Ted Wozniak “took five” with MMA member company First American Manufacturing Finance’s Siyani Fullerton. Ted recently joined Convivial Brands as Vice President of Finance and during the interview reflected on the role of technology in manufacturing, the importance of innovation, and his career so far, including his tenure at HDT Automotive Services as Director of Finance.

Question from First American’s Siyani Fullerton: Ted, thank you for joining us! We’ve worked with each other for a while now but to start off, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into manufacturing?

Ted Wozniak: Of course. I grew up in West Michigan which was a hot spot for automotive supplier development. My dad worked for one of those companies at the time called Prince Corporation. That’s how I got my start. I was only 15 and didn’t even have my license yet, so I used to drive in every day with my dad. They were a very fast-growing company and had an emphasis on technology. I think of that experience as sort of a luxury because being around that mindset from a very young age set me up to grow quickly alongside the business.

Wozniak: Later in my career I started working with some of their suppliers who were dealing with bankruptcy issues. That took me down a very different path which eventually led to me setting up international divisions in Mexico and the UK for finance, and our first remote ERP system.

Fullerton: I know you got your degree in accounting and went on to earn your MBA a little later. How did that shape your approach to the rest of your career?

Wozniak: When I got my degree in accounting, I did not pursue becoming a CPA because of the opportunities I saw in other areas of the business. After Prince, I had a variety of roles in different industries ranging from Assistant GM to CFO. I always stayed very connected to the financial performance of the company no matter where I was. I selected the Notre Dame program for my MBA because it was targeted at more “seasoned professionals” rather than new graduates. I was in my late 20s and still the youngest person in the class. Their curriculum was designed to set you up with a toolbox to take your career to the next level and that’s what I was looking for. It was a lot of work. You essentially have 2 jobs while you go through it. In the end though, I found it to be a really great experience and got so much out of it.

Fullerton: That hard work definitely pays off. You’ve shared with me your passion for striking the balance between finance and operations. Do you think that has also driven your leadership style and the way you run your teams today?

Wozniak: Yes. In my mid-career, that wealth of experiences I had early on became almost a frustration for me. I thought very broadly and that was sometimes met with a lot of resistance. It felt like other people had blinders on and were not really seeing the big picture. Now, as a more mature leader, I’ve learned to quickly turn that frustration into opportunity. When I see people that have that ability to think inventively, I tap them and give them more opportunities to do so. I view business as a playground and believe you can do whatever you put your mind to. Looking back, there were always managers and leaders who recognized this skill in me and gave me opportunity along the way. Now that the roles have reversed, I try to keep an eye out for those types of people as well and do the same for them.

Fullerton: That creativity can be very valuable in an industry that seems to always be evolving and especially at HDT where you have a unique origin story. Would you mind outlining that?

Wozniak: It is unique, and so is how I got started here! When I came to HDT I had been consulting and transitioning out of my previous role. I got a call that this newly formed entity needed to urgently fill a role for some treasury work. A few days later, I was on the job and have been here ever since.

The entity formed from merging two organizations: Dynamic Technologies and Huron, Inc. This combination created a vast geographic footprint and benefited the companies’ existing relationships. Now we have a global platform and product is our calling card. We’ve certainly changed a lot since I started right near the beginning of this venture, but all very positively.

Fullerton: It’s a journey, for sure. Speaking of, throughout our work together I know there have been investments in advancements like robotics and automation. Physical labor is not going away, but I’m curious what your take is on the right mix of technology in manufacturing?

Wozniak: You know, it is an interesting question that also takes me back to my early years. Being a part of a leading-edge company where we were always trying new things and improving processes stuck with me. I have seen the ebbs and flows. Some companies go all-in, and some stay away from it. I don’t have to tell you which are still around today. It is definitely an equilibrium that you’re constantly looking for with the right blend of labor and technology.

The other element at play is, good or bad, the last few years have had a big impact on manufacturing in North America. All of the sudden, a lot of companies woke up and said, “We do need to have a good manufacturing base here”. When you consider everything that the country has been through with the pandemic, and that the labor markets in the US, Canada, and Mexico are extremely tight, I think the next 3 to 6 months will be very telling for a lot of organizations.

Specifically, in automotive, I think it will pick back up again because of the technological shifts that are already underway. Electric vehicles and the parts that go into those new models are a good example. For us specifically, we are thinking about how our technology fits the current architecture, and that new arena as well. How can we deploy our technologies to allow us to make new products for companies we don’t already work with? How can we continue to be ready for what’s next?

Fullerton: That kind of thinking will surely carry you into the next phase of your growth. And, Ted, that’s five! Thank you for taking the time to share your perspective and experience with us.

Wozniak: Wonderful. You’re welcome, Siyani.

To learn more about MMA member company First American Manufacturing Finance, visit: faef.com/manufacturing