Manufacturing Chief Executive Kyle Wojcik is not a huge fan of “grandstanding” (as he calls it) but we did manage to pull the following information together from time with him: Over the years Kyle has developed and proven his own solution set of business capabilities, intuition and methodologies which culminate in who he is today. Kyle cares for and respects people in the process and endeavors to make work rewarding and fun. When asked about his approach to business Kyle stated “tone is set by the leader and to that end I would describe my STYLE as immersive, example leadership. I work to create a core sense of purpose and ownership (pride and engagement) in every employee by helping them see how their contributions are essential to the whole. CULTURE set by my leadership insists on safety first, promotes dignity (and respect) for all and relentlessly emphasizes the three-legged-stool (quality, on-time-delivery and communication). P&L Ownership always focuses on cost control (it’s quicker/easier to save than to earn) and then my homegrown, step pyramid philosophy of objective, achievable and growth management.”

Kyle has seen his share of hardship and adversity; called upon several times to manage situations of great complexity and sensitivity throughout his career. One could say Kyle is time-tested in a wide range of settings (from hands-on mechanical to principal officer C-suite leadership) but don’t worry, he still knows how to laugh at himself and does so often. Some of the strong abilities which stand-out in Kyle include the ability to organize projects from initial concept through production readiness. Cultural experience and social sensitivity working stateside and globally; specializing in customer facing relations. On-site, Kyle can often be seen walking the office and factory spaces with a dust pan and broom. As Kyle says “it does wonders psychologically for everyone (himself included), allows me to touch base with all levels, gives me a real time sense of what’s going on throughout the company and hey, it helps to keep things 6S’d.”

Kyle began his manufacturing career humbly and worked his way up from entry level positions to President of Donahue Industries by as Kyle says: “always competing with myself, making initiative my core-character, doing that one more thing, treating people well and expecting as much of myself as anyone else.” At least one other CEO has recognized and even sought to model what has been called Kyle’s “secret sauce” for leading a business through hard times and into the future. To that end, Kyle has the distinction of a successful turnaround of a failing design/make manufacturing business under his belt; having restored the once faltering Donahue Industries to the stable and growing manufacturing job-shop it is today.

Although one would not know it from day-to-day business interactions, Kyle’s Personality Index says he is an introvert, so yes, he’s tired at the end of the day and recharges at home with his dog, cooking good meals and his various hobbies. With a soft spot for animals and philanthropy, in one of the rare settings where he can be found without his rescue dog by his side, Kyle serves on a board of advisers for a community technical college.