PROFILE By Lou Sorendo
Michelle Shatrau Third-generation owner of N.E.T. & Die, Inc. returns to familiar territory in Fulton
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ichelle Shatrau has come full circle. After pursuing several career opportunities elsewhere, Shatrau has returned to her hometown of Fulton to take over as CEO and president of the family business — N.E.T. & Die, Inc. She succeeds her father, Richard, in the position. She grew up in her father’s machine shop and operated equipment when she was in high school and college. “My father has built a robust company over the last 40 years with a niche that is hard to develop in this competitive environment,” she said. “I am very proud to be taking over what he has built.” “My dad has some pretty big shoes to fill. He is a true machinist and has been for over 50 years,” she said. “While I will never be the machinist he is, my strengths and skills are growing a profitable company that we can all be proud to be a part of. “It makes me sad to think about a time when my dad won’t be part of N.E.T., but I’m preparing myself for that day, both professionally and personally.” Shatrau’s educational background opened up many doors during her career. Prior to becoming the leader at N.E.T. & Die, Inc., she spent 20 years with medium and large manufacturing corporations in a variety of disciplines and functions, including aerospace, hand tools and household appliances. She spent more than seven years working for the Whirlpool Corporation as a target costing project manager, North American regional manager-Design for Value and project manager. Prior to that, she began her career working as a manufacturing engineer for Pratt & Whitney in Middletown, Connecticut. In 2003, she became manufacturing supervisor at Danaher Corporation in Gastonia, North Carolina. She then was a value stream manager at Gast Manufacturing in Benton 18
Harbor, Michigan. Her engineering degree gave her the foundation to be a critical thinker and a team player. “I believe these are two critical skills anyone needs to have to be successful in most careers, she said.” “While my succession [at N.E.T. & Die] was never in the plan until three years ago, I believe not having a plan was the best thing that could have happened,” she said. “I’ve been a part of great operations and not-so-great operations. I’ve had amazing leaders and some leaders that I’d rather forget,” she said. “I have learned from each and every experience, and bring all the best practices back to N.E.T. “I never imagined my career path would have ended up being the best training program for running a business, but it has.” Harry Shatrau established N.E.T. & Die, Inc. in 1966, providing manufacturing for maintenance of customers’ machinery as well as direct manufacturing support for many original equipment manufacturers. Beginning in 1981, his three children, Richard, Helena and Bob — continued the business operation and expanded the business and services to its customers. To improve manufacturing operations, N.E.T. & Die, Inc. will be moving operations into a new 60,000-squarefoot building slated to open in 2022.
option for my career than the path I had been on.” However, Michelle Shatrau saw it differently. “While I don’t disagree this is a fierce business, I saw all the opportunities and potential for the company,” she said. “I planted the seed and at the end of 2018, we made the decision that I would succeed in running the company.” Shatrau brings strengths and a set of skills to the table as the leader at N.E.T. & Die, Inc. that include tenacity and big picture thinking. She embraces lean leadership, and sets the vision, develops the culture and measures the success of the company. “Lean leadership is a style of lead-
Changes
Her father was 75 when the pair started talking about what they were going to do with the business. “He was ready to retire and we had no plan. I stepped in to help evaluate our options back in 2018,” she said. “Owning and operating a job shop is tough and my father didn’t see that as a better OSWEGO COUNTY BUSINESS
DECEMBER 2020 / JANUARY 2021
