MML First Fridays Presents…
Strategy to Drive Growth
Friday July 8th, 2016 7:15 am – 9:00 am
Today, The Gund Company has 8 manufacturing facilities in 4 countries and well over 400 employees focused on taking care of the customer, taking care of each other, and taking care of the business for the long term. The Gund Company has grown by approximately 25 times in the last 25 years by using a very specific business growth model that has allowed the company to grow from a small regional distributor to one of the largest manufacturers of solid electrical insulation materials in the world. The company’s growth model has allowed organic growth rates of 3 to 5 times the industry growth rate. Additionally, the growth model incorporates an acquisition model that has successfully integrated sustainable growth.
The creation of a specific business growth model based on understanding the company’s competitive advantages allowed them to create a compelling value equation for their customer base that differentiated their products and services. The creation, development, and evolution of the business growth model has fueled the company’s success and has become foundational for the transformation of their culture over time. The model allowed them to articulate and leverage many of the cultural principles that delivered value for the first generation allowing opportunity for future generations.
This presentation will take you through The Gund Company’s growth model providing one example of how an industrial manufacturing company can systematically and consistently grow their business for the next generation.
The Speaker: Steve Gund
Steve is the President of The Gund Company, Inc. Founded in 1951, The Gund Company is a third generation family business in some ways and a fifth generation family business in other ways. As a descendent of Al Bussmann, Sr., who along with his brothers started Bussmann Manufacturing in 1910, The Gund Company was formed out of Bussmann in 1951 to focus on electrical insulation material technology. Many St. Louisans remember Bussmann Manufacturing, the world’s largest manufacturer of electrical fuses, based on their memory of the old plug fuses in the days prior to circuit breakers. Today, The Gund Company manufactures electrical insulation materials for electrical power systems equipment such as power generators, transformers, switchgear, and of course, electrical fuses.
Steve joined his brother Rich in the business as employee #14 with both focusing entirely on growing their small family business. In those days, if you sold it, you would likely be helping to make it. Prior to joining the family business, Steve graduated from the University of Notre Dame and Chaminade College Prep. He lives in University City with his wife Stacy and his four kids, Caitlyn, Collin, Bryan, and Luke.
July 8th, 2016
7:15 – 8:00 am – Breakfast & Networking
8:00 – 8:45 am – Presentation
8:45 – 9:00 am – Question & Answer
Event Location
The Lodge Des Peres
1050 Des Peres Rd.
St Louis, MO 63131
Event Registration
