Custom injection molder Sussex IM Inc. has transitioned to a next generation of leadership, which became official on Jan. 1.
The Sussex, Wis.-based company will continue to be family owned, but is now led by CEO Megan Tzanoukakis and a team of young executives that includes Chief Technical Officer Christopher Everson, Chief Operating Officer Kyle Kopp, and Chief Financial Officer Justin Guagliardo.
"I think all four of us are really big proponents of manufacturing in the USA, manufacturing locally," Tzanoukakis said. "There's not a lot of young people in manufacturing."
She said the company has "a lot of value to offer our customers" including technology and automation.
Tzanoukakis and Everson are the children of former CEO Keith Everson, who stepped down after 42 years with Sussex but will now serve as a chairman. Guagliardo is the son of former CFO Dave Guagliardo. Both Keith Everson and Dave Guagliardo retain ownership in the company.
Tzanoukakis wants to keep the company family owned and hold onto its history. All of the new leaders have been with the company. Tzanoukakis emphasized how important this was, as she "knows all of the people in the plant" and knows "what needs to be fixed and what doesn't."
Since August, the new team has been developing a new entrepreneurial operating system (EOS), which will slowly roll out over the next 18 months.
"We really want to emphasize structure, accountability, our culture and our values," Tzanoukakis said. "That's really what makes us different from a lot of companies. We have a really great foundational culture and core values that our people exemplify every day."
The company also plans to use the sections of their 5,000-square-foot clean room that are free for new medical equipment customers. Sussex is adding silos, molding machines and an automation cell, gearing up for new programs in 2024.
"I feel confident in our team, and in all the people that we have working here that we will sustain Sussex for another almost 50 years, at least," Tzanoukakis said.