Innovators Lead the Way in California Business

San Fernando - In this edition of our "Saving the California Dream" series, we turn to Bak Industries founder Julian Maimin, who came here illegally from South Africa. Now a legal resident, he's living his dream through sheer determination.

Julian Maimin
"When I first came, I was an illegal alien, I was working at a factory making four dollars an hour. Most of my money would be spent on gas. Those were my beginnings but I held fast to my belief that I was worth more than that.

"We figured out a way to make these bedliners more cost effectively through innovation. We spent a year in our garage building a mold with a belief and a dream."

Heidi
"One of the things I'm noticing is the people who are succeeding right now in California are the innovators."

Julian Maimin
"Our innovation not only got us our great start, but it allows us to continue to perpetuate our great business. I think that's what America is made of. I think that's what America is all about. America is a place where you come here, and you can rely on your own gumption, your own innovation, your own tenacity to further your cause.

"Over the past 24 years, we never had a declining year."

Heidi
"How has being an immigrant been an advantage here for you?"

Julian Maimin
"It's allowed me to view the opportunities that America affords its citizens in a different way. I'm a firm believer in this great country.

"If I make a profit at the end of the year, every single person from the ground up will get a bonus. That's how it should be. That's how it should be."

-----

Bak Industries creates the Bakliner accordion truck cover.

Decades ago, all truck bed covers used to be flat and he innovated the accordion fold up style. Now he creates all the after-market covers for Ford.

Maimin's company has grown 300 percent since 2008, during the height of the recession.

He exports to 35 countries, including Taiwan and China, but every component that goes into his parts are made in America.

His plant is located in the city of San Fernando, which he says is ideal for him because it's a small city that's business-friendly.

The company is expanding... and staying put in California.