Corporate Bio

Choosing ABI means you will be working with a company led by people who have walked in their customer’s shoes.  The founding partners of ABI, Bruce Barron,  Kimberly Barron, and John Boettcher, formed ABI because they saw a need for a responsive, customer-centered and flexible fabrication company.  

ABI was founded on July 1, 2010.  The partners had worked together for more than ten years when coming together to form ABI.  The ABI management team collectively has well over 50 years of experience both in job shop and high production environments.  Since opening, there has been a rapid growth trajectory, with a current employee roster of more than 50.  

The aggressive growth of ABI began in 2011 when they acquired the assets of Interstate Tool, a premiere tool and die manufacturer established in 1946 that specializes in providing metal stampings to a wide variety of industries.  This increased ABI fabrication footprint to over 120,000 sq. /ft.   ABI equipment and capabilities now include presses up to 700 tons, multiple brakes, laser and plasma cutters, turret punches, CNC mills and lathes, as well as painting and final assembly.  Then in 2012, ABI further extended their manufacturing capabilities with the acquisition of Delta T Limited, a premier manufacturer of twisted tube products for the heat exchanger industry.  Collectively, this has provided ABI with a breadth of capability that clearly sets them apart from other metal fabrication companies in the Midwest.

Kimberly Barron

Kim’s career includes a variety of marketing and administrative experiences from which she draws as ABI Chairwoman and Co-CEO. Kim began her career as a Media Planner/Buyer for consumer products accounts at Leo Burnett Advertising Co. in Chicago, Illinois. After receiving her MBA from Northwestern University, she worked in product management for Coca-Cola Foods where she participated in a new product launch for the company’s Minute Maid subsidiary. Other experiences include founding and operating a real estate leasing company in Houston, Texas and a specialty foods business in Montgomery, Alabama. Most recently Kim taught business courses at Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, OK. In addition to her MBA, Kim has a B.S. in Business from the University of Minnesota and a Masters of Liberal Arts from Auburn University in Montgomery.

Bruce Barron

With over thirty years of experience in manufacturing organizations, Bruce’s vision and leadership is instrumental in driving the organization towards continuous improvement and genuine customer service relationships. Prior to establishing ABI, Bruce served as CEO of Ramsey Industries, a mid-sized industrial products company based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bruce previously held executive and general management positions with Thermal Components Group, a heat exchanger manufacturer in Montgomery, Alabama. Other experience includes CFO of Abrasive Technology; Controller of Ranco Corporation; and accounting, finance and information systems positions with General Mills. Bruce has an MBA in Finance from DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, and a B.S. in Business from St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota.

John Boettcher

John brings over thirty years of experience championing substantial productivity and profit growth for manufacturing companies through improvements in manufacturing, materials management and production and inventory control. John earned his Lean Implementer Certificate in 2004 and, as VP of Operations for Ramsey Industries with full responsibility for the company’s three plants, his implementation of lean methods drove improvements in productivity (+40%) and on-time delivery (+50%). John combined his operations and financial management skills to create substantial materials and manufacturing savings for the company (6.7% of budget). John’s career also includes over fifteen years in manufacturing and financial management positions with Valmont Industries, where he was twice the Recipient of the Valmont Industries Corporate Employee Special Recognition Award. John received his BSBA in Accounting from the University of Nebraska-Omaha, and has additional coursework from the University of Georgia’s Goldratt Institute of Logistics and Production Management as well as Stanford University.

Experience

The strong leadership team at ABI has worked with all of the local and regional metal fabrication companies. Their past experience and success translate into a strong and clearly driven leadership force for ABI. They incorporate best practices learned across multiple industries to ensure the client’s orders are handled with the highest of efficiencies and delivered with unparalleled quality.

With such a broad background in manufacturing, ABI knows how frustrating it can be to have a large order held up waiting for a $4.00 part to be delivered. ABI was formed out of a rigorous commitment to be the supplier that prevents this from happening. ABI is committed to not only having timely delivery, but to the production of high quality parts, coupled with excellent customer service to continually exceed customer requirements.