Executive Brian Tauber Spoke at the Ross School

 Watch the video of Mr. Tauber's speech at the Ross School (requires Windows           Media Player v10.0 or later)

When:  Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 5:15 p.m.
Where:  Ross School of Business, room E0540

ANN ARBOR, Mich. —Brian Tauber, President and CEO of Carolina Precision Plastics and C Enterprises, gave a talk at 5:15 p.m. on January 27 in room E0540 of the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. The event was free and open to the public. 

"Saving Private Brian:  A Report from the Entrepreneurial Trenches"

As the financial crisis deepens and the economic environment continues to deteriorate, living as a manufacturing entrepreneur today is war.  Or is it?  Manufacturing in the U.S. has been in decline for 50 years, encountering offshore competition and increasing operational costs for health care, energy and wages, so these challenges are merely another battle in our war to grow a successful business.  While these issues are endemic to industry, the current implosions of GM, Ford and Chrysler place them at the forefront of public consciousness.  Behind the multi-national conglomerates are the thousands of small manufacturing entrepreneurs.  Today’s environment presents challenges for all, but opportunities also abound. 

Brian provided an honest, frank description of his personal journey from his public service career to the trenches of manufacturing and the often painful lessons he is learning along the way.  The choice to move into manufacturing was a conscious one, and despite the sometimes trying education along the way, the satisfaction of creating products, employing people and growing a business are the irresistible attributes that entice him and other entrepreneurs the world over to risk all that they have.  Some do it for money.  Some to win the game.  But, at the end of the day, there is no magic bullet, no matter the motivation – just lessons from which to grow.

About Mr. Tauber

Brian Tauber was born and raised in the Detroit area for 30 years.  He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he also played on the 1985 Ivy League Champion football team.  He then earned his M.B.A. and Law degrees from the University of Michigan in 1992.  After graduation, he served as an assistant to Detroit Mayor Dennis W. Archer.

Brian is currently the largest owner in two manufacturing companies where he is also involved in the entities’ operations.  He is President and CEO of both Carolina Precision Plastics, LLC., a $32 million global plastic injection and blow molder headquartered in Asheboro, North Carolina and C Enterprises, L.P., a $7.5 million San Diego-based company that manufactures custom cable assemblies for the data and telecom markets.  Carolina Precision Plastics has two facilities in North Carolina and one in Suzhou, China.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of Flagstar Bancorp, the largest Michigan-based bank and one of the largest mortgage originators in the Midwest.

Brian has always been involved in various aspects of community and public service, including the United Jewish Federation of San Diego, The Salk Institute, the Think Twice Foundation, Harlem Legal Services, The Ross School of Business, The Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning at the University of Michigan, various political campaigns, AIPAC and United Jewish Communities.

Brian resides in San Diego, California with his wife Laura and children, Brad (13), Lou (11) and Leah (6).  For “leisure,” he participates in marathons, triathlons, basketball, skiing, reading, golf (rarely) and anything to do with his kids.

Sponsored by the Tauber Institute for Global Operations.

Tauber Institute media contact: bakerpa@umich.edu