Meet Acme’s Leadership Team

Fritz is a fourth-generation leader of Acme Manufacturing who takes pride in continuing Acme’s legacy, started by his great-grandfather in 1910. As CEO, Carlson is an involved team member. He works on the business as a visionary, strategist, and guide who is looking toward the future of Acme’s business and industry. As President, he works in the business as the chief relationship-builder, problem-solver and innovator. Carlson is an expert in automation, robotics, metal finishing, and material removal; his expertise takes him across the globe to represent the industry and Acme’s success. Leading without boundaries, Carlson is always thinking of new approaches to tackling challenges in the industry while ensuring that Acme continues to lead the industry by example.

Tom leads all company financial endeavors and manages the company’s financial assets. Within this role, McKaig focuses his attention on capital improvements, major construction projects, location changes, downsizings, hirings, contract negotiations, and international business dealings (like forming a foreign entity). McKaig draws on his wealth of accounting experience as Acme’s controller to ensure Acme’s financial stability. Serving as a key leader, McKaig uses his unique financial perspective to discuss financial strategy and feasibility when helping to shape the future of the company. Through the lens of international finance, he contributes to the vision, mission, and strategy of Acme’s future.

Jack is an advocate for Acme success. He believes in his global team and in the capability of each team member. Karagozian and his team work with their clients to address unique challenges with creative solutions and exceed expectations. As the longest tenured Acme employee, Karagozian draws on his significant experience to solve problems and, most importantly, build the right team for each challenge. His office frequently becomes the hub of brainstorming sessions and innovative solutions. In his role as a mentor, Karagozian has helped many talented Acme employees to grow within the company. As a leader, Karagozian contributes to the global vision, mission, and strategy of Acme’s future.

Mike ensures that customers have the components they need to continue operating their automated systems effectively and efficiently. He manages his team’s commitment to keep factories running all over the world; his department consistently receives, repairs, and ships essential Acme machine components across the globe. When a customer has a new opportunity or needs to resolve a problem, Lamb and his team innovate and create solutions. Drawing on his experience as a field technician and robotic programmer, Lamb possesses an intricate understanding of how Acme’s systems function, allowing him to problem-solve with high efficiency. As a leader, he discusses customer needs and creates plans to solve client problems.

Tuan is a problem-solver; he collaborates with Acme engineers and programmers to help them research, diagnose, and develop solutions for customers. He works closely with sales engineers to create visual sales presentations. Tran helps customers visualize the entire automation solution process, from the rough outline phases to the final production build, helping Acme engineers solve the right problem in the right way the first time. Drawing on his previous experience as Robotic Simulation Engineer, where he designed and programmed simulations to help visualize what Acme’s robotic machines would do, Tran communicates technical details and features to customers, while helping to create the customer’s solution with an engineering team.

John is a dynamic, innovative, marketing leader with a robust background in communications, storytelling, digital transformation and integrating marketing into overall strategic planning. As a team player, John is globally involved in all aspects of the Acme business with respect to marketing. John is striving to build the Acme brand and create exposure in the new digital business environment that has become so critical to Acme’s success.

Kyle produces machines with integrated robotics that finish metal surfaces. His goal is to move robotic machines from the manufacturing floor to customers so they can utilize the benefits of automation quickly. Manke is a problem-solver, creating innovative solutions to address customer challenges by collaborating with various Acme teams and leaders while managing machinists, stock handlers, assembly, wiring, and shipping. He also designs, produces, and tinkers, utilizing his mechanical engineering background to guide plant operations smoothly. During his time with Acme, Manke has worked at the beginning of the process doing design work, to the end, where the final machine ships to the customer.

Ryan leads a team of engineers who create software and programming, which allows a robot to operate. Kruger’s team designs custom software to meet each customer’s needs, and then programs those robots to finish metal components. On location to ensure proper installation, Kruger’s team continues to service the machines, remaining available for additional training and problem-solving. Along with managing a team of programmers, Kruger also coordinates projects, ensuring that his team meets deadlines and quality control standards. As the leader of Acme’s controls team, Kruger is continually looking for opportunities to modernize and standardize Acme systems. An avid outdoorsman and family man, Kruger thrives on Acme’s familial culture, bringing this culture to his customers; creating trust between his team and his customers.

Jack Fisher, the Strategic Business Development Manager at Acme Manufacturing, is a proven sales leader in robotics and automation with a robust technical background. Jack is focused on understanding the needs of manufacturers to develop turnkey robotic material removal solutions. With a history of top-ranking sales and adaptive market transitions, he brings a wealth of experience from roles at Genesis Systems Group and FANUC Robotics America. Jack holds a Bachelor’s in Welding Engineering from Ohio State University and is a fitness enthusiast committed to family and lifelong learning.

For over 30 years, Bob has contributed his engineering expertise to Acme in a variety of roles. As product manager, Manetz heads our centerless grinding offerings and has helped develop new and innovative ways to automate grinding systems. Always striving to exceed customer’s requirements for stock removal, throughput speed, and surface finish, all in a single-pass operation. Working closely with engineering and customers alike, Manetz drives results to achieve clear customer communication and ensure that projects exceed customer expectations.

Jon guides clients through the sales process of their new Acme systems. After his clients have purchased their Acme system, Person remains with the client to ensure that the solution works as the customer intended, following the customer’s solution through the installation process and beyond. Persons began his career with Acme as a programmer, where he cultivated an intricate understanding of Acme system programs. As a sales representative, Person draws on his previous experience while leveraging Acme’s 110+ years of metal finishing expertise to dissect problems and create innovative solutions. He makes sure that each customer’s machines are doing what the customer needs them to do, drawing from his own wealth of experience and the knowledge of his team.

Even though Joe officially retired in 2020 after a 46-year career with Acme, his leadership and expertise was too valuable to keep him away for long. He provides Acme’s leadership team with experienced assistance to support, innovate, and problem-solve. Saad gives Acme wisdom to continue to help their clients and find cost-saving automation solutions. He provides perspective based on decades of experience to energize various Acme teams, manages existing projects, and discovers new opportunities for Acme to pursue. His travel to over 25 countries has produced quality customer relationships built on trust and loyalty. As Saad has moved into his role as Senior Advisor, he has been able to mentor rising leaders, providing wisdom and experience necessary to give a new generation of leaders unlimited success.