"Chris is an excellent President/General Manager and one of the best managers I have worked for in my career. He is the consummate professional with a strong business acumen. One of the reasons for his success is his ability to manage projects and coach and develop colleagues without micro managing.
Chris has a strong knowledge of the sales process and the marketing actions required to develop business and drive results. During my time working with Chris the leadership he displayed allowed the organization to achieve its three best years of sales in its history in North America
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Chris possess' excellent negotiation skills and an example of that was the work he performed in negotiating the largest customer contract in the company's 73 year history, which took over a year to complete and brought the organization its largest single order for any product.
I would highly recommend Chris for any President/GeneralManager position and would welcome the opportunity to work with him in the future."
John Pollard
Director of Sales and Service
Buchi Corporation
"I had the pleasure of working for Chris at Buchi Corporation. Chris has the ability to take a foreign-based (Switzerland) company and apply its European ideals to the North American culture. Chris is successful in creating partnerships with clients, marketing and selling the value proposition while being sensitive to the competitive landscape.
Chris is an effective leader as he gives his department heads the autonomy to manage their employees while providing direction to those managers. Chris has created a true entrepreneurial atmosphere that has inspired us managers to analyze new concepts in order to drive the business"
Tony Casadei
Finance Director
Buchi Corporation
"I would highly recommend Chris for a leadership position. I worked for Chris at Struers for six years and over that time we built a highly successful organization under his direction. Chris fostered an atmosphere of creativity, commitment and dedication from his management team. He allowed each one of us the flexibility to provide input and ideas as how to best achieve the organizational goals.
His ideas, from operations to sales, positioned Struers in the U.S. to be the benchmark for many of the Struers subsidiaries around the world. His commitment to the Strategic Selling philosophy and CRM initiatives enabled me to be much more effective in my position as Director of Sales"
Craig Slimmer
Director of Sales and Marketing
NCS Credit
"Chris Sopko is what Struers needed. He took the reins of a technology company when the bubble burst and national tragedy caused the associated verticals to plummet.
Chris’s leadership and vision did more than keep the company afloat. His contributions provided for continued growth while building the sales and operational structure that ensured long-term success.
Innovative thought and team work is what Chris believes in. He was able to convey his message by empowering the management team and employees to create a superior customer centric approach that required sustained profit levels.
We were focused on removing departmental barriers and accomplishing the common goals of growing sales, new product development, corporate infrastructure and employee development.
Any organization would benefit by having Chris as a leader."
Bob Cromleigh
Director of Sales
Champion One
"I have known and worked with Chris for over 15 years and during that time Chris has constantly demonstrated professional judgment that produces revenue growth and profit increases!
Chris served as an Executive in a challenging industry with international competitors and the need to make long-term investment decisions.
Chris built an enviable record of success and is recognized by his peers as a dependable manager with integrity and high personal standards!
I strongly recommend Chris and his work to anyone, anywhere!."
Brett Bailey
CTP, CDIA+, ecmP
Regional Sales Manager
Huntington Bank
"I would highly recommend Chris for any CEO/President or other leadership position.
He always put the benefit of the customer first, taking careof them and they will take care of the company.
As a manger, Chris demonstrated the best leadership attributes of anyone I previously worked with. He listens to all points of view and makes sound decisions based on all facts.
If I had the chance, I would work for Chris again.."
Joe Caco
CFO
NCS Credit
"Chris is a vision oriented leader who keeps fiscal profitability and long term strategy in balance.
He understands the strengths of his team, and uses their skills to maximize their perfomance and achieve overall team and corporate goals.
Chris sets high expectations for each team member and provides the support the members need to reach their goals.
I grew professionally under Chris's leadership and would welcome the opportunity to work for him again!l"
Lynn Cielec
North American Sales Director
Midwestern Industrial Supply
"Working closely with Chris over several years, I found him to be insightful in business dealings and able to build and maintain strong working relationships with companies we did business with.
Chris has a strong sense of what is important to customers and is able to communicate effectively both internally and externally on the solution set that is required to win and maintain business with clients!l"
Keith McNamara
Owner
McNamara Insurance
"Working with Chris in the sale of his Bay Village home was truely my pleasure. He is always professional and kind.
I have looked to him as a mentor for sound business advice and I am fortunate to have him as part of my business network."
Al Stasek
Founder and CEO
Real Expert Advisors
"I had the pleasure of working with Christopher Sopko from 2004 to 2006.
As a manager, he hired people that he trusted and then allowed them to do their jobs without unnecessary interference, which led to innovation and confidence on the part of those who reported to him.
As a CEO, he was willing to stick his neck out to support ideas and innovations that he saw would better the company. In addition to his dedication to our company, Christopher also demonstrated great commitment to our community. He enthusiastically supported Struers' involvement with Make a Wish and was largely responsible for our ability to sponsor the wishes of three children, which was quite a feat for a small office!"
Tanya Wagner
Marketing Director
Big River On Line
"I worked with Chris for nearly 2 years while at Buchi. Some of the reasons why I decided to join the company was that I loved his vision, his passion, and optimism.
Chris has that rare combination of being extremely personable, while being direct and consistent. Having that type of leadership helped me stay focused on my goals.
Chris was a great General Manager and I would highly recommend him to lead any organization"
Link Brown
Leader in Sales and Customer Solutions
Buchi Corporation
"I first met Chris when he became the general manager at Buchi Corporation.
He managed Buchi US along with the technical support department, which I worked in.
Having worked for Chris for 3 years, I can truly say it was a privilege and a very rewarding opportunity.
Chris gave me the opportunity to work on many unique and exciting projects which permitted me to gain valuable work experience.
With Chris’s outstanding management style, I would be honored to work for him again."
Jeff Reid
Product Manager
Buchi Corporation
"I had the pleasure to work with Chris over many years as a consultant.
Chris is a visionary, creative leader with great understanding on how technology can improve business processes, productivity and profits."
Jeno Mozes
Senior Software Engineer
The Trizetto Group, Inc.
"Christopher is a dedicated and serious person who has an outgoing personality which makes him a person who every body will look up to and respect.
During my cooperation with Chris we were not only colleagues but became also very good friends.
Chris is an outstanding manager and supervisor and during his work at Struers I have seen him grow to be one of a kind manager.
I will highly recommend Chris as he would be a big asset to any organization."
Svend-Erik Meelby
International Sales Manager
Burmeister & Wain Energy