About Us
For nearly a decade, First Response Custom Sewing has been proudly serving the members of the community who, in turn, serve their community. As Maryland’s premiere, full-service commercial and industrial sewing manufacturing contractor our services include a variety of customer and heavy-industrial products. Our team is composed of experts who are ready and willing to assist in the designing of new products – or can work with modifying your existing items to meet your current needs. Our job is to see the process through to a quality-finished product. Because we also know that our customers’ needs are urgent, we’re committed to efficiency.
Our team has many years of service and experience in this industry. This allows us the opportunity to provide a superior product in a reasonable amount of time while still providing a personalized service to our customers. Not only are we proud that all of our products are made and manufactured in the USA, we always offer the most hands-on, personalized experience for each of our customers – assuring that their needs are addressed as personalized as the products we produce.
Although each design and manufacture process is unique, to assure total quality and complete customer satisfaction, FRC Sewing adheres to a series of steps in creating each unique product. Beginning with the creation of a Design Prototype, our team works hands-on with you to discuss how your product will be used and to determine the best materials for the product’s core usage. During this phase, we can work from your own designs, patterns, and products to develop a sample that meets your specifications in a cost-effective manner. After that prototype is created, we’re able to submit to you an approximate quote on what the full job will cost, factoring in all aspects of the manufacturing, materials, and the degree of expertise required to produce the highest quality finished product.
For every project that FRC Sewing takes on, our team of experienced sewing experts utilized a tried-and-true efficient production process to expedite the manufacturing of each order. Following a final inspection for the assurance of the highest quality control, your personalized products are ready to be shipped!
With years of experience, FRC Sewing specializes in creating the strongest materials for the most delicate of situations.
Key Staff
Joe Bleach, President/CEO & Founder
Work experience: Joe has over 30+ years experience in the manufacturing industry, that includes custom bags, covers, insulation products, assorted straps and safety products. Joe started at the ground level of the manufacturing industry back in 1980 with experience in spreading, cutting of materials, supervising production and managing an entire manufacturing facility. Today Joe presides over First Response Custom Sewing, Inc. and strongly believes there is a need in our country to manufacture custom sewn products. First Response ensures customers they will receive the best quality product and it will be delivered on time!
Shari Flanary, Accounting/HR Manager
Responsibilities: Shari is the Accounting/HR Manager at First Response Custom Sewing. She joined FRCS in early 2018 following two years with Prolist INC, where she assisted the accounting manager in the many daily operations of direct mail.
Work experience: With over 18 years of financial and management experience, Shari oversees the financial, accounting and administrative affairs of First Response Custom Sewing, as well as Human Resources. She works closely with the CEO and Management Team to ensure all new orders are entered and shipped to customers in a timely manner. She is also dedicated to upholding the friendly, family-oriented, professional atmosphere that is FRCS by helping all customers and employees, in person or by phone, in any way that she can assist.
Thomas Minnick, Lead Design Engineer
Responsibilities:
Lead Designer & Prototyping of New Product Development.
Designing and Plotting Jobs from Optitex Engineering and CAD system.
Spreading and Cutting material.
Website/ Social Media Administrator.
Help with production to make sure all products ship out in a timely manner and ensuring the quality of the products meet FRCS standards.
Establish a control point for design and production engineering drawings. Maintaining a database of all engineered drawings and bills of material.
Work experience: Thomas has 12 years combined in designing items Inside and Outside the sewing and textile industry, Thomas has been in the fire service going on 20 years and has vast skill set using several items manufactured by First Response Custom Sewing that are used in the Fire/Rescue Field daily. Thomas has a design background in graphics creating Vinyl Stickers and Banners along with large format printing. Thomas’s experience both in the fire service and working for First Response go hand and hand when it comes to Designing and Prototyping top-quality USA made products for First Responders and our Military along with the average everyday individual that has an idea that him and the FRCS team can bring to reality.