Dr. Asis Banerjie cannot imagine life without obstacles. If there is no obstacle to overcome, he says the situation will not be challenging.
As president of Ovation Polymer Technology & Engineered Materials Banerjie has
accepted the challenges of being an entrepreneur and has turned them into opportunities
for his company.
“Then I make my plan for the opportunity, thus facing the challenge now becomes an easy job,
and many [times it’s] interesting,” he says. “You see the reward, sometimes you create the same
belief in your team or associates, and they think in the same way, and thus the next challenge
becomes even easier.”
The company, which develops and manufactures high-performance engineered polymer
resins, was started by Banerjie in 2005 and has since filed 10 patents, developed six product platforms and commercialized more than 20 products. The Medina-based company has clients in
the U.S., Africa and Asia.
Banerjie has faced the challenges of starting a business, including going through the product
approval process and hiring employees.
Innovation is one of the company’s key missions, and Banerjie has built his team around people who are able to execute it. He continuously encourages innovation, whether through new
product development or filing a patent. Employees are then rewarded for their innovative
thinking through notification and financial rewards or stock options. Banerjie says this helps
everyone realize that innovation and creativity are key assets.
Supporting its 35 employees is another key focus for the company, which over the last
several years has supported several workers who have had difficulty supporting their families during the holiday season. Banerjie has also created work opportunities for students
from area universities wanting some practical work experience.
“We care with unbiased equal opportunity and fairness to all for growth, and [stand] by
each other at times of need,” Banerjie says. “We are building a company with the feeling
of a caring community. This helps in retaining employees, as they feel the company
belongs to them.”
HOW TO REACH: Ovation Polymer Technology & Engineered Materials, www.opteminc.com or (330) 723-5686