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The Leadership Circle
INVESTING in the
REGION
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The RCGA’s
Leadership Circle creates added membership value by providing a
unique and invigorating forum to connect executives of small, medium
and large companies with each other and to the broad base of influential
leaders in the St. Louis region.
Solomon
Akinduro
Afram Corporation
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"Our staff
is like a small United Nations,” according to Solomon Akinduro,
president and founder of AFRAM Corporation, a leading St. Louis
engineering design and construction management firm. “We have Asians,
Russians and many people from a variety of backgrounds.”
AFRAM is a leading local minority firm and was recently awarded
the Diverse Universe Award for Outstanding Minority Design Firm
for 2001 by the St. Louis Metropolitan Sewer District.
Akinduro attributes his company’s growth to their ability to think
big dreams and believe that the sky is the limit. “Recently we were
named prime contractor on a large project and, interestingly, one
of the subcontractors is a large international firm,” Akinduro says.
“This would never have happened without thinking outside-the-box.”
The company’s operational philosophy is no surprise to those who
know Akinduro. A minister who immigrated from Nigeria with the help
of his church, he completed his master’s degree in Construction
Management at Washington University and has more than 25 years of
international design and construction experience.
“We treat people the way we want to be treated and we make sure
each project is completed in the most efficient and cost-effective
method possible,” Akinduro says. “This allows us to not only deliver
outstanding customer service, but exceed our clients’ expectations
as well.” Founded in 1997 and headquartered in St. Louis, AFRAM
has satellite offices in Chicago and Memphis and is one of the fastest
growing construction management and engineering design firms in
the Midwest. The company’s sales are $6 million-plus; revenues doubled
in 2000 and again in 2001; and based on forecasts, AFRAM is expecting
substantial growth in the near future.
Success such as this definitely impacts the overall business climate
of St. Louis because AFRAM hires St. Louis companies whenever possible
to execute projects. Some of AFRAM’s local high-profile projects
include Lambert–St. Louis International Airport, the Metropolitan
Sewer District, The City of St. Louis, St. Louis City Library, and
the city of University City.
Leadership Circle Insights
What would most people be surprised to find out about your business
or company?
Kay Berry
KBK Financial
“Most people are surprised that factoring isn’t painful,
nor is it as expensive as they think. Simply put, factors
are an economic tool used to buy accounts receivables at
discounts and provide businesses with economic growth. People
are surprised that loan processing at KBK is a simpler procedure
than they have experienced at traditional banks.” Kay
Berry, Senior Marketing Executive, KBK Financial
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C. Ray Holman
Tyco/Healthcare/Mallinckrodt
“Many people continue to think of the company as the old Mallinckrodt
Chemical Works. Mallinckrodt is not a chemical company! During the
’90s we transformed the company from a mini-conglomerate to one
sharply focused on healthcare. We make bulk and dosage pharmaceuticals
used mostly for pain relief; contrast media and other imaging agents
used to diagnose disease and other abnormalities; and respiratory
equipment and disposables used for life support, to monitor oxygen
levels or enhance breathing in the hospital and the home as well.”
C. Ray Holman, Chairman of the Board, Tyco/Healthcare/Mallinckrodt
Sandi Bouckley
Daimler Chrysler Corp.
Assembly South
“Many people would be surprised to learn how incredibly involved
our employees are with charitable organizations and environmental
protection efforts within our community. We are a group of people
dedicated to leaving our community a little better by our having
done business here.” Sandi Bouckley, Plant Manager, DaimlerChrysler
Corp. Assembly South
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