Rudi Kroeker defines the term entrepreneur as filling a need. While that definition may seem rather simple, based on his own performance, it also seems to be a pretty solid formula for success.
As President and CEO of Welland-based Whiting Equipment Canada Inc., Chairman and CEO of Handling Specialty in Grimsby, Chairman and CEO of Zhejiang NAMAG Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd. in Tongxiang, China and Director of Swenson Technology Inc. in Monee, Illinois, Rudi has taken a global approach to identifying and filling needs in a wide range of industries including manufacturing, industrial equipment, transportation and chemical processing.
Fortunately for Niagara, Rudi also applies his keen eye for spotting and addressing unfilled needs to his community. He served 13 years on Brock University’s Board of Trustees, including three years as Board chair. A passionate proponent of positioning Niagara as a bi-national region, Rudi has helped to make that vision a reality through serving as Chair of the Board of Directors for the Niagara Economic Development Corporation, Vice-Chair and Director of the World Trade Center Buffalo Niagara and Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for the Welland Development Commission. Through the guidance he has provided in these positions and his mentorship to fellow entrepreneurs, Rudi has helped shift Niagara’s economic landscape to reflect the new realities of business in a truly global marketplace.