Downers Grove firm beats adversity, thrives

Manufacturers are a "bunch of McGyvers" to Stacey Bales, president of Bales Metal Surface Solutions. Manufacturers make up a unique group of creative, ingenious and determined folks with whom she loves working and being associated.

Every year for the past five, Bales work of polishing and finishing has grown 20 percent. Their trademarked specialties of Nibore, Nicklon and Diamond EN coatings are among several others available for metal components.

Looking back, she says 2009 was a difficult year for most manufacturers - that's no secret. But for Downers Grove-based Bales, 2009 will be remembered as one of its most wrenching. That was the year her father, who launched Bales with his brother in 1978, died unexpectedly at age 53 while visiting Bales USA's Harlingen Texas facility.

"My dad just didn't show up at work one day," Stacey said. Within days, the bankers were sounding an alarm. "They called a meeting and demanded to know how we were going to liquidate," she said.

Immediately, the Bales sisters sought counsel and advice that Stacey says was invaluable to the company's successful transition to new leadership.

Soon after the transition, Kutchins, Robbins and Diamond Ltd., a group of Schaumburg-based financial advisers she found through the TMA network, brought more insight.

Stacey was very familiar with Bales' work, customers and finances. Longtime company salesman Harry Raimondi, who she calls "Uncle Harry," took calls and reassured nervous customers that everything was going to be fine through the transition. Cousin Jon Bailey, who had managed the shop floor for years, kept the work flowing.

With their indispensable help, Stacey, who had started working at Bales when she was 15, had been office manager since she was 23, took the big step into presiding over Bales, with her sister Sara alongside as vice president. During that transition, Stacey recalled her fondest memories of being in a manufacturing family when she was 10, and her father would take her and her sister to work with him. To keep them busy, he would set them up with creative fun projects that piqued the girls' interest in machines. "He probably shouldn't have let us play with some of the things we did," she laughed, but that hands-on experience whetted her appetite for more. That's missing for the most part these days, she said.

Manufacturing, and especially the Bales company, is obviously something Stacey is passionate about.

"I love what we do as electroplaters. We work on just about every industry out there," she said. "So I go to work on the floor and can see machine components that make kitty litter bucket molds, Nike shoes, Simply Orange juice caps, Weather Tech mats. It's astonishing what our customers are doing."

As for women and manufacturing, Stacey says she thinks maybe women are more family-centered, and are committed to their jobs because their families are counting on them. Stacey's daughter Sarina is excelling in high school and is a major reason she stays focused on the future. Her vision for Bales USA includes expansion - building up their 30,000 square foot building in Downers Grove.

"I hope we keep growing so we can take care of as many people as we can," she said. "I think about our employees all the time. I want them to be able to drive nice cars, and not be afraid to take their kids to the doctor. I want for them what I want for myself. That's what we're trying to do." And if there's anyone that can do it, it's the creative, ingenious and determined Stacey Bales - one who could probably herself teach the 1980 TV's McGyver a few things.