Phénix Environmental Consulting was named after Ms. Warner Herson’s great-grandfather. Born Louis Philippe Wanner, sometime in the late-1800s he changed his name to Louis Phénix (or Phoenix) Warner. The son of French immigrants, L.P. Warner was a machinist and inventor and held patents for a number of his machines including those for making fabric cording (1889), carriage tufts (1897), and endless woven belting (1904).
The last patent resulted in the establishment of the family belt manufacturing business (L. P. Warner Company) which was managed by the Warner family for over 100 years. Belts were made for a number of clients and many uses but the initial and primary use was for driving drills on early dental machines. And, although he did not hold a patent, L.P. also manufactured pipe cleaners through the Renack Manufacturing Company in the early 1900s, a product revisited by the Warners in the 1960s.
Ms. Warner Herson grew up in the family business, working in the factory after school and on weekends and served in many capacities including machine operator, shipping clerk, and office support (filing, invoicing and marketing).