Article of American Towman magazine

This is the February 2005 American Towman Magazine cover
[ Posted into the internet on 5-18-05 ]

Mr. Industry
By Steve Calitri
The idea of creating a Towman of the Year in American Towman’s 28th year is probably due to the fact that time breeds perspective. I’ve seen a lot of the inner workings of this industry and I see the big challenges before it. I have also seen certain individuals create change for good and bad, and I believe we can make significant strides on behalf of the motorist and the tow-business owner when talented, dedicated leaders aim high and act on their visions. By highlighting each year one man or woman whose efforts have made a difference to our industry, it shows all of us, young and old, that we have the ability to make things happen for the better.

Choosing the first Towman of the Year might have been a daunting task. After all, many towers still alive have done a lot for this industry. So we decided to be guided by the term “...of the year” — meaning the year just past. So we are recognizing this person for what he has done in the past year that is making a difference for all of us.

Now, I confess, the person on this issue’s cover is a lot like the average tower. He’s highly imperfect in many ways, like all of us. By all appearances he likes to eat a lot of kielbasa. Character-wise, he’s optimistic to a fault. The glass may just have one sip left in it, but it’s half full in this man’s eyes.

In the towing business he’s been both successful and unsuccessful. He today chides towers for undervaluing services rendered, i.e., not charging enough, but it’s a practice he was guilty of himself.

But if he is every inch a regular kind of guy, he is also every inch a true captain of our industry. I don’t hesitate even to call him a Supertowman. Everything he does has a lot of engine behind it, very much like the fresh, horseradish he makes at home, where he sticks on the jar a no-frills label, “John B’s Horsepower.”

When I sat with the editorial staff of American Towman to discuss creating the Towman of the Year, there were several names that came to mind. But there was one name that kept lighting up like fireworks and that was the name of John Borowski, a.k.a “Mr. Industry.”

There are many reasons for choosing John, many things he has done that have had a powerful, aggregate effect on our industry. I will start with the most outstanding achievement: John’s work behind the National Rotation Standard, published last summer by the National Towing and Recovery Association (NTRA).

John’s personal horsepower was harnessed to help conduct open forums around the country on the subject of the rotation standard. He was then handed all the notes from the towers’ input, as well as input from the NTRA’s Board of Governors and was tasked with authoring the Standard. Being entrusted with this project speaks legions about his reputation among peers.

As the Standard’s lead author, John not only pulled from the opinions of over 400 towing professionals who had participated in those open forums, he pulled from his 30 years in the towing business, 20 of them running his own towing company in Holyoke, Mass., where he had plenty of experience dealing with town officials. So much so that when the Mayor of Connersville, Ind., asked NTRA’s Bill Johnson for help in creating a rotation system, Johnson once again pulled Borowski into the loop. According to Connersville’s Mayor Max Ellison, “Towing couldn’t have a better ambassador than Borowski.”

The Standard touches the majority of towing operations in the U.S. and Canada. It is a tool designed to be used by both municipality officials and tow business owners. Hundreds of towers have already begun using it to their benefit. For this reason alone we felt that Borowski merited our first Towman of the Year award.

But there is more, and in sketching out some of John’s contributions to our industry this year, you’ll also come to understand why he acquired the nickname Mr. Industry.

At this past November’s American Towman Exposition, Borowski contributed a seminar on “Specing Chassis With Tow Body,” drawing from all those years of purchasing wreckers and carriers. He also conceived and implemented the industry’ first “War Games,” a Recovery-Special Op’s session that tested the minds of towers in a pressure-cooker atmosphere. Borowski called on trainer Dave Lambert to assist him in conducting the War Games, which featured two separate incidents and recovery challenges.

As if this level of participation in the workings of the Exposition wasn’t enough, Borowski also conceived and helped implement the “Mock Rate Petition Hearing,” whereby D.J. Harrington (the Tow Doctor) held court before hundreds of towers inside the Convention Center. Borowski played the role of a town advocate, arguing in favor of the town. He was so effective playing the part of the advocate that several towers came up to me that night inquiring if John was really a lawyer by trade.

At the 2004 Exposition John addressed over 800 tow-business owners in three different educational venues. In between playing the roles of educator and lawyer, John could be found polishing Jerr-Dan wreckers on the show floor, getting ready for the show’s opening. Something that surprised Jerr-Dan’s show-and-promotions manager Karen Seylar.

“I thought you were tied up with other things,” commented Karen, fully aware of Borowski’s dedication to the progress of the towing industry and his role as a seminar presenter in the hall upstairs.

“I have been,” John replied, “But right now I’m not and I’m polishing wreckers.”

Borowski today is Manager of Specialty Markets for the Jerr-Dan Corporation, and according to his boss Joel Amsley, Jerr-Dan’s VP of Sales, he has been a significant contributor to the manufacturer’s success since coming aboard in 2003. “Aside from his sales activities, we look to John to help us understand the specific needs of the towing professional. His industry experience is invaluable to us.”

The job at Jerr-Dan involves a lot of cross-country travel. But there are perks, like being invited to racetracks by clients such as AAA of Southern California. Not bad for a guy who once was a champion dragster, winning a major Canadian race back in the late ’70s.

Day and night, Borowski eats, sleeps, and bleeds the towing industry. This past year he completed one of several terms as treasurer of the Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts (STA), a position usually given only to tow business owners (he got out of that side of the business five years ago).

As STA Treasurer in 2004, Borowski did a lot of legwork that helped STA achieve a significant rate increase with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where the Department of Telecommunications regulates all non-consent tows in the state. “John put in a lot of weekend time,” said STA President Bill Johnson, “researching data on tow rates being paid in cities and towns across the U.S., which was invaluable to our presentation with state authorities.”

From helping his state’s towers receive more revenue — to authoring the country’s Rotation Standard — to educating recovery specialists in the classroom — to writing articles in A.T. for the benefit of 30,000 readers — one begins to understand the nickname Mr. Industry and the reason for his choice as Towman of the Year.

But all this has nothing to do with accolades from previous years. John is a two-time recipient of the Towman Medal for heroism, an inductee into the Towing Hall of Fame in Chattanooga, and past president of STA during the period it achieved its first rate increase in 20 years (a different time from last year’s rate increase).

Borowski’s dedication seems to know no limits. Two years ago, he took the week-long WreckMaster course in North Carolina just to keep up, figuring this would help him in his current role as a resource for tow-fleet managers.

There’s more. Borowski played an active role in moving the Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame Museum to its present location this past year, a move that has pretty much assured the survival of the organization. He is now on the Museum Board. “I often call on John to help get something done,” said Museum President George Connolly. “He’s also one of my trusted advisors.”

In his lifetime, so far, Borowski has touched thousands of towing professionals in a dynamic way, helping to create positive change in their lives. This past year he has been out there — wherever the action has been. You find him in classrooms teaching, on magazine pages revealing what he knows, in tow garages, advising. Like a 350 Small-block, this engine keeps revving up.

Like most of us, Borowski has had his share of trials and tribulations, in business as well as in his personal life. But you will not see him sputter on the road. When you meet him, if you have the luck to do so, you’ll know you’re in the company of a true champion. You may even receive a jar of his “horsepower.”

John Borowski listens to towman Chuck Schmidt on the Exposition floor

Previous Best Of A.T.


Mr. Industry By Steve Calitri The idea of creating a Towman of the Year in American Towman’s 28th year is probably due to the fact that time breeds perspective. I’ve seen a lot of the inner workings of this industry and I see the big challenges before it. I have also seen certain individuals create change for good and bad, and I believe we can make significant strides on behalf of the motorist and the tow-business owner when talented, dedicated leaders aim high and act on their visions. By highlighting each year one man or woman whose efforts have made a difference to our industry, it shows all of us, young and old, that we have the ability to make things happen for the better. Choosing the first Towman of the Year might have been a daunting task. After all, many towers still alive have done a lot for this industry. So we decided to be guided by the term “...of the year” — meaning the year just past. So we are recognizing this person for what he has done in the past year that is making a difference for all of us. Now, I confess, the person on this issue’s cover is a lot like the average tower. He’s highly imperfect in many ways, like all of us. By all appearances he likes to eat a lot of kielbasa. Character-wise, he’s optimistic to a fault. The glass may just have one sip left in it, but it’s half full in this man’s eyes. In the towing business he’s been both successful and unsuccessful. He today chides towers for undervaluing services rendered, i.e., not charging enough, but it’s a practice he was guilty of himself. But if he is every inch a regular kind of guy, he is also every inch a true captain of our industry. I don’t hesitate even to call him a Supertowman. Everything he does has a lot of engine behind it, very much like the fresh, horseradish he makes at home, where he sticks on the jar a no-frills label, “John B’s Horsepower.” When I sat with the editorial staff of American Towman to discuss creating the Towman of the Year, there were several names that came to mind. But there was one name that kept lighting up like fireworks and that was the name of John Borowski, a.k.a “Mr. Industry.” There are many reasons for choosing John, many things he has done that have had a powerful, aggregate effect on our industry. I will start with the most outstanding achievement: John’s work behind the National Rotation Standard, published last summer by the National Towing and Recovery Association (NTRA). John’s personal horsepower was harnessed to help conduct open forums around the country on the subject of the rotation standard. He was then handed all the notes from the towers’ input, as well as input from the NTRA’s Board of Governors and was tasked with authoring the Standard. Being entrusted with this project speaks legions about his reputation among peers. As the Standard’s lead author, John not only pulled from the opinions of over 400 towing professionals who had participated in those open forums, he pulled from his 30 years in the towing business, 20 of them running his own towing company in Holyoke, Mass., where he had plenty of experience dealing with town officials. So much so that when the Mayor of Connersville, Ind., asked NTRA’s Bill Johnson for help in creating a rotation system, Johnson once again pulled Borowski into the loop. According to Connersville’s Mayor Max Ellison, “Towing couldn’t have a better ambassador than Borowski.” The Standard touches the majority of towing operations in the U.S. and Canada. It is a tool designed to be used by both municipality officials and tow business owners. Hundreds of towers have already begun using it to their benefit. For this reason alone we felt that Borowski merited our first Towman of the Year award. But there is more, and in sketching out some of John’s contributions to our industry this year, you’ll also come to understand why he acquired the nickname Mr. Industry. At this past November’s American Towman Exposition, Borowski contributed a seminar on “Specing Chassis With Tow Body,” drawing from all those years of purchasing wreckers and carriers. He also conceived and implemented the industry’ first “War Games,” a Recovery-Special Op’s session that tested the minds of towers in a pressure-cooker atmosphere. Borowski called on trainer Dave Lambert to assist him in conducting the War Games, which featured two separate incidents and recovery challenges. As if this level of participation in the workings of the Exposition wasn’t enough, Borowski also conceived and helped implement the “Mock Rate Petition Hearing,” whereby D.J. Harrington (the Tow Doctor) held court before hundreds of towers inside the Convention Center. Borowski played the role of a town advocate, arguing in favor of the town. He was so effective playing the part of the advocate that several towers came up to me that night inquiring if John was really a lawyer by trade. At the 2004 Exposition John addressed over 800 tow-business owners in three different educational venues. In between playing the roles of educator and lawyer, John could be found polishing Jerr-Dan wreckers on the show floor, getting ready for the show’s opening. Something that surprised Jerr-Dan’s show-and-promotions manager Karen Seylar. “I thought you were tied up with other things,” commented Karen, fully aware of Borowski’s dedication to the progress of the towing industry and his role as a seminar presenter in the hall upstairs. “I have been,” John replied, “But right now I’m not and I’m polishing wreckers.” Borowski today is Manager of Specialty Markets for the Jerr-Dan Corporation, and according to his boss Joel Amsley, Jerr-Dan’s VP of Sales, he has been a significant contributor to the manufacturer’s success since coming aboard in 2003. “Aside from his sales activities, we look to John to help us understand the specific needs of the towing professional. His industry experience is invaluable to us.” The job at Jerr-Dan involves a lot of cross-country travel. But there are perks, like being invited to racetracks by clients such as AAA of Southern California. Not bad for a guy who once was a champion dragster, winning a major Canadian race back in the late ’70s. Day and night, Borowski eats, sleeps, and bleeds the towing industry. This past year he completed one of several terms as treasurer of the Statewide Towing Association of Massachusetts (STA), a position usually given only to tow business owners (he got out of that side of the business five years ago). As STA Treasurer in 2004, Borowski did a lot of legwork that helped STA achieve a significant rate increase with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where the Department of Telecommunications regulates all non-consent tows in the state. “John put in a lot of weekend time,” said STA President Bill Johnson, “researching data on tow rates being paid in cities and towns across the U.S., which was invaluable to our presentation with state authorities.” From helping his state’s towers receive more revenue — to authoring the country’s Rotation Standard — to educating recovery specialists in the classroom — to writing articles in A.T. for the benefit of 30,000 readers — one begins to understand the nickname Mr. Industry and the reason for his choice as Towman of the Year. But all this has nothing to do with accolades from previous years. John is a two-time recipient of the Towman Medal for heroism, an inductee into the Towing Hall of Fame in Chattanooga, and past president of STA during the period it achieved its first rate increase in 20 years (a different time from last year’s rate increase). Borowski’s dedication seems to know no limits. Two years ago, he took the week-long WreckMaster course in North Carolina just to keep up, figuring this would help him in his current role as a resource for tow-fleet managers. There’s more. Borowski played an active role in moving the Towing & Recovery Hall of Fame Museum to its present location this past year, a move that has pretty much assured the survival of the organization. He is now on the Museum Board. “I often call on John to help get something done,” said Museum President George Connolly. “He’s also one of my trusted advisors.” In his lifetime, so far, Borowski has touched thousands of towing professionals in a dynamic way, helping to create positive change in their lives. This past year he has been out there — wherever the action has been. You find him in classrooms teaching, on magazine pages revealing what he knows, in tow garages, advising. Like a 350 Small-block, this engine keeps revving up. Like most of us, Borowski has had his share of trials and tribulations, in business as well as in his personal life. But you will not see him sputter on the road. When you meet him, if you have the luck to do so, you’ll know you’re in the company of a true champion. You may even receive a jar of his “horsepower.”
		John Borowski listens to towman Chuck Schmidt on the Exposition floor