Patti Perspective
March 2017
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Hi there,
We hope the end of Q1 finds you well. This month, we had a great time at Manufacturing in America hosted by Siemens and Electro-Matic in Detroit. Our Ian Mogab presented on UHF RFID, so in today's newsletter we have an infographic with fast-facts about the new technology. For more detailed information, you can download our eBook, linked below the article.
Our spotlight is on one of our partners this month: Richard Laramee of Electro-Matic, our automation distributor in Michigan. Read on to learn how new challenges and taking risks have help Rich build a successful career.
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What's So Great About UHF RFID?
Find out what all the fuss is about. Compare other identification technologies and find out what the advantages are to using UHF RFID in your facility in the infographic below. Click here to view a PDF version for better zooming options.
For more detailed information about UHF RFID,
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Patti Perspective Spotlight: Richard Laramee
We are changing it up for our spotlight this month. In honor of the Manufacturing in America event that took place this month, we are very excited to share with our readers an inside look at the career and personal life Rich Laramee, the COO of Electro-Matic Ventures and the President of Electro-Matic Products, the Michigan-based distribution subsidiary of the company.
We think you will find Rich’s career path and his perspective on new challenges and taking risks interesting and inspiring. Many of the risks have paid off and have led to several major changes that have grown Electro-Matic over the last several years.
It all began with his education. Rich earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer and Electrical Engineering at General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) in Flint, Michigan in 1984. Rich was sponsored by the General Motors Service Parts Operations. Incidentally, he was fraternity brothers with our CEO Sam Hoff. “Sam was A Section,” Rich remembers, “and I was B Section.” When Sam was in class, Rich was at the plant and vice versa. They even lived in the same fraternity house.
After graduation, Rich continued with GM. In his 13 years there, Rich lived all over the country – Dallas, Atlanta, Philly, Kansas City, and back to Detroit again. In Detroit, he joined GM Midsize Car (which later became GM CRW). In that group, Rich worked as a controls engineer, project leader, controls leader, and completed several product launches. When he left in 1997, he was responsible for controls implementation for many of the fabrication plants.
Rich has worked his way up through Electro-Matic, too, starting as a Safety Product Manager. From there, an opportunity opened on the sales team and he became the General Motors Powertrain Account Manager. Then, in 2001, Rich asked to be the Siemens product line manager. At the time, Siemens was not a large product line for Electro-Matic, but the product line really took off and so did their business. In 2008, Rich became Vice President– General Manager of Distribution. He became President of Electro-Matic Products in 2014 and when the company reorganized into three subsidiaries, he also became COO of the new holding company.
Electro-Matic is an ESOP or Employee Stock Ownership Program, meaning that all employees and only employees have a stake in the company. “I work with great people at Electro-Matic,” said Rich. “A lot of us have the same goals of growing our business. We work hard and celebrate together. There’s always something new: a new vendor, new product line, new products, new customers, new industries like Food and Beverage or Tire, or Aerospace. We’re always trying new things.”
That goal of growing the company prompted Electro-Matic to grow through acquisition. Rich and his team sought out a company that would complement their existing product lines and allow them to expand their geographic reach. Earlier this month, they completed their first acquisition of RAF Automation in Solon, Ohio.
Rich is now facing a new kind of challenge: He’s in the thick of integrating the operations for the new subsidiary – everything from aligning accounting practices to updating the ERP systems to managing the culture adjustment and finding a high-quality, affordable healthcare program across state lines for all employees.
He has two pieces advice to others in the industry: become an expert and take risks. “Find a specific area of expertise and become that expert. Learn both academically and practically, and become a trusted expert in whatever that is,” he says.” “You’ll have customers flocking to you if you’re a trusted expert.” Additionally, he says, “You can never be too aggressive. This industry is in constant need of risk takers – make it known that you can fill that need. Ask for more responsibility.”
Over the years, Rich has enjoyed being coach and spectator at his children’s many sporting events. Rich himself enjoys golf and hockey.
It’s good advice that might also apply to his four children who are on the brink of their own careers. He has two in college, one on the way to college, and his youngest is a freshman in high school. The oldest is a chef who graduated from Culinary Institute of America and is now pursuing a degree in Food Science at Michigan State; the second is at Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan; the third is off to Michigan State to pursue engineering and sales. His youngest son is very involved in sports including golf, travel hockey, and travel soccer.
Rich’s wife is a teacher and will be retiring this year. Last year, the couple bought a 1920s home that they are working on renovating.
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We work as partners with our clients. When you need an expert to help solve automation challenges, we are here to add value to your solution - enhance efficiency, increase productivity, and work with your team as a trusted resource. Visit our website for more information on our areas of expertise, or call us (248)364-3200 for a free initial consultation.
Thank you for your interest in Patti Engineering.
Best regards,
Georgia H. Whalen Director of Marketing Patti Engineering
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