Finalist
Distribution, Manufacturing
When Robert Fritz joined Avtron Aerospace, he had big plans for turning the complacent family-run business into a high-technology growth organization.
To start, he reorganized the sales department and strengthened product development. He then introduced the concept of three divisions within the company, which would eventually become three subsidiary companies. As a result of these efforts, the company grew and was bought by a private equity firm in 2007. Following that, Avtron had record sales and EBITDA in 2008.
Fritz originally wanted to organize the company into its present form to allow for a down period in one business to be offset by an uptick in the other two businesses. Creating the three areas of the company allowed each to be run by a single manager, which created better focus on customers and the issues they faced. It also created more informed selling and more targeted product development. This autonomy continued as these divisions grew into subsidiaries, and this set-up has created great growth in the organization.
Another way that Fritz has taken Avtron to a new level of excellence is by focusing on his people. Originally, there was a gap between what his company paid in terms of salary and benefits and what the larger firms — which Fritz and his people admired — paid. Over time, he eliminated the gap and for the first time was able to hire high-impact players to really fuel the company’s growth.
On top of these initiatives, Avtron has won the NorthCoast 99 award three times for being a top place to work in Northeast Ohio.
While Fritz has had a large impact on Avtron, his influence doesn’t stop there, as he’s also active in the community. He formerly served as president of the Cuyahoga Astronomical Association and is a member of the advocacy board of MAGNET. He is also a member of Vistage, an international association of CEOs, and through that organization, he has served on committees to help other companies get out of trouble.
How to reach: Avtron Aerospace, (216) 642-1230 or www.avtron.com
