Manufacturing 2023: HOWARD BROADFOOT

PRESIDENT AND CEO, ELECTRO-MECHANICAL, BRISTOL

Published August 30, 2023 by Virginia Business

Broadfoot has been CEO of Electro-Mechanical since 2021, when he was promoted from chief operating officer upon the retirement of founder Russell Leonard. It’s been a busy couple of years since then. He shepherded the equipment electric manufacturer through its November 2021 acquisition by private equity fund Graycliff Partners for an undisclosed amount. He has also led the development and implementation of a multiyear strategic plan and has seen revenue and earnings grow by more than 100%. Broadfoot joined Electro-Mechanical in 2009.

Leonard founded the company in 1958 as Electric Motor Repair and Sales, and these days it primarily focuses on manufacturing switchgears, transformers and custom systems that are critical components for utility and industrial power infrastructure, marketing products under the Federal Pacific and Line Power brands. 

Broadfoot earned his bachelor’s degree in industrial management and an MBA from the University of North Alabama. Prior to joining Electro-Mechanical, he was an executive at Thomas & Betts and Newell Rubbermaid and worked for Boeing and German car parts manufacturer ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

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