TMA member Ace Metal Crafts Company announced leadership changes

BENSENVILLE, Ill. – Ace Metal Crafts Company, a leader in stainless steel machining and fabricating, is pleased to announce four changes in leadership – from the company’s vice presidency to chief financial officer.

Angela Pitzo assumed the role of Vice President of Manufacturing.

Upon graduating from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science degree, Angela joined ACE in 2011 in the role of Buyer within ACE’s purchasing department. As a third generation ACE team member, Angela understood the value of lean manufacturing and ACE’s commitment to the fabrication and value engineering of stainless steel components.

Next, Angela fully supported ACE operations as Value Stream Leader, serving top accounts and developing teams. Her contributions were integral in the process of ACE being selected by Toyota Motor Company’s TSSC division in 2015 to advise on continuous improvement initiatives. The same year, she earned her MBA, Business Administration and Management degree from Elmhurst College. In 2018, her promotion to Operations Leader provided the opportunity for Angela to focus on continuous improvement, eliminating waste, and strategic team development.

Now, as ACE moves into another period of expansion with the opening of a second location, new leadership initiatives, and ongoing innovation, Angela has been promoted to Vice President of Manufacturing. In this role, she continues her commitment to the ACE trust-based culture–and encourages all team members to be their authentic selves. Angela’s dedication to the ACE legacy is a testament to her career journey thus far, and is an indication of her continued drive for the prosperity and growth of Ace Metal Crafts Company.

Gino Rigitano assumed the role of Vice President of Operations – Machining.

With over seventeen years working in manufacturing, engineering, and product marketing, Gino’s strategic thinking, strong leadership, and insight into small business problem solving make him uniquely qualified for his new role as VP Operations – Machining at Ace Metal Crafts Company. Gino’s extensive experience with company-wide and cross-departmental lean and continuous improvements will help ACE grow the machining business as well as provide customers with the quality support the company is known for. In this new role, Gino will oversee Operations of ACE’s machining from production, to the supply chain, to customer service.

Jeff Szczupaj assumed the role of Sales Manager.

An integral member of the ACE team for 11 years, Jeff’s in-depth knowledge of Ace Metal Crafts Company’s culture and sales processes uniquely qualify him to lead the Sales Team. During his time with ACE, Jeff has emphasized matching customer needs to the company’s strengths, building a relationship between ACE and the customer rather than focusing on transactional sales. These customer relationships have been an essential part of ACE’s success over the last 60 years. As the Sales Manager, Jeff will coach and develop Ace Metals Crafts Company’s next team of account managers, imparting on them the industry knowledge and customer-first approach to help ACE continue to sustainably grow.

Gary Rihani assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer.

Gary first joined ACE in 2003 as an accountant until his promotion to CFO in 2011, a position he held through 2016. As he returns to Ace Metal Crafts Company as CFO, Gary continues to support ACE’s commitment to teamwork, openness, and accountability. With expertise in GAAP, ERP software, and other relevant technology, Gary is uniquely prepared to help build upon the strong foundation ACE has established to accommodate future growth.

Ace Metal Crafts Company is a leading Chicagoland provider of fabrication and machining of stainless steel components. They have over 60 years of experience serving industry OEMs in food and pharmaceutical processing, packaging and environmental industries.

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Pinterest