NFFS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT NFFS MEMBER SPOTLIGHT

Member Spotlight: Calumet Brass Foundry Q&A with Cathy Dolan, President of Calumet Brass Foundry 2017-18 NFFS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cathy acquired Calu- Of course, change from within is usu- met Brass Foundry in ally more fun and relaxed. Change President 1995, making her the from the outside (OSHA regulations) George Mugford* fourth generation of can be more challenging, but it is all Bunting Bearings LLC ownership since her part of business so you have to adapt Vice President family purchased the and change or die. Chris Shanks* foundry in 1906. She Ford Meter Box has over 20 years of What keeps you awake at night? experience and is Treasurer Worry about the future. Specifically familiar with every the future of my business and wheth- Andrew Iannettoni* aspect of the foundry Ford Meter Box er there will be enough business for business. Cathy joined the NFFS Board a fifth generation. Life is changing so Immediate Past President of Directors in October 2017. quickly and our economy is chang- Steve Horvath* ing too! My dad used to tell me that Brost Foundry Company What advice would you give to in the 70’s there were 4-5 pages of someone going into a leadership foundries listed in the Yellow Pages. If Directors position in the foundry industry we are lucky, there is a small section for the first time? Jay Armstrong* that would take up one page today. Cathy Dolan inspects the mold poured by her Trialco, Inc. Be passionate about what you are With our economy opening up glob- production team. doing. Work smart. Know your busi- ally and the advancement of metal Paul Armstrong ness like no one else, but hire peo- casting machinery, our business is Armstrong RM customers, suppliers and business ple who are better than you at do- dwindling. That is why being part of associates… all people! I would also ing those jobs! Know when to give it the NFFS is important to me. We, as Ivan Betcherman Calumet Brass Foundry production workers (pictured L to R): Antonio Ruiz, Peter Cook, Jorge Mendez, consider the one that would fit into Ingot Metal Company Armando Vargas, Rudy Rabanales, Eduardo Calderon. (Not pictured: Gabriel Fragoso) your all and when to walk away. You foundry people, need to stick togeth- our group. We have developed a tight will fail from time to time…or learn a er and help each other. knit team here at Calumet Brass and Owen Daniel Since 1906, Calumet Brass Foundry has pro- 3250#’s, brass around 2850#’s and 1100#’s lesson the hard way…keep at it and we really care about one another and Midland Manufacturing vided customers with brass, bronze and alu- for aluminum. don’t give up. What other CEOs do you look up to work really well together. I would minum sand castings. Trusted by customers or draw inspiration from? have to consider how the potential Cathy Dolan worldwide, Calumet Brass Foundry has a Calumet Brass is currently owned and oper- What are the challenges of be- Calumet Brass Foundry The CEO’s I have looked up to and candidate would affect the harmony reputation for producing high quality cast- ated by Cathy Dolan, in Dolton, Illinois. Cal- ing a woman business owner in a have drawn inspiration from are not of our team. Rolf Gretschmann* ings in a reasonable turnaround time—in umet Brass received the prestigious Wom- male-dominated industry? famous…so this may be a boring an- Standard Manufacturers many cases, in 24 to 48 hours. Calumet Brass en’s Business Enterprise certification for the The challenges I have faced being a swer. They are my predecessors— What is the secret to your success? Services Foundry’s niche is short run, larger castings Chicago Business Development Center in woman in a male dominated industry my father, my grandfather and my with breakdown delivery capabilities. 1999, ensuring a prominent role in today’s Surround yourself with really good Bret Markum have been congruent to the advan- great grandfather. My great-grand- people and create an environment diverse business world. Combining this pro- tages. Most of the men I have worked father for having the courage to buy Aluminum Castings Corp. Calumet Brass is recognized across the in- gressive business vision with decades of ex- that inspires you. I am lucky. I work with have daughters, and they have an existing foundry. My grandfather with a great group of exceptional John Mellone dustry for being a leader in both capacity perience, Calumet Brass’s legacy of quality seen in me what they hope for for for building the company where it is and on-time delivery. They produce cast- is evident in every casting and their dedicat- men, including my husband, Peter. Beck Aluminum Corp. their children. I feel like every time today, in Dolton. And my father, who He has run the foundry for about 20 ings very few foundries worldwide can han- ed service is second to none. a man did not want to work with me further developed the business and Allen Meskan dle – with a total melt capacity for bronze at years. I am also lucky enough to work Meskan Foundry because I was a woman, there was a other businesses. They were very with my best friend, Dawn. She is my man that DID want to work with me, strong men and driven to succeed. sounding board on everything and an Kevin Ruddock because I was a woman. Mind you, example to me in many ways. Also, N.T. Ruddock things are much more progressive There is also a woman I have admired my mother works for me and some- today than 22 years ago. I remember from afar since I bought the business times our daughters will help on proj- Chip Shamburg a time when I walked through the old in 1995. Her name is Marsha Serlin Erie Bronze & Aluminum ects, so I get to work with them too. I Acme mill and someone “cat called” from United Scrap in Chicago. She am lucky—I love coming to work! Jim Spalding over the intercom. I laughed…and ev- started her company with a rental Stahl Specialty Co. eryone knew I was there! That would truck and $ 200. She is a HUGE suc- never happen in today’s litigious en- cess today. A true story of success * = Executive Committee member vironment. Times have changed so based on perseverance, hard work much that now I walk into a mill and I and not accepting failure or rejection, Calumet Brass Foundry Staff am greeted by a woman, in most cas- as an option. She is a bold woman 14610 Lakeside Avenue es. There has been so much progress who has carved a place for herself in Dolton, IL 60419 Executive Director in our industry…. It really has been an a male dominated industry. Jerrod Weaver Phone (708) 849-3040 exciting time to be in business as a Fax (708) 849-6343 Director of Technical Services foundry woman. If you were faced with two equally Scott Lammers qualified job candidates for your  How have you approached change foundry, how would you deter- Director of Membership & in your foundry? mine who to hire? www.calbrass.com Communications Erin Russell Like everything else, with a positive I would consider hiring the one with [email protected] attitude. Regardless of whether the people skills. Those skills are so im- Executive Meeting Planner change is from the inside or the out- portant in running a business. You Kristie Matusek side, we do what needs to be done. need to manage your employees, Calumet Brass Foundry workers pour 2,400 pounds of C93800 into a sand mold.

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