Michael Pound, C.E.O. of Koontz-Wagner Holdings LLC

By Phil D’Amico, director of business growth, The Chamber of Commerce of St. Joseph County

Mike Pound is CEO of Koontz-Wagner Holdings LLC, a large employer in South Bend with 365 employees that is actively participating in a number of key market sectors that drive our economy. South Bend Controls is a subsidiary of Koontz-Wagner, and it produces solenoid valves for the aerospace and medical industries. Specifically, South Bend Controls designs and manufactures valves for ventilators and other medical devices that help keep patients alive.

Mike has more than 25 years of experience working in medical-related industries. We were able to catch up with Mike to discuss the state of manufacturing, the health care industry, aerospace industry and the business economy in general.

Mike Pound, CEO of Koontz-Wagner Holdings LLC

Q: Mike, I love the (British) accent you have. How long have you been in the United States?

A: I was transferred to the U.S. in 1988 by a large multinational, first to New Jersey then Atlanta. I moved to South Bend in 1996. I actually earned my engineering degree in England, worked my way up over there then moved to the states, as I say, in 1988.

Q: A big part of your business with South Bend Controls – 40 percent worldwide – is in the medical field. Do you feel this could be a bigger part of your business, and where do you see opportunity here in this community?

A: The baby boom generation is very much a big player in what happens in the medical field. We do have people living longer, in greater numbers, many relying on good health care; therefore there is a greater need for more medical facilities, more medical equipment and more medical-related personnel. We make parts for intensive care ventilators; this is one of the most critical components to keeping patients alive. The more the medical institutions grow, the greater need for equipment exists.

Q: Where then, can our community focus its efforts moving forward as it relates to growth opportunities?

A: Well, we hear a lot about nano research, life science research, bio-science research and the work going on at Notre Dame. I think university partnerships, with businesses doing work in the areas I mentioned, will be a great opportunity for this community to build upon. Having an institution like the University of Notre Dame and others involved in medical research in our community will play a vital role in many of the life science growth initiatives that take place.

Q: How about the work going on in Warsaw, Indiana? Will that area and the work they do, affect our growth potential here?

A: Absolutely! Our (South Bend) proximity to the Warsaw market, and all the implant work there has always been a big plus and benefit to our community. We have had, and continue to have, some very good companies from our area, doing work for, and supplying, many of the prominent companies in Warsaw. The bio-medical companies in Warsaw typically focus on doing work in the implant industry. That work, and those parts and instruments, again, will only increase with the baby boom generation and increased needs of our population. There continues to be major advancements in that area, and again we have the potential to play a very big part in the research and development that goes on in that area.

Q: So what are we talking here, in terms of years, when we speak of major growth, either in the number of employees or revenue to our area’s businesses?

A: Oh, this is not going to happen overnight. We will continue to see advancements and opportunities in research, develop and production of new machines, equipment, and components for the medical industry, but we are just now starting the big push to this process. We need to make sure we have infrastructure that is set and ready to go as it relates to education and workforce readiness. The skill sets needed may be a bit different than what we have prepared for in the past. But I am very confident that we are moving in that direction. Also our proximity in this area, related to other big cities in the United States, makes us very attractive from a logistics standpoint.

Q: So what’s better to look at Big Ben, or the Golden Dome?

A: Ha ha ha! They are both good in their own right.

Q: Sounds like a politically correct answer to me.

A: Not at all. My family has been very happy to be here and I really like the future potential of this city. It is a wonderful time to be here. This community, in my opinion, is poised for great things in the future.