The Founder’s Vision and Journey

To help tell Teckrez’s storry, we invited Tom and Kim Eckhardt to share their thoughts on how the company began and what inspired them to create it. Their reflections offer a clear and personal perspective on the decisions, challenges, and beliefs that defined its start.

Tom:

The conviction to start Teckrez
Teckrez was founded based on our belief that the industry needed a more reliable, knowledgeable, and service-focused source for tackifier resins, especially as offshore supply became increasingly important. During my later years at Arizona Chemical, I saw major shifts in global resin supply. U.S. production was in decline while international suppliers in Asia were becoming more competitive; a trip to the World Adhesives Conference in 2004 in China with Marc Jackson, an early proponent of Asian collaboration, provided valuable insights and contacts.

I recognized an opportunity to build a company that combined trusted global supply partnerships with strong local customer support. Our goal was to carefully select and develop a network of producers, dependable sourcing channels, and offer customers the transparency, consistency, and technical expertise they could rely on.

At the same time, Kim and I felt we had the experience, relationships, and vision needed to take that leap together. It felt like the right moment in our lives to build something of our own.

The Decision

Starting Teckrez meant stepping away from the stability of corporate careers while raising four children in junior high school through early college years. That was not a decision we took lightly. There were financial risks, uncertainty, and a lot of unknowns that came with building a business from the ground up. But we had confidence in the vision for Teckrez and considerable relevant experience; Kim with a strong background in finance and accounting in addition to my decades of experience in the chemical industry.

We knew there would be challenges, but we believed in the opportunity and trusted that if we worked hard and stayed committed, we could build something meaningful for both our family and our customers.

Early Years

As with most new businesses, the early years came with plenty of challenges. We faced steep learning curves, cash flow pressures, customer product rejections, and the constant pressure of trying to grow while managing risk. Increased tariffs necessitated diversifying supply chains. Working through these challenges provided an even stronger basis for building a solid business.

One of the biggest challenges was building the infrastructure needed to support long-term growth. That meant developing trusted external relationships in accounting, tax, legal, IT, logistics, warehousing, regulatory compliance, and international trade, much of this led by Kim, who also transitioned the company from basic accounting systems to an advanced industry platform (Datacorp’s Chempax) that still supports the business today.

Our relationship since very early Teckrez days with Kiko Liao was an important asset which developed into partnership and ultimately her role today as an important Teckrez leader. Kiko had been International Manager at several rosin producer partners prior to joining Teckrez; since then, she has become a great asset developing hydrocarbon resin supply other Teckrez Asian activities.

Phase 2

By 2017, the business growth and rapidly developing supply capabilities had surpassed our ability to take full advantage of the market opportunities. Notable was significant potential from new partnerships with key hydrocarbon resin producers, including Henghe. We were fortunate that timing was right for Marc Jackson, who had successfully started the Melrob US monomers business after leaving Arizona. He agreed to join as partner and made an immediate impact on the tackifier resin business. Wayne Goldenberg then joined to assist Marc in establishing the Monomers business; then Kim Meidl, a proven leader in the tackifier resin and adhesive industry; and Heather Bush to lead finance/accounting (to the relief of Kim E. who happily was able to retire). These industry leaders have made major impacts to Teckrez success and were instrumental in the addition of many more top professionals.

By 2023, the company was ready for its next chapter. With the Hidden Harbor partnership coming together and major growth driven by expanded “Phase 2” capabilities, we moved into the current modern and spacious office at 4345 Southpoint Boulevard, quite an upgrade from the Baymeadows Rd offices and of course from the original Fleming Island office. Each move along the way has really been about keeping up with growth, supporting the team, and making sure there’s room to keep moving forward.

Kim:

From the beginning, we believed that long-term relationships and trust mattered more than short-term wins. That shaped nearly every decision we made.

We focused heavily on selecting the right producer partners, maintaining high standards, investing in customer service, and building a broad product offering that could truly support customer needs. We also believed in being transparent, responsive, and honest, values that still define Teckrez today. The company has always been built around strong partnerships, expertise, and a commitment to doing business the right way.

Today, Teckrez represents far more than a business to our family. It represents years of hard work, sacrifice, relationships, and shared belief in building something meaningful together.

We are incredibly proud to have built a business which was able to attract some of the very best people in the industry; and in the team and culture which has been developed. The responsiveness, honesty, transparency, and expertise the company is known for are values we deeply believe in and hope will always remain part of the Teckrez identity.

Tom:

Looking ahead, we are optimistic about the future. With strong partnerships, talented leadership, continued innovation, and support from Hidden Harbor, we believe Teckrez is well-positioned for continued growth and success.

Most importantly, we hope Teckrez continues to be known as a company that people trust, a company built on integrity, strong relationships, and a commitment to serving customers the right way.