Jack Goldstein believed that to compete in the coming years, Steel and Pipe Supply had to modernize.  In a letter to family discussing the business on May 11, 1972 Jack discussed that NCR (National Cash Register Company) was coming in to give a quote on a complete ‘computerized bookkeeping installation’.  He stated in this letter, words that hold true even today:

“We’ve got to be modern and we’ve got to look forward and we’ve got to have the facilities and the equipment if we wish to have the opportunity to grow, and that is the way it’s going to be.”

So Steel and Pipe Supply became one of the first companies in Manhattan to have a computer system.  But they needed someone to work on it.  They began to give aptitude tests to many of the Steel and Pipe Supply office and warehouse workers to figure out who would be tasked with implementing and operating the new system.  After not finding anyone, they expanded the search to Jack’s other businesses, and one person surpassed all others by a wide margin showing the aptitude for what was needed.  That person was currently a part-time bookkeeper at Manhattan Truck Sales. His name was Dennis Mullin.