Arbek Named Finalist In Ernst & Young Annual "Entrepreneur Of The Year" Event

Furniture World Magazine

Arbek Furniture Mfg., Inc. has been named a finalist in The Inland Empire's "Entrepreneur of the Year" awards event sponsored by Ernst & Young, L.L.P. The event was created to help find the nation's best, entrepreneurs, according to Sally Anderson, leader of Entrepreneurial Services in the Riverside Office of Ernst & Young. Carlos Morales, president of Arbek and Daniel Torres, executive vice president, partners in the manufacture- of bedroom and home entertainment furniture, are potential winners in the manufacturing award category, Ms. Anderson said. The "Entrepreneur of the Year', program was founded in 1986 by the professional services firm. National. co-sponsors include USA Today, the Nasdaq stock market and the Kauffman Center for Entrepreneur of the Year Institute. Nominees -from private companies such as Arbek, must be responsible for the company's recent financial performance. Candidates, can be nominated by customers, colleagues and vendors, among others. An independent panel of distinguished judges, composed of fellow entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from academia and business selects finalists and awards recipients in several industry and special categories. Industry categories include technology, communications, real estate, manufacturing and life sciences, among others. Criteria for judging includes the nominee's background, experience, special skills, and major accomplishments. In addition, as part of the nationwide assessment, Arbek's 16-year history was evaluated along with the company's innovative approaches to management and marketing, and current stage of development, as well as prospects. A description how Arbek is innovative in its relations with customers was also reviewed. Part of the evaluation of Arbek, it was explained, included a description of its products and how it has demonstrated excellence in the furniture industry. Arbek's. future plans were also taken into account. Also assessed were Arbek's socially - responsible activities showing how the company has used its skills to help its community. A native of El Paso, whose family came to Los Angeles when he was five years old, President Morales says Arbek is the realization of a longtime dream. The furniture executive, 'Who spent 17 years as an auto technician before founding Arbek along with his brother-in-law, Daniel Torres, was familiar with Woodworking because his father was a cabinetmaker. Torres had managed a. small business. One of Arbek's first breaks came in 1982 When a friend asked Morales to produce children's furniture. "The children's furniture sold quite well so we expanded'' Morales said. "Then we decided to try to expand some more." Instead of just building furniture for others, Arbek subsequently elected to market its own line. The company moved. into a larger facility in 1983 to boost production. Expansion followed a year later as the company started production of a full line of adult furniture. Next came its biggest leap forward when Arbek began manufacturing a bedroom set Called the Grandview. "It was unique in its styling," Says Morales. "It was designed with a number of compartments that made it very functional as well as appealing." Since that time, hidden and visible compartments have been a hallmark of Arbek Furniture. The Grandview line took off so fast that Arbek had to move again to a larger location, Morales recalls. Today, Arbek manufactures in its five acre plant in Chino. The company conceived its name Arbek after Torres' wife, Arlene, and Morales' wife, Becky. Arbek's furniture is sold nationally as well as in the Far East.