I was born in a displaced person’s camp in Hildesheim,
Germany. My father made the decision to relocate the
family to the United States for better opportunities. The
ships crossing the Atlantic Ocean only had so much room for
free passengers, so it was not until six years later that our family’s
lottery number was selected. Life in the displaced person’s camp was my childhood.
Upon our arrival at Ellis Island, my father was held back while my mother,
grandmother, sister and I were adrift in New York City. My mother became so
distraught she tried to take her own life; but thankfully, the Catholic priest who had
taken us in was able to save her. When my father was finally cleared to leave Ellis
Island, our family migrated to Detroit in search of automotive opportunities.
Because of this humble upbringing, “Failure is never an option” has been my motto—
in life and in business.
Being a part of six national vendor advisory boards has given me the advantage in
making forward-thinking decisions before new products even hit the market. In my
45 years at Fasteners, Inc., I have seen tremendous advancements in tooling and
technology. Cordless tools have taken over electric tools, and battery technology has
created more powerful, lighter tools.
Taking innovation and problem-solving solutions to the jobsite is what our company
thrives on. Our customers expect that from us, and we promise to deliver.
I am proud and honored to have been the president of Fasteners, Inc. for the past
21 years. I would like to personally thank our loyal customers, generous vendors, and
dedicated employees who support and trust us as we work together to grow our
business.
It is because of our drive to succeed—and never accepting failure—that we are in a
position today to give back to our communities. As a company, we chose to support
the Muscular Dystrophy Association. At Fasteners, Inc., we host an annual charity golf
outing for the cause, and this year marks our 17th year. The event has helped raise
over $650,000 for children and adults fighting neuromuscular disease.
Thank you for partnering with us. We look forward to bringing you and your crews
the next wave of jobsite innovations!
fastenersincmi.com
Jason Szlenkier, Scott Battershell and John Szlenkier
