Ashley Parker has always been a go-getter. She has a degree in hotel and restaurant management and an associate degree in business management. At 22 years old, she successfully opened her own restaurant in Arizona. But what she did not have, until recently, were plans to work at her father’s company. “My dad is a…
How taking a risk paid off with a career in insurance
Jamie Ausec works in insurance, but she began her career by taking risks. In 2006, she left the familiarity of the Pacific Northwest, where she was raised, for California and a job solely based on commission. “It was a bit of a gamble that I only look back on now with relief and gratitude that…
Quality tooling, bonding, and fastening: A full-fledged engineering career
If variety is the spice of life, Manuel Martinez has experienced his fair share throughout his career. He’s worked in several roles as an engineer — in quality, product design and development, and management — in three different countries during the last 16 years. He’s worked in tooling, chemical bonding, and mechanical fastening. What has…
How SmartCert is digitalizing the fastener supply chain
Most would agree that paperwork is a necessary nuisance for any business and the fastener industry is no different. Quality assurance means certifications and technical documentation are essential, particularly for critical parts in critical assemblies. “In the fastener industry, there are several required documentation that vary from the supply chain for raw materials to OEM…
Creating a family environment: The resiliency of RISCO Inc.
At 19, Joseph Frainee Jr. was already a jack-of-all-trades. He worked construction for his father by day and did autobody jobs at night. On weekends, he would paint houses. One such place happened to be the home of the founder of RISCO, Inc., Murray Edward Richardson (“Rich”). RISCO, Inc. began as Richardson’s Fasteners in 1964,…
Joining the fastener industry: A decision based on integrity
Jennifer Sturm was doing a friend a favor when she first interviewed with Empire Bolt & Screw Inc., a family-owned distributor of threaded fasteners and industrial products. She never intended to take the job. Now, 25 years later, Sturm has worked in several roles at Empire Bolt and is currently the company’s chief operating officer.…
Like mother, like daughter: The legacy of ESP Aerospace Fasteners
It’s not every day that a young Latina working mother is approached by two financiers and asked if she’d like to start her own business — particularly in the early ’90s. But that’s exactly what happened to Louise McKinnis while she was working at a bearings company in Fullerton, California. “My mom was a bit…
Adding quality to AIM Testing Laboratory
Tiffany Arnold was the first hire when AIM Testing Laboratory launched in 2018, a multi-disciplinary laboratory that specializes in materials testing and fastener quality assurance. AIM was co-founded by industry veterans, Rob LaPointe and Carmen Vertullo, in San Diego, California. Arnold serves as the Director of Quality Systems. “I was honored and excited to join…
The history of the world’s largest fastener distributor
As World War II slowly came to an end, Adolf Würth knew two things: he needed to support his family and he wanted to work independently. With a post-war focus on new construction and rebuilding, a wholesale business focused on fasteners made sense. So, in the summer of 1945, Würth officially set up his own…
Empowering women and embracing sustainability through manufacturing
Gail Friedberg began her career as a corporate lawyer, which was ideal when her husband, Harvey Rottenstrich, decided to start his own company in the early ’90s. She could provide legal support. Rottenstrich was an engineer who had worked for a company with a fastener division when he decided to venture out on his own.…