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.