28.2 F
Saint Paul
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Leading With Faith honoree – Mike Bangasser

Mike Bangasser
Dave Hrbacek/The Catholic Spirit

Mike Bangasser

President/owner, Best Technology Inc.

Age 39

Parish Holy Name of Jesus, Medina

Spouse Nicole Bangasser

Children Megan (4), Emily (1)

- Advertisement -

Volunteer activities Career Transitions Group at Holy Name of Jesus; career, business and life mentoring

Education Mechanical engineering, Marquette University, 2002; MBA, Carlson Business School, University of Minnesota, 2005

Number of years with company 12

The president and owner of Best Technology Inc. in Plymouth, Mike Bangasser always tries to look out for the interests of others. His staff members focus on doing what is right for the customer, even if that means turning away potential profit for themselves. Bangasser leads a Career Transitions Group at his parish and holds accountability group meetings at work to help people around him find the job where God is calling them. Bangasser “leads with faith” by using his own faith and experience to promote and uplift the experiences of others.

Q. Describe your business.

A. Best Technology sells chemical process manufacturing equipment to medical device and aerospace industries. We are subject matter experts in niche applications and processes in order to help customers insource these processes to improve quality, lead time and profitability.

Q. Describe your position and role.

A. As the owner and president, I help facilitate business operations, sales and development. As the company grows, it is very important to me that we maintain the mission of a Christ-focused culture with our employees and customers.

Q. What does “leading with faith” mean to you?

A. Leading with faith means understanding that God’s calling in my professional life may not be just to be a leader in business, but to help others achieve their mission in life using the skills and gifts he has bestowed upon me. Throughout all the leadership opportunities he presents in my life, I emphasize the Christ-first focus and mission to anyone with whom I interact. As a firm believer that “everything happens for a reason,” I try to listen and learn from every situation in life and discern God’s direction for me.

Q. How do you concretely apply your faith and Catholic values at work?

A. While the business world can be filled with agendas other than God and his mission for us, I strive to ensure that every interaction with an employee or customer has faith-focused values so, at the end of every day, I feel that God’s mission continues to be carried out. This can be immediately witnessed in the pictures and Bible verses found throughout our office, prayers before meals at work, or simply showing God’s care and compassion in every conversation. In today’s freedom of expression society, few seem to want to express their love for Jesus Christ, and I want to make sure those that do business with Best Technology know every one of us expresses that love.

Q. Please tell a story about a time when living out your faith at work really made a difference.

A. One of our core values is always to do what is right for the customer, even if it turns business away. This value is really Christ centered and faith focused because doing the right thing in many aspects of life is not always the easiest. This was most difficult to do early on when every sale was critical to our operational success, but the rewards of doing so are beginning to pay back tenfold. Businesses that we had referred away years ago have remembered us when new applications develop, and they come back without considering competitors because they know we will do what is right for them today and tomorrow, as we did for them in the past.

Q. Who or what has inspired you to bring your faith to the marketplace?

A. My first employee, Jon Hickman, immediately expressed his faith to me and freely shared his faith with others. From that point forward, our focus has been faith first and the rest will follow. God has shown his powers in our business, and it is our job to help spread his love to others.

Q. What achievement at work are you most proud of?

A. This award, plain and simple. Every other achievement has been financial, a business goal or in some way a self-centered motivation. This award really exemplifies the growth I have experienced in my faith journey over the years in understanding the real priority in my business, family and life.

Q. In what specific ways have you experienced God’s presence in your workplace?

A. Throughout the growth of the company, my role has shifted from direct contributor to more management and strategy. With this change and without direct involvement in day-to-day operations, I have had the ability to step away and share my God-given gifts with others outside the business. Over the last four years, I have facilitated the Career Transitions Group at Holy Name of Jesus and recently established a career transitions accountability group weekly meeting at our office to coach, mentor and assist those in transition to find employment. This role has been very rewarding for me in learning how to better develop, manage and lead people. Nothing makes me happier than seeing those in transition land employment at a place where they are excited to work after diligently applying themselves during their transition.

Q. What advice do you have for others who want to lead with faith?

A. Throughout the demands and struggles of your own professional life development, it can be difficult to think you have enough time for anything other than your specific job role. However, if you listen to God’s further calling into your professional life, you will find the time to help develop and lead others, and the rewards in return will develop you to new levels you may have never thought possible.

 


Related Articles

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Trending

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
12,743FansLike
1,478FollowersFollow
6,479FollowersFollow
35,922FollowersFollow
583SubscribersSubscribe
- Advertisement -