ILMA Compoundings November 2017 - 22

Stan Ziemski

Mary Ellen Knopp/Randall Photography LLC

Honored with John A.
Bellanti Award
By Mindy Long

tan Ziemski, owner of American Oil & Supply International, has a long history with the oil and lubricant
industry, and he has used his experience and leadership to move the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers
Association forward. His work has helped ensure a solid
future for the association and created new relationships that
have advanced the industry.
"I would consider Stan to be the leader of the leaders of
ILMA. Not only has he been and continues to be deeply
involved in many committees and activities, but his insight
into the future needs and direction of the organization have
been invaluable," said Greg Foltz, retired engineering and
development manager for CIMCOOL Fluid Technology
and ILMA president from 2002-03.
In recognition of his efforts, ILMA is honoring Ziemski
with the John A. Bellanti Award, previously called the ILMA
Distinguished Service Award, which honors an ILMA member who, through relentless determination, diligence and
dedication, has made significant contributions to enhance
the quality, effectiveness and stature of the Association and
the industry.
"His leadership of ILMA has always been there and
continues now, which is why he is a very worthy recipient of
this award," Foltz said.

Entering the Industry
Ziemski's involvement in the industry started in 1973, when
he and his partner, Al Shutts, bought 60 percent of stock
from two principals at American Oil & Supply Co., which
was originally incorporated in 1895 by employees from the
lubricants division of John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Co.
of New Jersey.
"We were stone broke. We had a home, a 10-year-old
Oldsmobile, four kids and their pet goldfish," Ziemski said.
"We got a loan from the bank and later added even more
debt for acquisitions."
Those acquisitions established the company's global footprint. "We had a diverse business supplying and buying from
every continent in the world other than Antarctica. I am very,
very proud," Ziemski said. "We did this all with debt financing and paid off every nickel. Somehow the Lord really did
look after a couple of guys that would take foolish risks."
The pair ultimately sold off the companies they acquired
and the bulk of the American Oil business. "We ended up
with the state of New Jersey trying to kill us with the cleanup
of a 100-year-old oil plant," Ziemski said. "My son, John,

NOVEMBER 2017

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

Stan Ziemski recieves the John A. Bellanti Award from ILMA President Beth Ann Jones.

dove in and worked to clean up the property and move a portion of the business out of Newark to our current location."
John and Ziemski's son-in-law, Chuck Decker, have created what is now a small but rapidly growing family business.
"It wasn't a family business until the late '90s when the
next generation got involved," Ziemski said, adding that his
daughter, Jennifer, serves as the vice president of finance and
human resources.
Recently, American Oil & Supply Co. was invited to present its Jack of all Sprays product to Walmart and was one of
the 20 that got approved as a supplier. "We're going on the
shelves in the first quarter of 2018. This - the retail trade -
is a whole new business for us," Ziemski said. "I thought
I was going to Florida to retire. They've kept me working
a hell of a lot longer than I thought they would. I am very
proud of them."
Ziemski jokes that he joined the ILMA board "kicking
and screaming," but said American Oil & Supply Co. has
had a long history with the association. "There is no way
we could ever even consider being involved in this industry
without ILMA and the Association's support. ILMA is just
vital," he said.

Leading ILMA
Throughout his time on the ILMA board, Ziemski filled
several roles, including as president in 2001-02. Jeff Leiter,
general counsel for ILMA, said Ziemski provided valuable
leadership during a difficult time for the Association, which
included replacing its executive director. "During the transition period, Stan was at the tiller of the ILMA ship and kept
things steady during some pretty tough waters," he said.
Jim Taglia, president of NL Advisors, a past Bellanti award
recipient and a past president of ILMA, said Ziemski used
his tenure to focus on ILMA's mission. "At the time Stan
became president, ILMA had become complacent and was
running on its name," he said. "A group of us decided this
had to change and we had to get back to providing things

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ILMA Compoundings November 2017

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