Passion Is Always in Season

Joseph M. Carbonara, Editor in Chief -- Foodservice Equipment and Supplies, 6/1/2008

Joseph M. Carbonara, Editor in Chief

In Ohio, rooting for the Buckeyes, the nickname of the state university’s football team, never goes out of season. That’s because Ohio State fans tend to be a passionate bunch that can’t confine their enthusiasm to a 13-game schedule. The fact that passion knows no off-season is not unique to Ohio State football, though. It extends through the halls of The Wasserstrom Co., a Columbus, Ohio-based dealership, and begins with its leader, Rodney Wasserstrom, FE&S’ 2008 Hall of Fame Award recipient.

Despite a sputtering economy that seemingly has most people begging for a recession and the business slowdown that would undoubtedly accompany it, Rodney remains as bullish as ever about the foodservice industry’s fortunes. “This is a great industry. It’s a solid industry,” he says. “We know people are going to continue to eat out. Looking at the future, we have a great future for our company and everyone else in the industry.”

To some, this may seem like another rah, rah speech from an industry lifer trying to fire up his charges during challenging times. Many in the Buckeye state would favorably compare this approach to the same way legendary Ohio State coach Woody Hayes motivated his players before taking the field against that rival university from the state to the north. But if you actually think Rodney’s feelings on this industry or Woody’s infamous pre-game talks are more style than substance, then you don’t know much about either man. Lip service was not part of Woody’s mode of operation and the same can be said of Rodney: He firmly believes that this is a wonderful industry in which to work.

“The fact that passion knows no off-season is not unique to Ohio State football, though."

Just as Hayes would passionately lead his charges into competition, Rodney does the same with the various associates that round out The Wasserstrom Co. roster. When he walks through his company’s various Columbus facilities, he greets everyone warmly and with a handshake making them feel like part of the team. And on the off chance that he does not immediately recognize someone or know them by name, Rodney extends his hand and introduces himself. And he is always anxious to hear their thoughts about how to improve the company.

The fact that many of the dealership’s long-time employees know Rodney by name and vice versa, speaks volumes about his leadership abilities and philosophy of giving your people what they need and get out of their way so they can do their job. When you follow Rodney through the dealership’s facilities on one of his history-laden tours, it seems as if the associates not only welcome him but they seek him out. In other companies, that’s not always the case when the president walks past.

Some business leaders that make their way to the top by starting at the bottom, as Rodney did, tend to micromanage their operations and unwittingly extinguish their organization’s entrepreneurial flame. In Rodney’s case, jut the opposite tends to be true. Having done many of the jobs his associates now do, Rodney has an idea of what their day-to-day experiences are like, but more importantly he genuinely respects the contribution each person makes to the company’s success and tries to bring out the best in them.

Of course, as the company has grown over the years, though, it has become more difficult for Rodney to manage by walking around, so to speak. So, Rodney’s carefully built the dealership’s management team to 35 people from the five it was when he became president back in 1978. Rodney’s role is to make sure these individuals are well-versed in the company’s history and culture, allowing them to develop an understanding of where the company came from, where it’s headed and how they can contribute to the organization’s success. Given his Hayes-like passion for the business and industry, Rodney will undoubtedly excel in this role, too.