Business View Magazine | February 2019

71 Kotcher: “People,Quality, Service and Stability.We have stayed true to the traits and principles that built Tioga while remaining vigilant to the busi- ness environment and factors changing around our industry. I consider this stability and consistent approach in the marketplace as one of our great- est strengths and it’s what comes to mind when I talk about Tioga.We are always looking to expand in the industry with products and acquisitions, and we’re blessed with opportunities that come to us. With that said,we are very selective in making sure that any addition builds on and complements our core business.” PREFERREDVENDOR Welding Outlets, Inc. -Based in Houston,Texas, Welding Outlets, Inc. (WOI) is a woman-owned, domestic manufacturer of branch outlet fittings (Branchettes®), heavy wall fittings, pressure vessel nozzles, and non-commodity fittings and flanges in over 40 grades of steel including high-yield and HF acid/alky.The company serves the pipeline, chemi- cal, power, shipbuilding, food and beverage, paper and pulp, commercial HVAC, and pharmaceutical industries.Welding Outlets was founded by Sheryl Michalak in 1999, after years of learning the busi- ness from her father, Bob Ryan, an inventor and innovator,who held seven industry patents.Today, in addition to runningWOI,Michalak is a dedicated volunteer leader with a number of industry organi- zations, including the PVF Roundtable, an organiza- tion of industry professionals involved in the Pipe, Valve, and Fitting Industry; and on the Engineering Committee of The Pipe Fabrication Institute. In 2013, she was inducted into the PVF Hall of Fame. At Welding Outlets, all products and parts are manufactured in the U.S. to exacting standards and specifications by the company’s professional and experienced craftsmen.The ISO 9001-2015 certi- fied company operates on a 10. www.woihouston.com