Elisabeth Smith, President and CEO of Acutec Precision Aerospace, was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 East Central Award finalist. We caught up with Elisabeth in a recent interview where she shares about her journey as an entrepreneur, forming an ESOP, and the resiliency of rural communities like Meadville, PA. Please enjoy this interview with Elisabeth and join us in celebrating her incredible accomplishments!
About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
The East Central program celebrates entrepreneurs from Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Northeast and South-Central Ohio and Kentucky. Now in its 38th year, Entrepreneur Of The Year is the preeminent competitive business award for audacious leaders who disrupt markets, revolutionize sectors and have a transformational impact on lives. Over the past four decades, the program has recognized the daring entrepreneurs with big ideas and bold actions that reshape our world.
About Elisabeth
Elisabeth was one of 29 regional entrepreneurs selected as finalists by an independent panel of judges. The candidates were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.
Elisabeth is a second-generation owner of Acutec Precision Aerospace, a growing manufacturer of machined flight-critical parts and subassemblies. Acutec has 500 employees across three locations, in Saegertown and Meadville, PA, and St Stephen, SC. In 2021, Elisabeth formed an ESOP and gave 25% of the business to her employees so they could benefit from the post-pandemic resurgence of the aerospace industry. Acutec was recently named Best Performer by Safran Landing Systems, a world-wide leader in aerospace landing systems, for 100% quality and delivery performance in 2023. Elisabeth says, “The Entrepreneur of the Year recognition is a reflection of our team’s resilience in the face of industry upheaval. I hope the nation can recognize the creativity and resourcefulness of small rust-belt and rural communities who engage in world-class manufacturing every day.”
Acutec Precision Aerospace is hiring at all of their facilities!
To learn more about Acutec and its employee-ownership opportunities, visit acutecprecision.com
Return Home