Douglas J. Muller of Merrillville, Indiana based Haire Group was inducted into the AICC/RISI Fastmarkets Hall of Fame during the third general session of SuperCorrExpo 2021 on Wednesday, August 11, in Orlando, Florida.
Muller was introduced by way of 10-minute video that documented his more than 45 years in the industry. Accolades from Muller’s employees, industry colleagues and friends were peppered with anecdotes that portrayed him as the lovable, loyal and caring professional he is.
Muller’s first job out of college was with Tom Haire, who’d just started his own company in Indiana. Muller joined the fledging Haire Group as its first salesman and its second employee. As the company grew, Muller took on more responsibilities, eventually becoming General Manager in 1981. In 1986, Haire expanded into its offices and manufacturing space in Merrillville, Indiana. Tom Haire retired and Muller took over what was then a 10-person company, which continued to grow. Under Muller’s leadership, Haire Group formed a partnership with Dong Fang in 2005 and as the company’s sole North American representative, Haire Group put more than 100 Apstar die cutters and flexo folder gluers into service.
“There are so many people I want to thank for their friendship, their guidance and their support throughout my career,” said Muller in his acceptance speech. “I certainly want to thank Tom Haire, who took a chance on a young man right out of college, newly married and who needed a job. I must also thank the most important person in my life – I hit the jackpot 47 years ago when I married Linda – and she deserves this award as much as I do. I’m a very blessed individual. I’m also the guy who feels he never deserves the recognition, but I’ll take it.”
Haire Group held a celebration dinner in Muller’s honor at the Capital Grille in Orlando, where over 90 people celebrated one of the corrugated industry’s true leaders.
