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National Ticket Company Celebrates
its 100th Anniversary |
Date: January 3, 2007  Printable Version (.PDF)
For immediate release
SHAMOKIN, Pa. — This year, National Ticket Company of Shamokin, Pennsylvania is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a world leader in providing ticketing and admission products to various markets, including the entertainment, sports and amusement industries in over 70 countries.
Brothers Alphonsus E., William A. and John J. Conway along with local clothing merchant Nicholas R. Ludes founded the company in 1907 in Shamokin. The four were equal partners in the company and today the Conway and Ludes families each hold 50 percent of the company stock.
“As a family run business, reaching the 100 year mark is a very rare accomplishment, reaching this milestone has to be credited to our dedicated family of employees and loyal customer base,” said John Conway, Director of Administration/Secretary and grandson of founder Alphonsus E. Conway. “As we head into our second century of business we are more focused on providing new, innovative and quality products to our customers.”
National Ticket Company is now one of the largest ticket producers in the world and credits the dedication of its management team and employees with making the company a stable part of the local economy since the early 1900s.
With 100 years of service comes quite a bit of history. In 1938, National Ticket Company became the first company in the area to provide life insurance coverage for its workers. Five years later it added health and accident coverage to its benefits.
The company experienced slow but steady growth in its early years until World War II. In 1942, a fire gutted most of the company’s plant and office facilities. The business and workers were relocated to the basement of a car dealership for eight years before they could rebuild because of the wartime material shortage.
Eventually they built a new facility and continued to grow with new customers such as movie theaters, amusement parks, sporting events and transportation services. After 40 years at their Shamokin headquarters, National Ticket Company built a 73,000-square foot facility in the Reed Industrial Park, just outside of Shamokin where the company headquarters is still located today.
“To reach a milestone of 100 years, success depends a great deal on loyalty, dedication and integrity,” said J. Edward Ludes, Chairman of the Board and grandson of founder Nicholas R. Ludes. “With ownership of the Company now in its 4th generation the hope is that we continue our next century committed to our past principles of service to our most valued customers and ongoing loyalty to our dedicated employees.”
Over the years, National Ticket Company has been a part of many memorable events. Their tickets were used at the Pope John Paul II U.S. visit to Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium in 1979, the Muhammad Ali vs. George Foreman heavyweight championship in Zaire Africa, in Baltimore for the Beatles first American tour in 1964 and the 34th Annual Grammy Awards at Radio City Music Hall in 1992. National Ticket products were also used as U.S. ration stamps during World War II.
With a customer base of over 5,000 you will find their tickets and wristbands in use around the globe. National Ticket products are used locally at Knoebels Amusement Resort and across the country at Chuck E. Cheese Family Fun Centers, Universal Studios, Anheuser Busch Events and Parks. They are even found internationally at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in the UK, Canada’s Wonderland and beyond.
“I feel it is both a privilege and an honor to be a part of this company as it reaches the 100 year milestone,” said Edward Ludes, V.P of Production and great grandson of founder Nicholas R. Ludes. “Without the dedication of the employees who have been part of the company throughout the years, we would not have survived to reach this centennial. It is now up to the current group of shareholders, managers, and employees who make up this company to commit towards keeping the company on the edge of both technology and service to our customers.”
Now one of the largest ticket producers in the world, National Ticket Company has International Distributorship Agreements with partners in the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Mexico and Central America. The company has earned a reputation for impeccable customer service, exciting innovation and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Its spectacular success notwithstanding, National Ticket Company still prides itself on being a family-oriented company. Not only has the ownership remained in the family for 100 years, but in many cases third and fourth generations of families work for the company. The owners have always rewarded employees for their loyalty and hard work with benefits, competitive wages and annual celebrations like the company picnic, which began in the mid-1930s.
This year, in celebration of 100 successful years, National Ticket Company will be hosting special events in honor of its employees and customers. Plans are being made to make the Annual Picnic and Christmas Party bigger and better and for a special Employee Appreciation Day on Oct 19, 2007 where the entire National Ticket family can share in this milestone event with owners, management and other special guests. In addition, the company will also celebrate its anniversary at a special reception at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions Summer Meeting, hosted by HersheyPark, a valued customer for many decades that is also marking their 100th anniversary in 2007.
“In reaching this landmark, there is great deal of thanks and appreciation that needs to be extended to our employees, both past and present, as well as to our valued customers,” said Tim Timco, VP of Sales and great grandson of founder Nicholas R. Ludes. “Without either of those key essentials the success, growth and longevity that our company has achieved would not be possible. Our goal will now be to not only carry on, but build on what has been accomplished in the past 100 years by continuing to strive to be a leader in our industry.
For more information about National Ticket Company, please call them at 800-829-0829 or visit them online at www.nationalticket.com.
Printable Version of 100th Anniversary Press Release (.PDF)
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