When Todd Butz needs to reignite his passion, he thinks back to where he came from. “I went to college full-time, but in order to pay for that education, I also worked full-time as a welder at a local manufacturing company,” he said. “I am a firm believer that the harder you work, the luckier you get, and I always use the internal motivation to develop my staff and others to show them that there is a pathway to success no matter what you do as long as you’re willing to put the effort in.”
As the chief financial officer at MEC, Butz joined the firm 16 years ago when revenues were under $100 million annually. Over the next decade, he and the then chief executive officer, executed a growth strategy, not just organically, but through multiple strategic acquisitions. During that time, the company’s annual revenues increased to over $500 million, and shareholder returns increased by over 1000%.
MEC has been the No. 1 fabricator for over a decade due to its technology-based growth strategy and dedication to maintaining the position for years to come. MEC provides full lifecycle solutions for customers, which allows customers and stakeholders to succeed.
When leadership decided to go public in 2019, Butz was at the helm of the IPO process, pitching to investors, working with outside providers, and writing registration statements. The IPO successfully launched in May 2019, leading to an acquisition of another Wisconsin-based company.
Under Butz’s guidance, this year’s annual revenue is expected to be above $600 million, with an EBITDA above $70 million and a total shareholder value increase of 50% since the company’s IPO. “Today, we stand as a company poised to continue to grow and reach $1 billion in annual revenues in the coming years,” said Butz. “I am extremely proud of the team, our accomplishments, and my direct contributions to the success of MEC.”
Butz has served on several non-profit boards over the years, has been nominated for several awards, and has been a part of numerous speaking engagements ranging from ESOP administration to investor conferences. “While I am very proud of the IPO and my other accomplishments, I am most proud of my direct influence on the younger staff that I brought in and developed over the years,” he said. “Our accomplishments are nothing without those individuals. In an ever-changing world, I think the ability to know other people’s perspectives and having adaptive communication skills are key to success.”