Episode 3: Peter Hungerford - 25 Years in Family Business to VP of Manufacturing Services

Peter Hungerford is the Vice President of Manufacturing Services at The Right Place and MMTC West in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Before that, he spent 25 years in a family automotive business.

In this episode, Peter talks about what he learned in 25 years of family business, why partnerships only work when everybody wins, and how he can read a company's culture just by walking the floor.

What We Cover

• Starting in technology and bringing a skill beyond the family name
• Why it took 15 years to truly learn the auto business
• Strategy without culture sits on a shelf
• "A company has to earn the right every day to have employees"
• How to read culture by walking a manufacturing floor
• The lettuce in your teeth test - why leaders need honest feedback
• Family business succession - why shortcutting the next generation fails
• The Family Business Alliance and moderating next gen groups
• Burnout, taking a gap year, and refinding yourself as just Peter
• Learn from the past, live in the moment, embrace whatever comes

About The Right Place & MMTC

The Right Place is a regional economic development organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan focused on attracting and retaining businesses. MMTC (Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center) helps manufacturing companies diversify and grow through consulting and technical services.

Connect

• The Pivot Group Network
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