All told, Henry has been in the business since 1955 and over the years has learned just about every aspect of the pan and coatings business. "I was born in a bread pan, I guess," he chuckles. When Henry graduated, he went to work for a glazing plant in Pittsburgh. After a year and six months he was transferred to Columbus, Ohio, where he lived for almost five years, then on to Chicago for another 25 years until Russ Bundy convinced him to come to Urbana and help him start American Pan.

When asked about the future of the Baking industry, Henry believes "it grows proportionally with the population." In terms of American Pan, he sees Asia and Europe as its growth markets for the foreseeable future. Henry calls American Pan an "ideal" business for a family owned concern. It's not attractive to the very large companies, because it's a niche industry that relies heavily on personal experience and relationships.

When he's off the road and away from the office, Henry likes to spend his free time outdoors—golfing, fishing, and hunting—when he isn't chasing his grandchildren.