10-06-25 Erick Sharp • Ace Laboratories

In this conversation, Jim Haviland interviews Erick Sharp, the founder of ACE Laboratories, discussing the unique position of the company in the polymer industry, the challenges of a depleting technical workforce, the importance of mentorship, and the dynamics of team leadership. Erick shares insights on how ACE Laboratories supports innovation and growth for its clients while fostering a positive work environment.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericksharp/

Mentors
Doug Hartley https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-hartley-56397b37/
Jim Jelinek 



Takeaways
  • ACE Laboratories focuses on scaling technology for its customers.
  • The polymer industry faces a significant gap in technical expertise.
  • Mentorship plays a crucial role in business development.
  • A strong team is essential for executing a business vision.
  • ACE Laboratories has trademarked the term 'rubber nerds' to embrace their technical expertise.
  • The company has been recognized as one of the best places to work for four consecutive years.
  • Innovation in the polymer space is vital for attracting younger talent.
  • The perception of the rubber industry needs to change to attract new workers.
  • Erick emphasizes the importance of listening to customer needs.
  • Building a supportive network of mentors has been key to ACE's success.

Sound bite
"We trademark the term rubber nerds."


Creators and Guests

Jim Haviland
Host
Jim Haviland
Jim Haviland has dedicated decades to pursuing the keys to healthy entrepreneurship. Having owned or led over a dozen entrepreneurial companies himself, (including both successes and a few expensive lessons learned) he is passionate about the power of helping people build a business and in making it easier to avoid the mistakes that end them. Jim gathers his insights and stories from a career that spans an unusual breadth of experiences. As an electrical engineer, he worked on NASA satellites, digital media distribution, and professional audio recording equipment resulting in patents, peer-reviewed research, and medical school curriculum technologies. As a media producer, his work has resulted in Grammys, Oscars, and Emmys. As a technology executive, he has traveled the world working with the world’s best-known brands, presenting to audiences in over 100 cities on innovation and using technology to help organizations do “more and more with less and less forever.” As a business coach, he has helped hundreds of companies and entrepreneurial executives utilize tools and disciplines to build more productive, humane, and resilient organizations. Mr. Haviland is a partner with Impact Architects, a growth advisory firm, where he helps leadership teams develop their business, establish an intentional culture and operating system, and make repeatable progress toward their loftiest goals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimhaviland/
10-06-25 Erick Sharp • Ace Laboratories
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