When Nicole Karnbach was in her senior year at Northern Arizona University, completing a degree in Business Administration, a professor presented her with an internship opportunity.
It was with Machine Solutions in Flagstaff, Arizona. Machine Solutions provides advanced equipment and services for the medical device, biopharmaceutical, and blood- and plasma-collection industries. If you know someone with a catheter or aortic stent, it may have been produced on a Machine Solutions machine. Machine Solutions was founded in 1999 and became part of BW Forsyth Partners, Barry-Wehmiller’s investment arm, in 2011.
At first, Nicole admits, she didn’t know much about the company. But during her research, she discovered that a classmate from an accounting class was a team member at Machine Solutions, so she decided to talk to him about his firsthand experience.
“And so, I actually talked to him, and he just expressed just that the people here were caring, that you truly mattered and that it was important for him to be at a place that truly, actually cared about him,” said Nicole.
His testament to the company inspired her to apply for the internship position, and she quickly realized that everything he said was true to her as well. When she was offered a full-time position at the end of her internship, she had no doubts about accepting it, not just because she felt that the work she was doing was valuable, but because she felt valued as a person.
“So, one thing that makes me want to keep coming back, well, we build manufacturing machines that help develop life-saving medical devices,” said Nicole. “So, I think that just speaks for itself and is pretty rewarding.”
When it became known that Machine Solutions was going to become a part of Barry-Wehmiller, Nicole was worried that the family values of her company would go away, just as she was starting a family of her own.
“Our previous owners were so awesome, very family-oriented, and so we didn't really know what the future held for us,” said Nicole. “And then once Barry-Wehmiller came in, and they expressed those same values and cared about their people and came down and talked to us about their culture, and was very similar to what it was previously, it was exciting for us.”
Change can be daunting for anyone, but we don’t view acquisitions as a means to control — we view them as an extension of our family. We don’t believe in acquiring companies; we believe in adopting them.
“I can remember actually when Bob Chapman came out here,” said Nicole. “And he spoke to us and told us that these people under your care, they're moms, they’re dads, they’re children. I have children of my own. And he said that when they go home, at the end of the day, after a long day of work, you have to send them home happy and you have to send them home feeling fulfilled in that they've accomplished something.”
Those words from Bob have stayed with her nearly 15 years later, and she embodies Truly Human Leadership as she leads the five team members in her span of care.
“So, my team is very special to me — my heart and soul of this company,” said Nicole. “… They drive everything. And I'm so proud to be their leader. I'm so proud of each and every one of them. They're all different, unique and bring different skills and tasks to our team, to you.”
Nicole doesn’t view those she leads as numbers on a spreadsheet or functions for profit, but as individuals with unique feelings, experiences and talents — whole beings who are much more than their job titles.
After all, we measure success not by shareholder value, but by the way we touch the lives of people.
“Without them, the business would really be nothing,” said Nicole.
Better Work. Better World. is a video series designed to shine a
light on team members throughout the global Barry-Wehmiller
organization. Watch the video through the link above to hear more.