30 years ago, DIRECTAIR®, an OTC Industrial Technologies Product, interrupted the status quo of the compressed air industry by redefining how industrial manufacturers sourced and paid for the air they needed to manufacture their products.
Today we are the largest compressed air provider in North America. With nearly 18 million hours of reliable compressed air provided to our customers, we continue to offer a comprehensive, worry-free way for manufacturing facilities to access all the clean, dry air they need, without having to purchase, operate, or maintain their own compressed air systems.
There have been many people over the past three decades who have made significant contributions to the growth and success of DIRECTAIR®. However, we wanted to acknowledge two individuals who were truly indispensable to our organization.
Join us as we look back on the careers of these truly remarkable men.
Gary Tomlin | AT Corporate Technician Training Manager
Gary Tomlin started with Air Technologies, an OTC Industrial Technologies Company in 1979 as a Technician Trainee, working his way up to the position of Corporate Technician Trainer in 1997. During his time in this role, it became apparent that more comprehensive training for field technicians was needed. With this in mind, Gary created an entirely new training program to address the issue.
The program was so successful that DIRECTAIR® offered to train the staff of our top OEMs, allowing them to benefit from Gary's knowledge and experience. He would go on and train more than 50 technicians from other companies, many of his students reporting back that the training was the best they had ever experienced.
Gary was always looking for ways to improve and do things more safely. His visionary mindset led him to develop custom-built troubleshooting templates for various equipment types within the Field Service software.
This highly innovative technique provided technicians at all experience levels the capability to follow proper troubleshooting procedures to assist in diagnosing equipment issues. These templates empowered the newer team members to achieve the same quality in their work as their seasoned colleagues.
Gary was also instrumental in developing other best-in-class procedures and tools that still benefit DIRECTAIR® today. In one instance, he innovated a method that reduced the time required to dismantle a 350 HP compressor motor from 8 hours to under 2 hours. This system not only saved time but also enhanced safety for the technicians involved.
Throughout his career, Gary was dedicated to the principle of safely doing things right. For Gary and OTC, safety is not just a priority; it is a core value. The safety training programs and procedures he developed are still used nationwide.
It was inspiring to see how far Gary Tomlin's curiosity and commitment to excellence accelerated his career with OTC and the DIRECTAIR® product.
Gary Nelson | DIRECTAIR® Utilities Software Manager
As a computer programmer with a highly creative and analytical mind, Gary Nelson initially oversaw software development for the Air Technologies Utilities Group which later became DIRECTAIR®.
Gary not only spearheaded the development of the systems responsible for DIRECTAIR®'s energy savings and monitoring capabilities, but also collaborated closely with the sales team, guiding them on how to effectively communicate the savings and the advantages of avoiding the high costs associated with the operation, repair, and upkeep of their own compressed air equipment to DIRECTAIR®'s customers.
Another great story about Gary took place around the time DIRECTAIR®'s first site became operational. The Service Team recommended consolidating the equipment's data into a single, side-by-side comparative view. He accepted the challenge and, shortly thereafter created a new dashboard layout that met their needs exactly.
Gary was very creative, not only in his software and analytical skills but also outside of work. He had a passion for hang gliding and playing the guitar, keeping a six-string in his office, and would gladly play for anyone who came by for a visit.
For over 27 years, DIRECTAIR® associates and customers had the honor of working with Gary. His contributions during his tenure led to DIRECTAIR®'s first customer saving more than $5 million. Following this, the nearly 300 facilities currently utilizing DIRECTAIR® have collectively saved millions and millions of dollars annually.
Legacies of Service that Still Impact The Industry Today
It is truly difficult to adequately describe the enormous impact both Gary Tomlin and Gary Nelson had on the development and success of DIRECTAIR®. Sadly, both have passed away, but their monumental contributions to OTC, DIRECTAIR® and the industry are still greatly influencing manufacturing today. Their impact will continue to be realized or many decades to come.
