The Ouellette file
Jack Ouellette
CEO
American Textile Co.
Born: Springfield, Mass.
Education: Bachelor of science degree from West Point; MBA from Duquesne University
What was the first job you had out of college, and what did you learn from it?
My first job after college was second lieutenant of the United States Army. I was a fire direction officer. I was responsible for computing the data required to fire 155 millimeter artillery weapons. I learned the importance of how to manage a small team, and I’ve found that those same skills for managing a small team apply to larger organizations. It’s all about people.
Did you see any action?
I was a pilot in Vietnam for one year between 1970 and 1971. I flew an army reconnaissance plane on the Cambodian border for six months, and then I flew a twin-engine transport plane for the last six months all over Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.
What is the best business advice you’ve ever received?
It is taking care of the people whom you work with. You have to always be aware of that.
If you could invite any three people to dinner, whom would you invite and why?
I would invite Dwight D. Eisenhower because it would be fascinating to hear about the Normandy invasion. I would love to invite [George] Herbert Walker Bush to dinner because I think he had one of the most interesting resumes of any president. And I would like to invite Arnold Palmer to dinner. Not only was he a tremendous golfer, but he had the ability to excite people and motivate people and anybody with those types of skills would be worth talking to.
