The hard work, willingness to take risks and quest for success that Thomas Sellers saw firsthand from his grandparents and parents is what sparked he and his brother’s inspiration to create Sellars Absorbent Materials out of a basement in 1985. “We are people who have grown up with a value system that cares for people, who are driven to make a difference and who will work incredibly hard to do so,” said Sellars.
The company is a family affair with each sibling offering their talents. “We were driven to build a company, create great products, serve our customers and employees and be financially rewarded for doing the right thing,” said Sellars. “The company has grown from a small operation to a fully integrated manufacturer through hard work, dedication, tireless innovation and a commitment to quality.”
Sellars Absorbent Materials is a leading manufacturer of shop towels, wipers, towels, tissues and absorbents that are made with recycled fibers. The company’s products can be found in major big box retailers and maintenance, industrial and safety distributors in North America and Europe. The company has led to a growing international company with more than 200 employees.
According to his staff, Sellars believes that leaders need to center their beliefs on a sound value system that encompasses empathy and humility. “He believes that promoting empathy and engagement toward all employees leads to a better future,” they said. “Doing what is best for all people enables leaders to build a strong and prosperous organization.”
That’s why Sellars takes the time to understand the root cause of each employee’s performance. “Tom certainly cares about the bottom line, but he also deeply cares about investing in our most important resources – our employees,” said his colleagues. “It’s about keeping our employees engaged and interested by encouraging and supporting employee functions, training and development while simply having fun.”
His leadership has led to accolades including recognition as the Top 100 Impact CEO for the last three years and recognition as the recipient of the Green Jobs Award by the SJF Institute. The company has also been awarded the Top 100 Impact Company for three years by Real Leaders.
“What makes a great company is great people, so it’s important to focus even more on building your team than your technology and manufacturing asset base, products, brands and customers, which is what will drive your success,” said Sellars.
For continuing to prioritize his team while making a positive impact within the industry, Sellars has been named a titan.
