 12-14 hours days, six days a week and many
Sundays was an investment that paid off.
In '79 I took
over management of the company while my partner pursued other
interests. We had just completed a short span of time during which
several significant events had occurred. We had incurred
significant debt to buy-out the company's founder. More debt when
we purchased an offset printing company. Then, I incurred even
more debt when I purchased my partner's stock. Then, I learned the
financial lesson of a lifetime. The business was growing
meteorically and was sufficiently profitable to fund our growth.
Then, interest rates began to escalate. All of our debt was at
prime plus 2%, floating monthly. Interest rates hit 21%. It came
close to breaking me. We survived and, thereafter, thrived. I
purchased a couple other businesses, founded a couple and traded
stock for another.
The company had grown to several
million of highly profitable sales, well over 300 employees,
second largest in the floor covering industry and nationally known
throughout the industry as a trusted supplier. One of the tools I
used to grow and manage the business was making stockholders out
of the management team. They were the best. Period. None were
formally educated, but had the desire to succeed. They mastered
leadership and management skills. Coupled with their experience in
technical knowledge, which they learned the same place I acquired
mine, on the plant floor, we were an unbeatable team. I sold the
company to them a few years after building a modern manufacturing
plant that continues to thrive today.
During the time I
owned the group of Unituft companies I was active in many
different trade and business organizations and served as a board
member on many of them. I attended many and varied classes,
seminars and courses for professional development. Perhaps one of
the most significant occurrences during this time was related to a
dispute I had with the State Board of Workers Compensation. The
laws were unfairly slanted toward the employee and the insurance
companies. I single-handedly challenged them. Eventually, we
prevailed. The changes I thought were necessary to make the laws
more equitable were enacted after I sold Unituft. Those changes in
the law were led by a man I encouraged to take the lead on workers
comp issues and supported in his successful bid to become our
State Representative, Jim Tyson Griffin.
- '88-'91: Owner, Italianos Subs and Pizza. Having experienced a
large business, my ambition in the restaurant business was to
build a franchise. I hired a young man who possessed some
experience in the restaurant business. Together, we opened the
first store in Calhoun, Georgia. Another soon followed in
Chatsworth, then Tunnel Hill, Georgia. He operated the business
during the day and I worked one of the locations at night. Return
on the effort was not what I had experienced in manufacturing, nor
was it intellectually challenging. For those reasons I lost
interest and sold Italianos. The restaurant business is tough
business. The experience taught me a lot of respect for
entrepreneurs in the food business.
- '89-'94: Financial Markets. Paying an institution a large
management fee to manage my money was a basis for high
expectations of performance. My portfolio declined under their
management and I concluded I could do no worse. I was wrong. I
liked to tell friends that I had earned, but mostly paid for, my
doctorate in the financial markets. The first year was painful. I
lost a lot of money. But, as always, my old reliable friend
"determination" kicked in. The second year was a good year. I made
back all that I had lost the previous year. From that point
forward, I was pleased with the returns on my efforts. I walked
away from my portfolio to join Brown Industries. After the three
years at Brown, I began trading the markets again, but not with
the same intensity and commitment as before. My claim to fame came
in 2000. The day before the markets collapsed, I liquidated most
of my portfolio. To this day I have not re-entered the markets,
being content with preservation of capital and money market
returns.
- '90-93: Owner, Dashler Racing, Inc. Also, during the time that
I owned Italianos and was trading the markets, I became interested
in stock car racing. I founded an asphalt short track late model
race team. After the first year of racing at Lanier Race Track in
Gainesville, we began to tour with NASCAR's All-Pro Series. (I
won't repeat what I already shared with you earlier in this
bio.)
Racing is exciting, but that isn't what attracted me.
It was the people. Racers are the hardest working and most
dedicated people I ever met. I liked the culture. I liked the work
ethic. I liked the "winning" attitude. I developed a tremendous
amount of respect for racers. They are undaunted. They want to
win. They don't quit. They respect their fellow competitors. They
give everything they have to give, and then some. I was proud to
have gotten to know many of the racers we watch on TV today. I
still see some of them on occasion. We have fond memories
discussing our racing "roots".
As an owner of a race team,
you basically provide the money, assemble the best talent you can
afford and get out of the way. Although, that's mostly what I did,
I did more. I have been the jack man, tire carrier, fuel man,
driver of the race car hauler and spotter. I've jacked the wrong
side of the car, fell down with the jack in my hand, left the fuel
can in the car and missed some wrecks when spotting. Nonetheless,
the guys gave me a passing grade. The fun part of racing is
winning. We won a lot of races. We had a lot of fun.
Before I leave the subject of racing, I must say this: of
all the intellectual challenges I've confronted in my life,
getting another tenth of a second faster with a racecar was the
most tasking. I never did figure it out!
- '94-'97: COO, Brown Industries, Inc. I was within a few days
of buying another company when I received a call from one of our
community's most respected businessmen and community leaders,
James E. Brown. He was a member of the board of National Service
Industries and was in the process of buying one of NSI's divisions
located in Dalton. However, he had a problem. He spent a year
trying to get the company turned around with an all-star team of
people that he had worked with years prior. They had not
succeeded. This was a large, multi-divisional company. Several of
the divisions were in Dalton, but there were others in Atlanta and
Chatsworth. The company had five years of declining revenues and
was not profitable. Although NSI's and his own accountants and
attorneys had forecast a three year turn-around to reach
breakeven, the challenge excited me.
I took the job as
COO. I was able to operate the company as though it were my own
for one year. If at the end of a year all of the divisions had not
returned to profitability, Mr. Brown was free from his commitment
to me and could do as he pleased without fear of objection from
me.
I conceived the turn-around plan in three days and
briefed the board two days later. We achieved a breakeven in three
months. Profitability followed the next month. At the end of the
second year, profitability in dollars, surpassed the highest
levels ever attained previously by the company. There was a
significant difference. I inherited revenues that were 33% less
than when that level of profitability had been previously
achieved.
When I left Brown Industries three years later,
Mr. Brown said he had a comment from one of the employees he
wanted to share with me. When asked to describe what I had meant
to Brown Industries, the employee said, "All I can tell you about
John Dashler is this: he saved 650 people their jobs!" That's the
best compliment I ever received.
Community
When it comes to helping other people, I often think of an
episode of "Friends", the TV program. Joey and Phoebe were
disagreeing over a statement Joey made. He announced he had
volunteered to help in some effort. Phoebe asked him why he
volunteered. He said it was because it's a responsibility everyone
should bear. She said, "In other words, you're doing it for them".
"Right", was Joey's answer. She said, "No, you're not doing it for
them, you're doing it for yourself because it makes you feel good".
I can say this from my vantage point, it's for both reasons. There
are two ways to help: time and money. I've done lots of both. But,
donating money to a cause does not give me the gratification that
dedicating time does. Interacting with people and observing the
expressions on their faces, is all the appreciation I ever needed.
My most recent endeavor spanned three years. Serving as a
volunteer driver most Mondays transporting disabled veterans from
the VA clinic in Chattanooga to the VA hospital in Murfreesboro,
Tennessee was a gratifying experience. I had the opportunity to help
where a real need existed. When you've driven 20,000 miles with
vanloads of vets, you would think you would have heard every war
story imaginable. Never heard one. These folks were humble and
appreciative. And, for any of you readers that work at the VA, you
will be happy to know this: I never heard one complaint about
medical care. No, not one!
I could devote a lot of time
preparing a long list of the things I've done for others, but won't.
Actually, it's a little embarrassing. It's almost like boasting. If
you do something for other people for either, or both, of the
reasons I mentioned above, that's great. But, when you broadcast
them in a list for public dissemination, it tarnishes the
motivation. It becomes insincere and self-serving.
Community and Business Service
I have a different attitude regarding formal positions of service
to our community. Here's the list:
- Teacher of Junior Achievement's Project Business in 8th grade
for 5 years.
- Community Advisory Board to Southeast High School for several
years.
- President, SEHS Quarterback Club, two years.
- Board member, Whitfield County Board of Zoning Appeals for
several years.
- Board of Directors, Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce,
three years.
- Chairman and Founder, Stay-in-School Task Force, DALWHICHCOM
Foundation, Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce for four years.
- Westcott Fellow, Hamilton Medical Center, lifetime.
- Member, Hamilton Healthcare Foundation, one year.
- Governors Workers Compensation Advisory Board, appointed by
Governor Joe Frank Harris, one year.
- Member, Industrial Advisory Council, Print Management Program,
Georgia Southern University.
- Member, Presidents Council, Carpet and Rug Institute, two
years.
- Member, Board of Directors, "Under 40", National Association
of Floor Covering Distributors, two years.
- Member, several councils and parent support groups for many
years in Whitfield County Schools.
- President, Junior Officers Council (300 members), APG, Md. two
years.
- President, Junior Officers Council, 7th Signal Brigade, one
year.
- Member, American Legion, Joseph L. Davis Post 47, two terms of
several years.
- DALWHICHCOM Foundation's Man-of-the-Year in '85.
Georgians, that's my life. Earlier I described it as having lived
the American Dream. I have. But, there's another chapter to write
before this book is finished. But, it won't be written unless you
want it written. If you want that chapter written, you will have to
do your part- get off of the sideline and become actively involved.
Then, I will do my part. I will serve you, your family, your
community and all of Georgia by tackling and solving the tough
issues that, otherwise, will go unattended for another cycle of
neglect. (See "How
We Are Governed")
If you haven't yet, please read the
sections under the tab "Georgia: Where Are We
Now?" The information I share with you there is the basis for my
decision to enter this race. What I share with you under the section
"John's Vision" is
what I believe needs to be done to responsibly lead Georgia into a
prosperous future. It is a blueprint, which makes it
"a" solution, but not necessarily "the
only" solution. Like all workable solutions, it is only as
good as the leadership's ability, commitment and resolve to make it
work. I am willing, able and ready.
If I have won you over as
a supporter, you must understand that I need your help. We must
qualify to get on the ballot. To get on the ballot as an
independent, we must collect 40,000'ish signatures on nomination
petitions during the first six months of '06. It is not a simple or
inexpensive process. The process of organizing must begin now. If
you are so inclined to help, click on one or both of the buttons to
the left: "Volunteer" and "Contribute". Please keep in mind, I am
not about raising millions of dollars and buying your vote. I am
about gaining your confidence and earning your vote.
To
everyone who took the time to read these pages, thank you. And,
remember Georgians, "Make it about you, not the few!"
John W.
Dashler
Independent Candidate for Governor
Return to
Part I. The Short Story of My
Life |
