Thermal Scientific is proud to announce that its Odessa branch has been honored with the 2024 Wally Cup—an annual distinction recognizing outstanding team performance across all company locations. The Wally Cup derives its name from founder Wallace “Wally” Wilhelm, who started Thermal Scientific in 1962. Known for his end-of-year tradition of raising a glass of Seagram’s VO (short for “Very Own”) whiskey, Wally celebrated the successes and challenges of each year, honoring the “Very Own” who went above and beyond. Today, the Wally Cup pays tribute to that same spirit of excellence and teamwork.
“I absolutely love how difficult it was to pick this year’s Wally Cup recipient,” said CEO Coby Wishert. “All five branches experienced remarkable growth, increased efficiency, high customer satisfaction, and cultural improvements. But in the end, when I imagined telling my grandfather, Wally, about Team Odessa’s year, I could almost hear him exclaim, ‘Great Scott!’”
Team Odessa’s Key Achievements
Remarkable Revenue Growth: Increased revenue by 9% year-over-year, building on an already impressive baseline.
Stellar Sales Efficiency: Achieved a 99.50% quote-to-close ratio, underscoring an unparalleled ability to convert customer needs into real solutions.
Outstanding Customer Satisfaction: Maintained a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 95%, far above industry standards and reflecting dedication to customer success.
Operational Excellence: Met ambitious goals for deadstock reduction, streamlining inventory management while improving efficiency.
Exceeding Strategic Goals: Surpassed the target of growing 10 major customers, demonstrating exceptional relationship-building, strong value generation and strategic focus.
In a company-wide, virtual celebration, individuals were recognized for notable contributions in productivity, sales growth, and customer satisfaction. Team Odessa demonstrated leadership through strategic growth in the bulk chemical market, consistently high quote-to-close ratios, and territory optimization that enhanced the overall customer experience. Beyond the metrics, the branch transformed its warehouse operations using lean principles—reducing pick times, enhancing service standards, and fostering a vibrant workplace culture.
Thermal Scientific congratulates Rachelle, Eliza, Kevin, Mel, Kristian, Vanessa, Michelle, Phillip, Ray, Holden, and Kassie on their well-deserved recognition.
“As we celebrate Team Odessa’s achievements, we honor the legacy of Wally Wilhelm and his vision of a company built on excellence, integrity, and teamwork,” concluded Wishert. “Thank you, Team Odessa, for making Wally’s legacy your ‘Very Own.’”
About Thermal Scientific
Although we distribute laboratory supplies, chemicals, instruments, equipment, and more, we are truly in the relationship business. Founded in Odessa in 1962, Thermal Scientific, Inc. is a veteran-operated, third-generation, family-owned company with five branches and over 50,000 sq ft of warehouse space throughout Texas—Amarillo, Beaumont, Corpus Christi, DFW, and Odessa. We’re proud to be the oldest and largest family-owned, Texas distributor in our industry. For more information, visit www.thermalscientific.com.
