Executive Suite: Cathy Williams Owen

Cathy Williams Owen, who joined highlighter maker DriMark Products Inc. while attending college full-time, worked her way up to president in 2008.

The company, now based in Port Washington, manufactures a counterfeit-currency detector pen - recently upgraded to include an ultraviolet light. DriMark also produces highlighters, markers and other promotional materials.

The company was in the process of moving part of its manufacturing to Mexico but has recently changed course. "We are bringing some of our equipment back," she says.

Owen, 47, was named chief financial officer in 2000.

She is married and has three teenagers. She is involved with a local Financial Executive Women group.

How has the recession impacted you?
"It's impacted, of course, our promotional products division. But our retail division, which is basically our counterfeit detector pen, that has remained strong. The recession, I guess, on the one hand is working in our favor if there's more counterfeit currency coming into the market. Our product is the pen that marks the bill" to determine if it is real.

 How do you get people to do what you need them to do?
"Demonstrating that I'll work hard alongside them. I'm willing to make the coffee -- whatever." Referring to the late owner Louis Reichmann, she says, "That came from the top, that really came from Mr. Reichmann, who would come out, he'd make his own copies. There was never any, 'I'm at this level, and you're at this level.'  " 

What are your plans for growth?
"We recently had begun a venture to move part of the business to Mexico. We looked at that as a way to cut our costs. However, we've since put a hold on that and have decided we're going to look domestically for partners [so] that we can really utilize our capabilities here -- the manufacturing, the molding. We're reaching out really all over, because we see an opportunity. Costs from China are actually going up. We believe we can be very competitive."

Pulling out a small plastic box as an example, she says, "Bringing this in from China is now becoming very costly. We can make it here. The advantage for us doing it here -- the price now is competitive. The quality is superior to what's coming in from China. The inventory -- companies now are looking at just-in-time inventory. So if they're purchasing from China in order to get the price point, they need to bring in 100,000 pieces or whatever high quantity. We can make small quantities."

 So you don't think manufacturing is dead on Long Island?
"I don't think so. I really think we're going to see somewhat of a comeback in the United States in general. Long Island -- I hope. We've got our challenges here. The cost of living is very high. But with automation, we believe we can stay here."

Name. Cathy Williams Owen
Ttitle. President and chief financial office
Company. DriMark Products Inc.
Business. Manufacturer of counterfeit detector pens, promotional highlighters, markers
Location. Port Washington
Type. Private
Revenue. $20 million annually
Employees. 110