John Griffin, CEO of Forge Tech Inc., provider of the patented portable friction forge bonding technology, is quite pleased with the positive response Forge Tech’s process has received from the industry. He is enthusiastic about the potential for the company’s technologies to improve safety and reliability and is hoping to instill a strong company culture that generates emotional rewards and personal satisfaction.
BIC Magazine recently visited with Griffin to learn more about him, Forge Tech and his plans to expand the company’s reach.
Q: What led to your position at Forge Tech?
A: During the past 30 years, I have held leadership positions within several very successful energy related operational and service firms, including upstream, midstream and downstream. That experience gave me opportunity to acquire a broad range of skills ideally suited for launching and managing a young, innovative technology and service company like Forge Tech. So, as one of its founding investors, it was a very natural fit for me to take on the CEO role, and I am very grateful to all of our employees and stakeholders for supporting me in that position.
Q: What is the biggest news at Forge Tech right now?
A: We are very excited, and even a bit astounded, by the early, enthusiastic acceptance of our technologies by the industry. When we first launched Forge Tech, we knew new technology introductions can often be slow and gaining early adoption is very critical to a young company’s long-term success. We are very delighted to say we quickly acquired more than 16 customer master service agreements (MSAs) with top tier companies, which is an almost unheard of number of MSAs for a young company like Forge Tech.
Q: What is the most important part of your position?
A: I guess if I had to identify just one area, it would be sharing my optimism and enthusiasm for the wide potential our technologies have to significantly improve the safety and reliability of on-stream mechanical repairs throughout industry. For me, the most important role I have is striving to instill that same vision throughout our organization and guide our daily activities toward converting that common vision into practical operational benefits for our customers.
Q: What are your goals for your position?
A: As every CEO knows, the position requires a wide range of goals in virtually every area of the company. Currently, though, I have identified at the top of my list a personal goal of establishing clear moral and ethical values and practices into our human resources and training. I am currently focusing very sharply on creating, identifying and instilling a company culture that institutes a clear pathway that can lead and govern our company owners and employees to think, feel and act in a safe, honest, respectful and ethical manner, and one which results not just in financial success but generates emotional rewards and personal satisfaction for all those involved.
The initial product and service offerings Forge Tech is marketing are focused on the energy industry, but we have identified more than 35 unique product applications in five different major industries. Our plans are to springboard off our early accomplishments in the energy industry and use this momentum to expand and penetrate other markets.
Q: How do you maintain a good work/home life balance?
A: I recently experienced some medical issues that gave me pause and reason to reflect on that balance. As with anyone who has gone through such a life phase or event, it changed many of my priorities and gave me a much better perspective on what is really important to maintaining a good balance. Let’s just say I’m still working on it.
For more information, visit www.forgetechinc.com or call (888) 854-8414.
