The vehicle for sharing the breadth of knowledge he has acquired debuted in the summer of 2022 in the biography—A Summer Classic: The Bew White Story—penned by Christopher Taunton.
PELHAM, AL, February 23, 2023 /24-7PressRelease/ -- William Bew White III has been inducted into Marquis Who's Who. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Most visionaries have a thread running through their careers that weaves each phase of their professional development into the fabric of their success. The evolution of William Bew White III's career began in textiles with his position at his family's business Avondale Mills, founded by his great grandfather Braxton Bragg Comer. He left his sales position there at the age of 28 to begin the first of his entrepreneurial ventures, the sales representative company Vista Corporation. By dedicating the focus of the firm solely on furnishings that would bring sophistication to open-air spaces in 1978, when the idea of outdoor living was incredibly basic, he placed himself on a trajectory that led to the founding of Summer Classics.
This move toward designing and manufacturing products in 1987 has been his mission since, though he broadened his focus to also design and manufacture indoor furniture through the Gabby brand, which debuted in 2010 with White's son William at the helm. Textiles once again loom large in White's business journey with the creation of Wendy Jane in 2018, a collection of handcrafted indoor and outdoor pillows and rugs designed by his daughter Wynne Martin. With each addition to his multi-faceted companies, he has solidified his place in the design industry as an award-winning serial entrepreneur—accolades including an Academy of Achievement designation from the ARTS Awards in 2022, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Casual Furnishings Association in 2021, and Entrepreneur of the Year from the Society of International Business Fellows in 2013. Summer Classics has a strong presence in all 50 states and to Canada through hundreds of dealers, and has launched 20 Summer Classics Home retail stores, which also offer Gabby and Wendy Jane products in one locale. These include a flagship store in Pelham, Alabama, south of Birmingham where White lives with his wife Wendy Jane. The father of three says having his son and daughter involved in the operations has been a joy: "Working with them is probably one of the great blessings of our lives."
In 2021, White began to usher his brands into new territory, taking on the role of executive chairman of the board, and handing the CEO-ship to his son William and presidentship to Greg Goetcheus, who was previously executive vice president of business development.
Having transitioned through the roles of sales rep, founder of multiple entities, and chairman of the board, a broader view of a life in business rose to the fore in White's consciousness.
Realizing that his story could be valuable to others, he set out to illustrate how every step in a dynamic career matters, and how, though hard work and perseverance are required in equal measure, success is always possible. The vehicle for sharing the breadth of knowledge he has acquired debuted in the summer of 2022 in the form of a biography—A Summer Classic: The Bew White Story—penned by Christopher Taunton. The book delves into White's personal life and presents the philosophy that guided him as he navigated a number of life-altering events impacting American and global cultures, through which he skillfully steered his companies.
Along with a vigorous connection to his businesses that will continue to absorb his attention, his affiliations include the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Mountain Brook, the Mountain Brook Country Club, the Redstone Club, the Society of International Business Fellows, and Vistage. White is an alumnus of Darlington High School and of Auburn University, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and from which he earned a degree in Textile Engineering and Textile Management.
The avid outdoorsman, who hunts and fishes as often as possible, has been married to Wendy for 50 years.
About Marquis Who's Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
# # #