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Member Spotlight - Mark Kersey

February 2016

Each month, the PMA Member Spotlight features an outstanding member sharing his/her insights into the latest industry trends and technologies.



Mark Kersey

PMA is pleased to highlight Mark Kersey, vice president of Boker's, Inc., Minneapolis, MN. Boker's is a contract manufacturer of precision metal stampings, washers, spacers and shims since 1919. Mark joined the company in 1974 and has held many positions throughout the company during his tenure of more than 40 years.

Hear Mark's thoughts about what’s on his wish list for his plant in 2016, what keeps him up at night as a metalformer and more!

Q: What is on your wish list for your shop this year (i.e., a new piece of equipment) and why?
A: We are planning a building addition, our eighth since we moved to our current facility on Snelling Avenue in Minneapolis in 1939. During this process, we will be reorganizing work centers to improve our efficiency and effectiveness. We also are in the process of adding press lines to expand our capabilities and improve our throughput in our stamping and washer departments. In addition, we are remodeling an 80-ft. x 36-ft. space for company meetings, employee training and company dinners.

Q: What do you see as a technology game-changer for metalformers?
A: Servo-press technology, 3D printing, automation, workforce skills gap, vision inspection and IT.

Q: What would be on the agenda of your ideal metalforming conference?
A: Workforce development, innovation, networking, economics, new technologies and management development.

Q: As a metalformer, what keeps you up at night and why?
A: Business culture, teamwork struggles, continuity, impact of government decisions, regulatory and legal issues, and health care.

We all are experiencing our work being impacted by outside forces, which take up significant time and energy. We must stay on top of ever-changing and new government requirements, regulations, environmental issues, HR compliance, municipalities, tax, international trade, manufacturing and other small-business issues.

We also must make time to improve our processes and the way we do our work, without hurting anyone’s feelings, while maintaining our focus on evolving customer requirements (who are also reacting to outside forces) in order to improve our customer service, create jobs and grow the business.

Q: What was the best piece of business advice you were ever given?
A: I have a few thoughts that come to mind:

It’s important to know what you know, but more important to know what you don’t know, and where to go for advice.

You can’t always control everything that happens; you can only control how you react.

Constructive thought plus positive attitude equals freedom from worry.

Q: If you could have a dinner party with three famous people (living or dead), who would you invite?
A: Personally, Jesus Christ. For business reasons, Thomas Edison and W. Edwards Deming.


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