R.J. Safranek is an accomplished business leader with a unique blend of executive business acumen, financial and operational knowledge, and leadership capabilities. With over 20 years of hands-on experience enabling growth through start-up, integration, and change strategies, R.J. has proven his ability to build, structure, and organize for execution and results. He has cross-functional and executive leadership experience in sectors ranging from logistics to industrial manufacturing.
R.J. began his career as a logistics and inventory analyst with Caterpillar Logistics and was quickly nominated to Caterpillar’s Fast Track Executive Management Program. (left because he hated big business and the bureaucracy of it!) A few years later, he joined Axiom, Inc. and held the roles of CFO, CEO and Owner during his 20-year tenure there. R.J. fell in love with small business and bought the company in 2011, grew the company from $12 million to $28 million, survived the epidemic, burned out and stepped away from managing the company. As a leader, R.J. is adept at aligning teams and optimizing their performance. A lifelong athlete, his approach to business was shaped by his experience on the football field. He coaches teams to pursue every challenge with focus, hard work, and perseverance. He inspires them to be unafraid to fail and motivates them to emerge better, stronger, and smarter.
R.J. is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with an MBA in Operations Management and an MBA in Information Technology Analysis & Design. He received his undergraduate degree in Cell Biology from the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater. R.J. lives with his wife, three children, and dog in Hartland, WI. On the personal side, R.J. enjoys travel, wine, hiking, golf, and finding a bit of adventure along the way!
Other rare facts: lived in Paris for 6 months after college, coached youth lacrosse for 8 years, member of YPO, played college football for 5 years at Whitewater.
