Ozarks Profile

Regional Sales Manager of Acme Brick, Tile and More, 2325 W. Battlefield. Acme is the largest American-owned brick manufacturer in the United States. The office on Battlefield is a distribution center not only for face brick from the company's 16 brick plants, but also for floor and wall tile from domestic and international manufacturers, as well as glass-block and other related products. Acme Brick was founded in 1891 and just celebrated 107 years in the brick business. Its parent company is Justin Industries (also maker of Justin boots; there are Justin Boots plants in Cassville and Carthage). Martin has been associated with Acme Brick for 34 years. He started in the Springfield office, which was then on the Plaza. Acme later relocated to Main Street in downtown Springfield and then to its present location on Battlefield. After working in Springfield, Martin was promoted and transferred to Kansas City, then to Topeka, Kan., and to Little Rock, Ark. (for seven years) before returning to Springfield. Martin is a member of Springfield Home Builders Association, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield General Contractors Association, an associate member of the Greater Springfield Board of Realtors, president of an advisory board on masonry for Ozarks Technical Community College, member of the downtown Springfield Rotary Club, president of the Kansas City Brick Marketing Council and an Elder at National Avenue Christian Church.

Age: 57.

No. of years in Springfield/area: A Springfield native.

Education: Central High School and the University of Arkansas-Little Rock, where he received a degree in business.

Early career: While attending Central High, Martin acquired his first job with a local retailer on the square. He cleaned windows and stocked the store's shelves after school and on Saturdays. Later, he went to work as a delivery person for what is now Grove Pharmacy. He spent four years in the U.S. Air Force before starting with Acme Brick Co. He started with Acme as a clerk, then became office manager, then transferred into sales as a territorial salesman, then became an architectural salesman. He was promoted to district manager in 1977 and to regional manager in 1990 with responsibility for the Springfield, St. Louis, Kansas City and Joplin offices.

Current projects: "I have helped create an accredited program to train masons at Ozarks Technical Community College and continue to support this project. This has given me an opportunity to work with future masons of Springfield," Martin said. He is also working with the Kansas City Brick Marketing Council to develop advertising that will promote brick.

Management philosophy: "I always try to put myself in my customers' shoes how would I like to be treated if I came to Acme Brick? Also, I never ask my employees to do anything that I wouldn't be willing to do," Martin said.

Spare-time pursuits: Golf, woodworking, stained glass and reading.

Family data: Married for 34 years to Charlotte K. Martin, employed by Audio Acoustics in accounts payable. Martin has a son, Michael, who is sous chef for the Hyatt Regency in Cincinnati, Ohio; and a daughter, Melinda, who is employed by Penny Power as a residential ads clerk. He also has three grandsons: Justin, 7, Brandon, 4, and Logan, 6 months.

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