Meet the Makers Joseph Kane and Tommy Anthony

At Milliken, the dedication and expertise of our associates form the foundation of our success. We’re spotlighting the resilient individuals behind our products, who carry forward a proud history of excellence and commitment in manufacturing. Meet Thomas (Tommy) Anthony and Joseph Kane, two dedicated associates at Milliken’s Enterprise Textile Plant. Both Tommy and Joseph have served in the military and bring their commitment to excellence to their roles at Milliken. Tommy works as a Plant Supply Chain Manager, and Joseph is a Senior Machine Operator. Their stories are intertwined with a shared mission to produce high-quality products for the military, embodying the values of dedication and service.

Discovering Milliken: A Journey from Military Service to Manufacturing

Both Joseph and Tommy transitioned to Milliken after serving in the military, bringing their valuable experiences and skills to the company. Joseph Kane started his journey with Milliken on November 12th, last year. Reflecting on how he found out about Milliken, Joseph shared, "I heard of Milliken through my neighbor, Tim Dockery, who was actually the head printer. I was really welcomed right off the bat." This introduction to Milliken marked the beginning of a meaningful career for Joseph.

Tommy Anthony's journey with Milliken is unique and inspiring. He initially joined Milliken, then left to serve in the military, and returned to the company afterward. "I started at Milliken right out of high school and decided to go into the Marines for four years, and then I came back to the Milliken Enterprise Plant ," Tommy shared.

"Standards and discipline and the rapid execution of a good plan," Joseph shares on the skills he has transferred from the military to his work at Milliken. Tommy adds, "I learned about organization. To follow up on things that are being done and to do them as best as we can in a timely manner."

The Personal Connection to Their Work

Tommy and Joseph spoke about the profound impact of being veterans and now working on fabrics for people in the military. "Military business is pretty heavy here, where we make a lot of the fabrics that our military is actually wearing. And there's a lot of things going on behind the scenes to better that product as well. So that might require other locations doing some specialties that we may not have here for the final product," Tommy said.

The impact of our work extends far beyond the factory floor. As Joseph puts it, “I’ve seen people get in trouble for wearing uniforms that were different colors. I like that there is a standard for that, and I take pride in them because I took pride when I wore that uniform. To me, the quality is everything. You can buy camouflage anywhere, but it's not gonna have the same properties that camouflage from Milliken has.” This dedication to quality and adherence to strict standards ensures that our products, particularly our military uniforms, provide the best possible performance.

Tommy shares a similar sentiment: “I look at military uniforms differently now that I’m actually part of making them. It’s comforting to know that we do a really good job at putting those uniforms on our special forces and everyday armed forces out there. It is nice.” Through their roles, Joseph and Tommy help ensure that the uniforms worn by our servicemen and women meet the highest standards of quality and reliability, ultimately contributing to their safety and effectiveness in the field.

Join Us in Recognizing These Remarkable Individuals

Tommy Anthony and Joseph Kane exemplify the values of Milliken through their dedication, commitment to excellence, and personal connection to the products they create. Their military backgrounds enrich their roles and contribute to the success of the Enterprise Textile Plant. Tommy and Joseph's stories are powerful reminders of the impact that dedicated associates can have in producing essential products for those who serve our country. Their contributions and commitment make a world of difference every day, inspiring those around them.

We’re spotlighting Tommy, Joseph, and all our associates who make Milliken an exceptional place to work. Their dedication and expertise are the foundation of our continued success. As we continue to innovate and solve problems, driven by curiosity and collaboration, we invite you to join us in recognizing the incredible people behind our products. At Milliken, our associates are our greatest asset, and their stories inspire us to keep pursuing a better tomorrow.

To read more associate stories, visit here.

Want to join #TeamMilliken? Visit our careers webpage to learn more about your next opportunity.