SmartCEO magazine’s 2016 Circle of Awards program recognizes the region’s most accomplished CEOs for business excellence in distinct categories.  Companies are nominated from all sizes and industry categories, public and private.  Finalists will be profiled in the November/December issue of SmartCEO magazine and celebrated at an awards reception on November 9, 2016.

This recognition occurs annually in the Philadelphia and Greater Baltimore markets.  A finalist this year is Robert Shumoski, President of Infiana USA, Inc., located in Malvern, Pennsylvania.  Congratulations to Robert and the entire Infiana USA team who have been active members of the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties (MACC/DC).

The award criteria includes companies that generate a minimum of $5 million in annual revenue, the applicant must be in a top leadership position for at least one year, and the company must provide a detailed and tangible account of its industry impact, market leadership and community involvement.  Infiana is competing in the Manufacturing/Supply Chain category.

Infiana USA is one of three divisions of the Infiana Group, with the USA Headquarters located in Malvern, Pennsylvania.  Infiana USA produces engineered and innovative films for consumer and industrial markets which are purchased in nine countries and four continents.

The Malvern Division has approximately 100 employees who supply silicone coated release film, as well as non-siliconized, smooth and embossed films for Building and Construction, Pressure Sensitive and Composite markets.

A key to the organizations success is Infiana Group’s Collaborate + Innovate Strategy.  In order to accomplish their strategy, Infiana staff meet with buyers, designers, engineers, and technical experts of the product their liners are used in.  Consequently, this collaborative approach enables Infiana to supply high value solutions through their product.

A second key to the company’s success has been the introduction of business excellence strategy.  As a result, a combined reduction in costs and increased productivity has contributed to the company becoming a market leader.

Since becoming a “stand alone” company in 2015, Infiana USA has invested time and human resources to become an active community partner.  In addition to Bob Shumoski, other members of the Infiana leadership team have become active in the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties (MACC/DC) through the bi-monthly partnership meetings, networking events, regional workshops, and for 2016-17, a manufacturing partner with eighth grade students from an area middle school to participate in a student video competition, “What’s So Cool About Manufacturing.”

The project will result in a two to two and a half video that portrays to current and future opportunities for careers within Infiana. The project is helping the regional and statewide effort to create student, parental, educator and community awareness of STEM and Advanced Manufacturing careers in Chester County and the region.

The student videos will be posted on a website in February for “American Idol” style voting, followed by an awards ceremony on March 14^th at West Chester University.  Student teams will receive recognition for a number of technical categories, as well as the team that receives the largest number of votes – the Grand Prize.

Bob and his staff also participated in Manufest 2016, held in neighboring Montgomery County last spring, which provided high school students, parents and educators the opportunity to meet manufacturing representatives and learn about the exciting career opportunities in manufacturing.

In addition to the outreach to youth, Bob also spoke at the 2015 Manufacturing Summit of Greater Philadelphia on the topic of “organizational growth”, elaborating upon the successes achieved at Infiana.  His philosophy includes the “sharing success and failures with each other, ultimately teaching and learning from each other.”

Bob is member of the Delaware Valley Industrial Valley Resource Center (DVIRC) Executive Committee for Chester County as well as a member of the Chester County Economic Development Council.

Bob models and reinforces the companies “excellence mantra” with his believe that “empowering and engaging our employees, will not only help Infiana effectively grow but we can remain an industry leader for years to come.  It is bringing collaboration and innovation to life and making the employee a very integral part of the solution.”

“It is people who provide innovative solutions and if employees are in a position to succeed, the power of one becomes a power of a group….Or a power of Infiana.”

Bob, a native of the area, is an accomplished business professional with strong leadership skills and experience in finance, operations and business management.  He began his career as a cost accountant while attending college.  He earned an undergraduate degree from Rider University and a MBA from Eastern University.

Throughout his career, he has held positions of increasing responsibilities including: Cost Accounting Management, Director of Finance, Director of Operations and Finance, CFO, and General Manager among varying industries and start-ups.  He has also gained experience through assignments in Europe and South America.

Bob was the General Manager of the Malvern facility when it was part of Hutamaki when it was sold to Deutsche Beteiligungs AG, a private equity company located in Frankford, Germany, in December 2014.  Bob has served as the President of Infiana USA since the acquisition by DBHD.

As a result of Bob’s leadership, he has also been selected as a finalist for the MARCUM Innovator of the Year Award. This award recognizes innovators in five industries: Business Services; Biotechnology/Healthcare; Manufacturing; Real Estate, and Technology.  The award is also sponsored by SmartCEO magazine.

The criteria in manufacturing includes optimizing facilities; practices and uses of technology, robotics or materials; employee safety and health innovations; manufacturing technology and software for tracking; monitoring and logistics.

Two of Bob’s favorite Ben Franklin quotes provide insight to his leadership philosophy.

“When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”

“Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I remember.  Involve me and I learn.”