Proos
KALAMAZOO—The third-generation owner and first woman chief executive officer of a Michigan manufacturing company will be the next presenter in a speaker series at Western Michigan University's Haworth College of Business focusing on entrepreneurship.
Amy Proos, owner and CEO of Proos Manufacturing and Proos Fabrication, will speak at 8 a.m. Friday, March 14, in 2150 Schneider Hall, as part of the Haworth College of Business Entrepreneurship Forum. The event is free and open to the public and begins with breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (269) 387-6059 or at wmich.edu/business/e-rsvp. Free parking is available in the nearby Fetzer Center parking lot.
The Proos story
Proos Manufacturing has been providing high-quality products and excellent customer service since 1919. Established originally as a manufacturer of casket hardware and cookie die stamps by Neal Proos, the family-owned company evolved into metal stampings and created a strong partnership with the automotive industry. In 2011, sheet metal operations were expanded and a new facility was leased to open a sister company, Proos Fabrication. By focusing on core competencies at each location, Proos has become a leading provider of manufacturing and engineering solutions for the automotive, industrial, furniture, medical, defense and energy application industries.
After 24 years of working for Proos in various capacities, Amy Proos completed her purchase of the company in 2010 and currently serves as the first woman CEO and owner. Among many accolades, she was named a winner of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2013.
About the series
The Entrepreneurship Forum is a monthly series sponsored by Educational Community Credit Union and hosted by WMU's Haworth College of Business to bring stories of entrepreneurial success to the greater Kalamazoo community. This series is devoted to entrepreneurs and unique stories of start-up success.