Taking the Reins of the Family Business

By Barb Sieminski

Women have been rapidly climbing the career ladder, not only within corporations but as business owners, as well. Here we profile four local leaders who have taken the reins of their family businesses.

Our businesswomen include Carey Schmucker (Partner: Aegis Sales and Engineering, Inc.), Wendy Stein (President: Stein Ad Promos), Shelly Mueller (COO: Dirig Sheet Metal) and Olivia Warner (President: Indiana Stamp). All four women have graciously consented to answer some questions on how they attained ownership or partnership and how they have kept their businesses humming.

What was the family business that you took over and how long have you been in charge of it?

Schmucker: Aegis Sales & Engineering, Inc., a job shop for precision CNC machining. I’ve been a partner since 2011.

Mueller: Dirig Sheet Metal. My parents purchased the company from the Dirig family in 1993, and in 2012, I became an owner alongside both of them.

Warner: Indiana Stamp Co., Inc., which consists of Indiana Stamp, Indiana Signworks and United RIBtype divisions. I was named president in 2010.

Stein: Stein Ad Promos (formerly Stein Advertising), which was founded in 1939 by my great-grandfather, Julius, followed by my grandfather, Curt, who was joined by my father, John. My dad and his dad worked together for almost 20 years; I started working with my dad in 1996. There wasn’t a sudden change in leadership; I gradually took on more responsibility and have been the primary decision maker for at least the last 8 years.

What circumstances led to your taking the reins ?

Schmucker: My parents were beginning to talk about going parttime / retiring, so we started planning for that process. Also, to verify, I have not completely taken over the reins. I am fourth generation but am currently partners with my parents.

Mueller: My parents had been looking into succession planning and talked to me about becoming part owner and starting to take over the day-to-day responsibilities from them.

Warner: We have been working on an ever-evolving succession plan practically since I started in the business full-time in 2003. Along the way I have trained in various areas of our business and worked in a variety of roles, which has given me a well-rounded understanding of our business. My father considers himself 95 percent retired now and my husband and I currently run the business.

Stein: It was a natural progression of general shifting.

What have you found most challenging about running the company?

Schmucker: Finding a solid workforce.

Mueller: Being a woman in a “man’s world;” the sheet metal industry is predominately male and there aren’t many women at all, let alone in leadership positions.

Warner: Finding and hiring good people who share our values.

Stein: When the business is built by your family, people you love, there’s more at stake because these are the people you spend holidays with and family time. There’s an emotional involvement. I want to honor and respect the past but I have to look to the future too and change can be hard.

What is the best thing about running the business?

Schmucker: I have a great appreciation for all the work my parents and grandparents put in to make this business successful. Growing up listening to work discussions at dinner, I did not understand all the work and effort they all put in to make Aegis what it is today.

Mueller: The people we work with. It has always been very important to my family that Dirig Sheet Metal is a family business, and the people we work alongside every day feel like a part of our family. We know their kids, spouses, parents, grandparents, grandkids and even many of their pets. The more connected we are to the people we work with and rely on every day, the more connected they are to the job they are doing and to the growth of the company.

Warner: Hands down, it’s the people, many of whom have been with the company since I was a kid. Our team has such big hearts for each other and helping the community.

Stein: Our industry is very relationship-driven and some of the vendors I work with are the children of people my dad worked with. I love having the legacy of my family before me. a

Resources

Aegis, Fort Wayne, 260.483.4160, aegiscnc.com

Dirig Sheet Metal, Fort Wayne, 260.484.4844, dirigsheetmetal.com

Indiana Stamp, Fort Wayne, 260.424.5395, indianastamp.com

Stein Ad Promos, Fort Wayne, 260. 440.2010, steinadpromos.com

Award-winning anchor and correspondent Elizabeth Vargas has covered news stories and conducted interviews around the world. She is also the author of the bestselling Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction. Vargas currently hosts A&E Investigates.