82. Jim Sliker – Central States Manufacturing - Strategies for Scaling an ESOP

43 minutes

Jim Sliker is the CEO of Central States Manufacturing, a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company that produces metal building components for a variety of structures and applications. Jim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Kettering University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He serves on the Make-A-Wish Mid-South board, and the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter board of directors.

In this episode, Jim talks about Central States Manufacturing’s geographical saturation strategy for growing and scaling an American manufacturing company. He discusses the challenges the company has faced in their growth journey, and how they built and nurtured trusting relationships within their supply chain.

Sliker later shares how he educates his distributor base (the most challenging part of the business), the valuable KPIs they measure, and how his team executes their strategy of being “Right, On Time, Every Time.”  Additionally, Jim shares his best advice for business leaders, highlighting the power of transparency.

Connect with Jim:

Visit Central States Manufacturing’s website

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