Early in his professional life, Brian Baker set his sights on becoming a chief financial officer, a goal he achieved rapidly due to a sharp financial acumen and a strong Midwestern work ethic. Upon reaching this milestone, Baker realized that his aspirations extended far beyond the numbers – he was driven by a deeper desire to make a lasting impact on customers, employees and the broader community.
After earning his MBA from UW-Whitewater in 1993, Baker joined Sentry Equipment Corp in 1995 as vice president and chief financial officer. In this role, he was instrumental in driving the company’s financial growth and installing its team spirit, taking annual sales from $16 million to an impressive $44 million. With a vision to expand the company’s portfolio, Baker recently concluded the company’s most successful year, with almost $70 million in annual sales and will take Sentry into its 100th year in 2025.
Sentry Equipment is a peerless global provider of sampling and process improvement technologies that protect people and the environment for a safer world. By combining proven engineering, manufacturing, and technical service abilities, Sentry Equipment helps customers maximize their process efficiencies and support large and small operations.
Baker’s passionate advocacy for the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) model has fostered a culture of engagement, creativity and satisfaction among Sentry’s employee-owners. “Baker understands that when employees have a stake in the business, they are more invested in its success, and this belief has driven Sentry to new heights of performance and innovation,” said his staff. “His leadership in promoting ESOP culture on national and regional platforms, through news media and podcasts, further underscores his influence and dedication to creating a thriving and inclusive workplace.”
As a result, Baker has been lauded by BizTimes, Chief Executive magazine, and The Fabricator as being a leading voice for ESOP culture, while his points of view were also sought for a five-part series on American manufacturing for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and as a speaker at the Yale School of Management.
Baker encourages employees to engage inside and outside their work environments and has spearheaded Sentry’s sponsorship of MFG Day (National Manufacturing Day), an annual event every October that takes place on the shop floor at Sentry, where guests have included state senators, state representatives, and local government officials who come together alongside current high school and college students to celebrate modern manufacturing and inspire the next generation of manufacturers.
“I am constantly looking for ways to evolve the business to take advantage of the ebbs and flows of our customers and industries,” said Baker. “I share this enthusiasm by educating our employees on our strategy and direction.”