Cardinal Fastener was started in 1983 by our president, John W. Grabner. Strategically located in Cleveland, Ohio, Cardinal is near many resources such as high quality, low cost steel, many local vendors and secondary services for plating and heat treatment and a skilled manufacturing work force.
A Focus on Service
The company was founded on the principles of customer service and a focus on the need to manufacture fasteners to the highest levels of quality and in very short lead times. This strategy has succeeded in making Cardinal Fastener the leading hot forged bolt manufacturer in North America.
A Force in Wind
We’ve also become a force in the wind turbine industry. Today, Cardinal is the leading supplier of safety critical fasteners for this emerging market, as a time-tested manufacturer with a reputation for meeting and exceeding customer expectations.
Leadership
Here are the key decision-makers who have crafted our success from the beginning and who lead us today:
John W. Grabner
President & Founder
With a background in accounting at Arthur Young & Co., John switched career paths and founded Cardinal Fastener over 27 years ago. His passion for the principles of lean thinking has transformed the company into a business that has gained recognition within all circles of the manufacturing and service industries.
John is a trusted voice in our industry and a leading presence in such organizations as the Industrial Fasteners Institute, where he serves as board member and past Division I chairman. Furthermore, John serves on the board of directors and as finance committee member of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). He was also part of the Cleveland Public Task Force that reviewed and recently approved the installation of five wind turbines in Lake Erie.
John is a graduate of Emory University and is CPA certified.
Wendy L. Brugmann
Chief Operating Officer
Wendy has served many roles at Cardinal since joining the team in 1998, including Chief Financial Officer and Human Resources Director and currently, as EVP and COO. Wendy played a key leadership role when Cardinal started its lean journey in 1998 and has spearheaded the company’s lean efforts to include the entire organization, its suppliers and its customers – thus creating the Cardinal Production System. As recognition of her efforts, in 2009, Wendy received The Manny Award which recognizes manufacturing excellence in northeast Ohio.
She holds both a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration from Kent State University.