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Thanks to our show CEO Series, we sit down with some of the world’s most innovative and inspiring business leaders to gain insight into what it takes to start, grow and sustain a meaningful business. is completed.
In this episode, we travel to Ozinga, a powerhouse of concrete and building materials. They’re based in Chicago, and if you live in the area, you’re probably familiar with their iconic red and white truck. The company has about 2,500 employees, and I had a great chat with Marty Ozinga, his fourth generation CEO of this 95-year-old company, who oversees all of them.
Below are some highlights from that conversation, edited for length and clarity. Watch the entire video above.
his approach to leadership
“People don’t work for you, they work with you. That’s how I was coached and taught. We all need each other. We all have different roles and responsibilities, but we all work together.”
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Ozinga’s 95 year history
“Our family came from the Netherlands in 1893 when the World’s Fair was held here in Chicago. The family was always in the shipping business, and in 1928, my great-grandfather was born in Cook County during Prohibition. He was working for the sheriff’s office, dealing with crime. He had five kids at home, all about the dangers of Al Capone and all that, and he decided, “I don’t want to talk to Al Capone anymore.” I don’t want to fight.” So he started a coal distribution business. Around 1950, ready-mixed concrete became the disruptive technology of the era. Ready-mixed concrete means that the ready-mixed concrete is processed in batches and delivered, rather than being shipped from a central factory. Thus, Ozinga became one of the first ready-mix providers in the region. ”
Related: This entrepreneur started making short videos to share her passion for cooking. Now, her food company has become a global giant.
aboard their iconic truck
“We’ve supplied concrete to Chicago’s iconic landmarks like Soldier Field and Wrigley Field, so it’s fun to be associated with places like that. “They’re really proud of their Dutch stripes. I think it’s a combination of:” “This keen marketing sense was also a national pride. But they’re Dutch and they’re very frugal. , there’s also a joke that it was two paint buckets in the garage. So I like both stories.”
power of peace
“Our dispatch office is the nerve center of our business. This is where all our customer orders come in and where we dispatch our trucks. Our office is intentionally very quiet. We want our office to be as quiet and peaceful as possible. We’re able to do that because historically, temp offices are very intense, chaotic, noisy, crazy places.”
Building and maintaining a legacy
“My family has an emotional connection to this company. We are truly fortunate to be embedded in communities across the Midwest. We are committed to our employees and customers, and we look forward to the next 100 years.” “We want to be here.” “For years and more. That’s our intention. And we need to change so we don’t fall into disarray, die or go out of business. There are some things we shouldn’t intervene in. Our fundamental principles are the foundation of who we are.’ And why we do things like this should never change. ”
Related: How Vivid Seats CEO’s personal passion drives business success
Visit our CEO Series archive to see more profiles of innovative and influential leaders.
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