Business View Magazine | February 2019

69 It is not uncommon for a Tioga employee to have 20, 30, even 40 years of experience with the com- pany.Our people know the markets and know the products which provides a competitive advantage in howTioga can deliver multiple solutions and services to customers.“ BVM: What exactly is the trademarked“Tioga Dif- ference®”? Carver: “Several years ago,we rebranded the com- pany from ‘Tioga Pipe Supply Company’ to ‘Tioga’ to reflect the fact that we’d expanded beyond simple pipe and pipe-related products.One of our larg- est,most recent projects was 8,000 tons of custom plate for a new-build nuclear facility. So,we re- branded with the intent of focusing on what really makes us different from anyone else–the Tioga Difference®. “We highlighted four prongs: 1: Quality- It’s such a distinction for us because of our history with nucle- ar and military, and it flows over into our commer- cial business. I think our tagline “When it has to be right” is spot on here. 2: Project Management -We have a portfolio of significant large projects that a smaller, normal distribution company would never be involved with.Our specific focus on that side of the business is a real differentiator. 3: Inventory -We have the largest chrome inventory in North America. 4: People-We have a great Tioga team– focused, engaged, and committed.Our tenures are impressive, as far as product knowledge,market knowledge–I’ve actually had a situation with one of our Account Managers when we were visiting a leading global EPC,where she was walking their engineering group through the characteristics of some new chemistry and physical requirements emerging in the marketplace.” Kotcher: “As a company that’s been around for over