Steve Shifman, President & CEO, Michelman

Steven J. Shifman is the President & Chief Executive Officer of Michelman, a large privately held global technology and manufacturing company. Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and employing approximately 500 associates Michelman has sales and administrative offices, technology centers, and manufacturing operations in the United States, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Singapore, China, India, and Japan. Michelman’s purpose is to Innovate a Sustainable Future with Expert Materials, providing solutions through applied chemistry in a variety of industrial market segments ranging from printing and packaging, to industrial coatings, to glass and carbon fibers. Industry leaders call upon Michelman to develop sustainable solutions that help them to address their challenges, deal with a rapidly changing global and regulatory environment, and to grow their businesses. Steve has had a diverse career both before and at Michelman. His experience has ranged from sales and sales management, to Finance where he served as the company’s Chief Financial Officer, to leadership of one of the company’s business units, ultimately culminating in his appointment as the Chief Executive Officer in 2003. During his tenure, Michelman has quadrupled in size and profitability, and has become a much more global business. Originally, primarily a North American business, over this 16-year period, the company has diversified globally with now more than 50% of its business being generated outside of the United States. The global business has been built both organically and through acquisition. For these accomplishments, Steve Shifman was named the Ernst & Young Regional Entrepreneur of the Year for the manufacturing sector in 2013. Shifman is a progressive leader whose results are measured not only in the impressive numbers Michelman has delivered but also in the dedication and commitment his team offers to all of the company’s stakeholders. Shifman is a firm believer in purpose driven leadership, and has worked to engage every Michelman associate in the organization’s journey. Under his leadership Michelman lives by the values of Integrity, Respect, Success, Collaboration, Curiosity, and Giving. These values inform both Shifman’s leadership philosophy and the company’s decisions around strategy, hiring, and investments. Michelman is committed to building its business for generations to come, while at the same time delivering against aggressive annual performance expectations. And, Michelman associates are actively engaged in communities around the globe. You’ll find members of the Michelman team serving on boards, coaching, tutoring, mentoring, and raising funds for those in need. In addition to serving on the Michelman Board of Directors, Shifman also serves on the Board of Magnum Venus Products, a private business based in Knoxville, TN. He also has a portfolio of community board responsibilities, including serving as the Vice-Chair of the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, as the Chairman of the United Way of Greater Cincinnati, and was a founding member of the Board of the Preschool Promise. He recently completed a term as the Board Chair for Teach for America in Southwest Ohio. He is currently serving on the RESTART Cincinnati task force charged with leading Cincinnati out of the Covid-19 crisis. Steve and his wife Julie reside in Cincinnati, Ohio, and have four adult sons. Along with his business and community commitments, Steve is an avid cyclist, skier, hiker, and runner. He is also passionate about travel, the arts, great food and wine. Steve got one new grandson in 2020.