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44

BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – May/June 2016

It’s loud but not deafening in the

machine shop at MVO USA, an

Indianapolis-based manufacturer

of components for automobile

steering systems in industries

ranging from automotive and

defense to aerospace and

motorsports.

Something else fills the air: laughter,

solidarity and gratitude. It’s instantly apparent

that amid the technology and precision,

relationships are the most essential element.

“That human aspect is the very most

important key to making it all work,” asserts

Tammy Borden-Dennis, the company’s vivacious

president and CEO. “You can have every

process. You can have every sophisticated

hardware system, but if you don’t have

people working together and engaged and

communicating, none of it will work.”

Machine shop supervisor Dan Crafton,

busy marking parts for a military application,

pauses to share his take.

“We do a lot of motorsports and military

stuff, and production prototypes as well,” he

reveals, noting that he’s been with MVO

USA for 18 years.

Reflecting on how the company has

changed during that time, Crafton observes,

“We’ve had some (internal) relationships that

probably weren’t perfect, so we started doing

a hiring trend toward team players and

people that get along well together. You need

to have the skill set, but we’ve added that

(human aspect) to the requirements. That’s

made a huge difference.”

More about MVO USA:

• Founded: 1985 (in Michigan). Moved to

Indianapolis: 1994. Set up shop at its

current Indianapolis location: 1999

• 50,000-square-foot headquarters houses

two facilities: One is focused on

engineering development and precision

machining; the other revolves around high-

volume automotive production

• Processes one rack blank every three

seconds; produced 1.5 million in 2015

• Sole supplier of the steering system for the

Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM)

racing series. Also supplies technology to

Formula One racing, IndyCar Series, FIA

World Rally Championship and more.

In the driver’s seat

Borden-Dennis launched her career at

MVO USA in 1997 as an administrative assistant.

She subsequently tackled positions in areas

such as human resources (a passion) before

assuming her current role in August 2013.

She’s quick to point out that MVO

USA’s victories – on and off the track – are a

testament to its 17 employees.

“We wouldn’t be able to accomplish what

we do without their skills and knowledge,”

Borden-Dennis stresses. “We (members of

the leadership team) make the decisions of

where we want to go, but they’re the ones who

are really putting it into action. They know

I’m going to listen to them. If they have a

different opinion, we can talk and decide,

‘What’s the best path?’ Sometimes it might

be mine, but sometimes it’s theirs as well.”

Marie Christian, finance and administration

manager, appreciates the hands-off philosophy.

“We’re not a micromanaged environment,”

she remarks. “We’re kind of left to get on

with our work.”

David Nguyen, a 30-year veteran,

seconds that.

“The company gives us ownership in what

we do and we’re proud of that because when

you have the ownership, that means you have to

take care of everything,” he emphasizes. “It’s not

the company’s products – it’s your products.”

He adds a heartfelt sentiment that clearly

touches Borden-Dennis: “We’re not a team;

we’re a family.”

Borden-Dennis sheds light on working in

a predominantly male industry (females comprise

just 17% of the workforce at MVO USA).

“It was challenging early in my career

here, but since I’ve been put in this position,

I’ve gotten nothing but respect from the

staff,” she notes. “I think it’s just a mirror of

what’s been given to them.”

MVO USA

Operating as a Well-Oiled Machine

By Symone C. Skrzycki

2016 NEWCOMER

Production team lead Bill Campbell basks in the glory of victory after winning a pumpkin-carving contest.