Chamber of Commerce

Soffe The unique companies here are also rich in history. Milton James Soffe, a true entrepreneur, started the M.J. Soffe Company in 1946 selling products to the military in Fayetteville. Today, the company now known as Soffe is one of the country’s leading manufacturers of activewear clothing. Products are shipped across the nation and sold in department stores, college bookstores, sporting good stores and to all branches of the military. Soffe also has a factory in Roland, an online store and three retail stores in Fayetteville, Smithfield and Myrtle Beach, S.C. The company is known for its cheerleading shorts that come in a variety of colors and styles for girls and women. In 2003, Delta Apparel acquired the M.J. Soffe Company, but the mission has remained the same, “To focus on the consumer and provide a world class customer experience.” Fayetteville’s largest homegrown employer, Soffe continues to expand its existing collections and create new ones. Ron Wagenseil is executive vice president of sales. “M.J. Soffe is a growth company,” he said. “We strive to be the leader in activewear apparel.” When Milton James Soffe began distributing wholesale foreign and domestic tobacco pipes from his garage in 1946, he had no way of knowing how successful his company would become. The radical transition from pipes to clothing began through the manufacturing of laundry bags and draperies for the military. After relocating and opening numerous warehouses and buildings in downtown Fayetteville, M.J. Soffe sold a line of products that included bicycles and binoculars, and later added textiles to that list in 1968. But it wasn’t until Soffe’s son Jim became president of the company that apparel became Soffe’s signature product. “Anything can be fixed if you work hard enough at it,” Soffe said. “It’s frustrating when you look at the front end of it, but when you look at the back end, it’s pretty rewarding.” Now publicly owned by Delta Apparel and with Ken Spires named as the new company president, Jim Soffe has transitioned into the role as chairman emeritus, but he and his fellow employees continue to work together with an openness that separates them from other large corporations. “We are one big family that still runs our business,” Soffe said. “Once I finish my three years, I’m hoping they’ll let me stay on another year. I love working with the people here and helping with things that I still know about – being a part of the team.” TOP 10 Cumberland County’s 10 Largest Employers 1. Cumberland County Board of Education 2. Department of Defense 3. Cape Fear Valley Health Systems 4. Wal-Mart Associates, Inc 5. Goodyear Tire & Rubber, Inc 6. County of Cumberland 7. City of Fayetteville 8. Fayetteville Technical Community College 9. Veterans Administration Hospital 10. OSC-Central Payroll Source: Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce (2009) www.FayettevilleNCChamber.org | 55

• Cover