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F.A. Davis Company, publisher of Taber's Medical Dictionary, celebrates its 125th anniversary in Philadelphia
A gala party will take place on June 26thdd to celebrate the anniversary of one of the last independently-owned medical publishers in America.
Philadelphia, PA, June 10, 2004: F.A. Davis Company, one of the last independently-owned medical publishers in America, will celebrate its 125th anniversary in Philadelphia on June 26th. When asked what contributes to the company's long-time success, President Robert Craven, Jr. stated, "We have a tremendous advantage over our competitors because we publish at the grass roots level. Management at all levels makes informed decisions due to their proximity to our customers-health care educators, students and clinicians. We stay close to the action."
It's also clear that F.A. Davis's success is based on employee loyalty. At just over 100 employees, Mr. Craven is proud to point out that "One-third of our employees have been with the company more than ten years and many have migrated from much larger companies."
"I worked for a major publishing house before coming to F.A. Davis and always felt like a number among thousands of employees," pointed out Neil Kelly, Executive Director of Sales. F.A. Davis remains among these corporate giants after 125 years with the same mission and purpose as when I started in 1987-to publish quality health science textbooks and supplements based on what the market is demanding, while staying independent."
Senior Vice-President Judy Ilov Neely, who's been with the company for 20 years, said, "I've personally experienced and been able to offer others unlimited opportunity for personal and professional development, which I hadn't anticipated finding at a smaller company. The size of the company has allowed me to expand my experience into several areas and has made my current and previous positions very challenging and rewarding."
She continued by pointing out that "The passion for remaining independent blended with the fair and respectful treatment of the employees is evident to all. Because of our size, each employee has a unique role and therefore every employee matters. F. A. Davis doesn't have a corporate parent dictating certain profit margins each year regardless of market conditions. This allows us the freedom to make our decisions based on the current and future needs of our customers and markets and not sacrifice staff in a budget-cutting campaign to accomplish a profit margin. When you consider that, it's no surprise that so many talented people have chosen to stay at F.A. Davis and that many talented professionals actively seek employment opportunities with us. In addition, the moral and ethical standards in decision making and leadership so clearly demonstrated by Robert Craven, Sr., and Rob, Jr. are also key to our success. Even when tough times call for tough decisions, the well placed trust we have for them carries us through."
Don Weiss, one of the company's top sales reps, who joined F.A. Davis 30 years ago, echoes Ms. Neely's comments, "I like working for a winner," he says. "I have trust and faith in the person at the top-Rob, Jr., just as I did for his father when I first came on board in 1974. Rob and his managers encourage us to contribute, share and voice our ideas. I love the 'team within the team' approach we have with all departments working together for the best possible results." He added, "Even though we have grown larger over the years, we are not so big that anyone gets lost in the shuffle."
Phyllis Love, who began working for F.A. Davis nearly 17 years ago as sales secretary and was recently promoted to Supervisor, Customer Service said, "F.A. Davis is a very secure place to work. Management listens to employees while at the same time balancing corporate policy. They protect their employees. Even when budgets have been tight, they do everything to avoid layoffs. Our president and managers really care about the welfare of their employees. I feel that I'm part of a family rather than a corporation."
"I originally came to F.A. Davis for a temporary assignment in November 1973, but was always treated as an employee. Later, I was offered a permanent position. I've stayed for many reasons, but primarily because when I was raising my children, the company was very accommodating towards working mothers," stated Lucilla Commander.
Jacki Albertini, who's been with the company over twenty years, said, "I've chosen to stay at F.A. Davis because of the great working environment, but mostly because of the people I have met and worked with over the years. I've also been very fortunate to work with great managers who have encouraged me to develop my skills. I'm happy that we've remained independent and family owned for 125 years. I have a true sense of belonging. Working anywhere else doesn't enter my mind."
Jacki's sister, Livia, who's also been with the company over 20 years, agreed, "My main reason for having stayed for so many years is the people. Over the years I've had so many great co-workers who've been like family to me."
Rob Craven, Jr. summed up his employees' comments by saying, "In today's unstable world, F.A. Davis stands tall as a refuge from corporate chaos."
Over 300 guests are expected to attend the company's celebration including current and former employees as well as authors of the company's extremely successful nursing, health science and medical texts and reference books and software. The party will be held on the 1900 block of Cherry Street, where the building originally occupied by the company from 1903-1969 (a former livery stable), once stood. A replica of the front façade of that original building is being erected and will stand in its original position for the event.
F.A. Davis Company was founded in 1879 by Frank Allston Davis, who began his career selling medical books and later began publishing his own. Frank died in 1917 leaving the company's fate in the hands of his widow, Irene (Craven) Davis, who ran the company until 1960. During her tenure, she hired Clarence W. Taber, who had already authored a dictionary called Taber's Medical Dictionary for Nurses, published in 1905, as an acquisitions editor for her company. When Mr. Taber was 70, F.A. Davis published the first edition of his Taber's Cyclopedic Dictionary. Taber's Dictionary, currently in its 19th edition, with a 20th edition due in February, continues to be one of the country's best selling professional books.
Irene Davis's nephew, Robert Craven, Sr., worked for the company summers as a teenager, but didn't start full-time until he left the Navy. Eventually, he managed the company's commission sales force, but Irene would not allow her nephew to work in the field with the reps, lest he have his morals corrupted. "I've heard about the ways of salesmen," she said. To gain the sales experience that he knew he needed, he sold encyclopedias door to door, unbeknownst to Aunt Irene. In 1960, she finally named her nephew president. Under his guidance, the company became even more successful by venturing into nursing and allied health with such publications as Calliet's Pain Series and Brunnstrom's Clinical Kinesiology.
In 1989, shortly after the first edition of another best selling F.A. Davis book was first published, Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses, Rob Craven, Jr., succeeded his father as president of the F.A. Davis Company. He became only the fourth person to lead the company in its 125 years. Under his guidance the company has had its most impressive sales ever, breaking new ground with its latest best-selling publication, RNotes and the related titles in the entire Davis's Notes Series. "In retrospect, we did most of our growing after our competitors were swept up by foreign corporate giants," Rob stated.
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