NFIB

Pam Greer Finds Her Niche in Silk
09/13/2002

The plants in Pam Greer's shop don't need watering. Or fertilization. Or really much of anything. That's because Greer's plants are made of silk. "Actually, they're polyester," explains Greer, who runs Omaha's Planteriors, Inc., a company whose unique products can be seen gracing the offices and hallways of commercial and government buildings around the world.

Founded by amateur golfer Lucille Robinson Mann, Planteriors began manufacturing vinyl plants -- those old, thick, rubber plants -- back in the '50s, then went into plastic plants and began importing and expanding. Greer bought the company from Mann in 1974 and has spent the last 20 years growing her company and refining her creations with help from head designer Bob Wenninghoff.

"Bob's been with the company longer than I have," says Greer, whose plants are all built and designed right there in Omaha. "What Bob doesn't know about silk plants probably hasn't been invented yet. He's a very, very talented guy."

Greer says surrounding herself with good people has been a major key to her success. "You always want people around you who are better than you are," she says. Having a sense of humor is another key. "If I had a nickel for every time I messed up, I'd be retired and living in the Bahamas. You just have to do the best you can on a daily basis and be able to laugh at yourself when you make mistakes."

Over the years, Greer has also surrounded herself with plenty of good NFIB people, too. "Planteriors was already an NFIB member when I bought it," explains Greer. "Lee Terry, Sr., the father of our congressman, was our rep at the time. Lee got me involved in politics, and we became good friends over the years. Someone else I really want to mention is Scott George. I met Scott at the original White House conference in 1995, and I've been friends with Scott and his wife Charlotte ever since. Scott's very active in regulation and paperwork, as I am, and he and I pass information back and forth. He's an example of the really, really wonderful people I've met through NFIB."

Quick Facts:
Name: Pam Greer
Business: Planteriors, Inc., www.planteriorsinc.com
Location: Omaha, Neb.
Number of employees: 4

Describe your involvement in NFIB.
I've tried to remain pretty active over the years in politics and NFIB. I was an elected delegate to the White House conference in 1995, I've been active in tort reform, and I am still one of the regulation and paperwork regional chairs -- those are really my fields of interest. I've gone to both NFIB Congressional summits. I think those are valuable for networking, for just getting to talk to other small business owners who share your concerns. It's interesting -- you meet people who are a lot, lot richer than you are and people who are a lot poorer than you are, and you realize that small business really does cover the whole spectrum. The summits are excellent places to gain knowledge and gain friends in the business community around the country.

Which legislative issue tops your list right now?
Tort reform, until that entire morass somehow gets reformed. It's probably my biggest concern because it affects every single person in this country, whether you own a business or not.

What do you like best about being a small business owner?
After all these years, it's definitely the hours, because I'm not working 80 to 90 hours a week anymore. I have help! I also like the independence -- being able to steer my own ship and pick the direction I want the business to go. I have never really worked for anyone and don't know at this point that I'd be capable of doing that.