In a world where environmental consciousness and innovation are at the forefront of industry trends, packaging has emerged as a crucial player in the quest for sustainability and consumer satisfaction. The days of wasteful and unsustainable packaging practices are rapidly fading, giving way to a new era of packaging innovation that not only meets consumer needs but also champions environmental stewardship.

 

Meet Rob Onorato, the Chief Executive Officer at Shorr Packaging Corp., a visionary leader in the world of distribution and logistics. With a rich history of spearheading expansion and fostering innovation, Rob brings an unmatched level of dedication to customer satisfaction and internal talent development.

Rob boasts an impressive career in the distribution and logistics arena. His journey has been marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence and a deep understanding of the sector. As the Chief Executive Officer at Shorr Packaging Corp., Rob leverages his extensive experience to drive the company's success.

Shorr Packaging Corp. is a nationally recognized packaging distributor with a unique twist—it's an employee-owned company. They offer a comprehensive range of packaging solutions, from cutting-edge automated packaging equipment to primary and secondary packaging consumables, coupled with strategic packaging advisory services. Their holistic approach encompasses packaging design, technical services, contract packaging, and even logistics, making them a one-stop destination for packaging needs.

Rob elucidated, "Our core mission revolves around helping customers optimize their packaging processes. In fact, our most satisfied customers are those who leverage our full spectrum of resources, resulting in increased productivity and streamlined packaging operations." The formula for their success is simple yet effective: close collaboration and attentive listening to customer needs, followed by the assembly of the best resources to craft innovative and efficient solutions. This customer-centric approach positions Shorr Packaging as a trusted partner capable of delivering profoundly impactful projects.

 

Join us as we explore the world of packaging innovation and discover how Rob's visionary leadership is shaping the future of the industry!

 

From Following Strategies to Shaping Organizational Success

Rob's early career was marked by executing strategies devised by senior leadership in the companies he worked for. During this phase, his primary belief was that success was solely defined by meeting financial targets. As he progressed into management roles, the importance of process training became increasingly evident as it played a pivotal role in expanding the corporations he was part of.

One significant opportunity in Rob's career was his tenure at Xerox, a company that dedicated substantial efforts to developing world-class sales training. Spending a decade at Xerox provided Rob with valuable insights into effective sales strategies and training methods.

Rob's quest for knowledge and professional growth led him to pursue an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. This academic journey equipped him with the skills to formulate organizational strategies and guide organizations in executing their plans to achieve desired outcomes.

Over the years, Rob assumed senior-level positions in various companies, ranging from Vice President of Sales to Senior VP of Sales and Marketing. Just before joining Shorr Packaging, he held the role of Chief Operating Officer at Crescent Electric Supply Company. Throughout these roles, Rob consistently invested time in understanding the genuine needs of customers. He adeptly aligned people and technology to pioneer innovative solutions for customers' challenges while driving the growth of his respective businesses.

When Rob accepted the position of President at Shorr Packaging, he recognized it as the perfect fit for his career journey. He knew that this role was a stepping stone to becoming CEO, with a planned transition period of 14 months before the current CEO's retirement. During this time, he had the invaluable opportunity to work alongside the outgoing CEO, allowing him to shape his vision for the company's future growth as he prepared to take the helm as CEO.

 

Defining Success: Beyond Financial Goals to a Customer-Centric Culture

One common perspective on success often revolves around meeting the financial objectives set by the board of directors, employee owners, and senior management. This definition of success is clear-cut and easily measurable. However, Rob recognizes that true success encompasses more than just financial metrics. It involves cultivating a culture where every employee is deeply engaged in the company's overarching objectives.

 

This broader view of success entails several key aspects:

• Inclusion: Success involves actively involving all employees in understanding the markets in which the company aims to compete. It means fostering a sense of ownership and belonging among the workforce.

 

• Customer-centric Approach: Success is about becoming a customer-centric organization. This entails not only meeting customer needs but also understanding how to expand the value the company offers to its customers.

 

• Leveraging Technology: Technology plays a crucial role in achieving success. It should be used to enhance the customer experience and improve the organization's overall productivity.

Rob emphasizes that his experience has taught him that successful technology investments prioritize the best interests of customers. This means gathering input from customers to understand how they perceive the impact of these investments. In contrast, investments that are solely internal tend to result in projects that go over budget and miss deadlines.

He also stresses the importance of having a talented leadership team that can inspire and create followership within the organization. Without effective leadership, the path to success can be arduous and challenging.

 

Packaging Solutions Tailored to Customer Needs

Shorr takes pride in offering comprehensive packaging solutions that cater to their customers' unique requirements. Their approach involves a team of packaging engineers who thoroughly assess a customer's packaging workflow and implement continuous improvement projects.

 

Here's how Shorr ensures their customers benefit:

• Productivity Enhancement: The packaging engineering team identifies opportunities to enhance productivity and reduce costs through equipment and automation. They carefully evaluate existing processes to suggest improvements.

 

• Complete Packaging Solutions: Once an equipment recommendation is developed, Shorr provides a holistic package that includes all the necessary packaging consumables. This encompasses items such as corrugated boxes, tapes, protective packaging, flexible packaging, and any other materials essential for the project's success.

 

• Customer-centric Approach: Shorr places great emphasis on understanding their customers' needs. They actively engage with customers, seeking their input and feedback. This collaborative approach involves listening, exploring, suggesting solutions, conducting tests, and maintaining ongoing communication.

 

• Continuous Improvement: The company utilizes various mechanisms to enhance and measure customer satisfaction. This includes Voice of Customer Surveys, Quarterly Business Reviews, and regular engagement with leadership. These interactions play a pivotal role in refining their offerings and optimizing their business model to better serve their customers.

Rob underscores the immense value of these customer interactions, considering them the source of their most significant innovations and enhancements. These ongoing dialogues are invaluable for shaping their strategies and ensuring they align with their customers' needs and packaging goals.

 

Elevating a Company through Exceptional Team Building

According to Rob, the key to propelling a company to greater heights is building an exceptional team. At Shorr, the management has pursued various strategies to achieve this goal. They have recognized the potential within their existing workforce, promoting employees into leadership positions within the company. Simultaneously, they've looked beyond their current talent pool, actively recruiting new team members to accelerate the company's expansion.

Their approach doesn't stop there. Shorr has also devised innovative strategies, both vertical and horizontal, to diversify their service offerings and cater to a broader range of markets and customer needs.

Rob expresses his confidence in the company's future, highlighting significant growth achievements in recent years. He believes that Shorr is well-positioned for a bright and prosperous future, with the groundwork laid for continued success and expansion.

 

Finding Balance

For Rob, maintaining a healthy balance between his personal and professional lives has come naturally. In his earlier years, he prioritized spending quality time with his family, which includes his wife of 35 years and their four children. Engaging in family activities and attending his children's school sports and events provided a fulfilling way to disconnect from the demands of work.

Today, with his children having graduated from college and established their careers across the country, Rob and his wife have embraced the joys of travel, visiting their children in various locations.

Rob's approach to motivation is rooted in recognizing and appreciating excellence. He firmly believes that acknowledging and celebrating achievements, whether through a heartfelt letter or a simple phone call, is a powerful motivator. This philosophy is shared by his executive leadership team and has proven to be highly effective.

Furthermore, Rob emphasizes the importance of transparency within the company. Regularly sharing financial information with all employees allows them to understand and appreciate their contributions to the organization's overall success. This transparency fosters a sense of shared ownership and commitment to the company's goals.

 

A Century of Excellence and Employee Ownership

Shorr has a rich history that spans a century, with its roots in northern Illinois. Over the years, it has evolved into a nationally recognized and award-winning company. What sets Shorr apart is its exceptional team of passionate and motivated employees who also happen to be owners of the company. For over four decades, Shorr has operated as an ESOP, which stands for Employee Stock Ownership Plan.

Being employee-owners means that Shorr's dedicated workforce is personally invested in meeting the needs of its customers, as they have a direct stake in the business. As Rob puts it, "We are genuinely passionate about what we do, and we have a profound interest in the future of our company." This commitment has translated into outstanding financial results over the past decade, and the entire team is excited about the prospect of further accelerating this success.