David Savastano, Editor07.31.18
In talking with colleagues of Jim Leitch, the Braden Sutphin CEO and current president of NAPIM is an ideal choice for this year’s Pioneer Award.
Jim Krost, chairman of the board for Braden Sutphin Ink, said that Leitch is one of a kind.
“I’ve known him for 25 years,” Krost continued. “He is unique in adhering to the old order and the niceties of relationships. He writes a personal letter anytime anyone does anything nice for him. He has a competitive nature. It is tough times in a shrinking industry, and Jim has always rallied the troops in a very positive way. He is very employee oriented, and they are uppermost in his mind. He is a company man in every respect, very loyal to his employees.”
“Jim is a very good guy, a strong family-oriented person, very involved in day-to-day activities of the company and excellent with customers,” said Braden Sutphin’s technical director. “He is very active in the business and in different printing organizations. I don’t know how he finds the time to do all the things he does.”
“Jim is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen,” noted Cal Sutphin Jr., Braden Sutphin’s distribution manager. “I often get emails from Jim up to 11:30 at night. He is always there to remember your name and talk to you, whether you are sweeping the floors or are a 30-year veteran.”
“He is a very hard-working kid, a great human being,” said Cal Sutphin Sr. “He goes to work with two briefcases.”
Leitch initially passed on joining the family business, joining Parker-Hannifin Corporation. When Ted Zelek, Braden Sutphin’s CEO, retired in 1988, the company reached out to Leitch to join as controller. Soon after, he was named CEO.
“In 1988, I was working at Parker-Hannifin Corporation when Tom McManamon, who was Braden Sutphin’s chairman of the board, called me to determine if I would be interested in interviewing for the controller position,” Leitch recalled. “I decided to interview because I knew it would be a challenge to me professionally and it allowed me to continue living in Cleveland where both my wife’s family and our family lived, so I interviewed and was hired in January 1989.”
Leitch pointed to a wide range of highlights, from his days before Braden Sutphin and to his career with Braden Sutphin, as well as being a member of NAPIM’s board of directors and the MIC committee chairman for 17 years.
“During my initial working days, I passed the CPA exam, which helped to progress my early career,” Leitch said. “I also traveled extensively, including four continuous weeks in Brazil. Highlights of my Braden Sutphin career relates to the five acquisitions Braden has made, the opportunity to succeed Ted Zelek as Braden’s CEO and having the numerous opportunity to represent our great industry by presenting the NAPIM State of the Industry report.”
Leitch noted many key influences over the years, from his days as a quarterback in college to his time at Braden Sutphin.
“As I began my career, my college football coach, Fred Martinelli, and the dean at Ashland University and long-time mentor Lucille Ford, were influences,” he said. “At Braden Sutphin, Cal Sutphin Sr. is the ultimate professional and set the bar for ‘being up first and making one more call.’ Ted Zelek, our former CEO, demanded your best effort every day. And lastly, our current chairman, Jim Krost, has always been there to offer advice about work and about life’s challenges.”
Outside of work, Leitch completely enjoys family activities.
“My favorite hobby is my family,” Leitch added. “My wife, Diana and our four now-adult daughters have been the love of my life. I have coached and watched more adolescents, high school and college sporting events involving my daughters than you can ever imagine and enjoyed every day of it! On the days, they were not playing then I was playing and watching sports on my own.”
Leitch said he is thankful for being honored with the Pioneer Award.
“I felt honored and also it was fun to receive it in the same year as good friends Michael Brice and Vic Dahleen,” said Leitch. “It also made me think back to when Jim Sutphin, then the executive director at NAPIM, called me about becoming a committee member of the Management Information Committee. This was my first introduction to NAPIM.”
Jim Krost, chairman of the board for Braden Sutphin Ink, said that Leitch is one of a kind.
“I’ve known him for 25 years,” Krost continued. “He is unique in adhering to the old order and the niceties of relationships. He writes a personal letter anytime anyone does anything nice for him. He has a competitive nature. It is tough times in a shrinking industry, and Jim has always rallied the troops in a very positive way. He is very employee oriented, and they are uppermost in his mind. He is a company man in every respect, very loyal to his employees.”
“Jim is a very good guy, a strong family-oriented person, very involved in day-to-day activities of the company and excellent with customers,” said Braden Sutphin’s technical director. “He is very active in the business and in different printing organizations. I don’t know how he finds the time to do all the things he does.”
“Jim is one of the hardest workers I have ever seen,” noted Cal Sutphin Jr., Braden Sutphin’s distribution manager. “I often get emails from Jim up to 11:30 at night. He is always there to remember your name and talk to you, whether you are sweeping the floors or are a 30-year veteran.”
“He is a very hard-working kid, a great human being,” said Cal Sutphin Sr. “He goes to work with two briefcases.”
Leitch initially passed on joining the family business, joining Parker-Hannifin Corporation. When Ted Zelek, Braden Sutphin’s CEO, retired in 1988, the company reached out to Leitch to join as controller. Soon after, he was named CEO.
“In 1988, I was working at Parker-Hannifin Corporation when Tom McManamon, who was Braden Sutphin’s chairman of the board, called me to determine if I would be interested in interviewing for the controller position,” Leitch recalled. “I decided to interview because I knew it would be a challenge to me professionally and it allowed me to continue living in Cleveland where both my wife’s family and our family lived, so I interviewed and was hired in January 1989.”
Leitch pointed to a wide range of highlights, from his days before Braden Sutphin and to his career with Braden Sutphin, as well as being a member of NAPIM’s board of directors and the MIC committee chairman for 17 years.
“During my initial working days, I passed the CPA exam, which helped to progress my early career,” Leitch said. “I also traveled extensively, including four continuous weeks in Brazil. Highlights of my Braden Sutphin career relates to the five acquisitions Braden has made, the opportunity to succeed Ted Zelek as Braden’s CEO and having the numerous opportunity to represent our great industry by presenting the NAPIM State of the Industry report.”
Leitch noted many key influences over the years, from his days as a quarterback in college to his time at Braden Sutphin.
“As I began my career, my college football coach, Fred Martinelli, and the dean at Ashland University and long-time mentor Lucille Ford, were influences,” he said. “At Braden Sutphin, Cal Sutphin Sr. is the ultimate professional and set the bar for ‘being up first and making one more call.’ Ted Zelek, our former CEO, demanded your best effort every day. And lastly, our current chairman, Jim Krost, has always been there to offer advice about work and about life’s challenges.”
Outside of work, Leitch completely enjoys family activities.
“My favorite hobby is my family,” Leitch added. “My wife, Diana and our four now-adult daughters have been the love of my life. I have coached and watched more adolescents, high school and college sporting events involving my daughters than you can ever imagine and enjoyed every day of it! On the days, they were not playing then I was playing and watching sports on my own.”
Leitch said he is thankful for being honored with the Pioneer Award.
“I felt honored and also it was fun to receive it in the same year as good friends Michael Brice and Vic Dahleen,” said Leitch. “It also made me think back to when Jim Sutphin, then the executive director at NAPIM, called me about becoming a committee member of the Management Information Committee. This was my first introduction to NAPIM.”
