by Lisa Boghosian Papas
Vartkes Ehramjian is no mountain climber. But he is living proof that getting to the top of any peak not only requires careful footing but also vision, direction and the flexibility to change course when needed.
In 1983, Ehramjian reached the height of his career as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of H.B. Fuller Company, a 1.5 billion dollar worldwide manufacturer and marketer of specialty chemicals in St. Paul, Minnesota. Though he claims its been his mentors who have guided him to success, it is a fact that Ehramjian has climbed the corporate ladder step by step, leveraging his experience and traversing the world to achieve his goal.
Starting 40 years earlier and thousands of miles away in Aleppo, Syria, Ehramjian has since lived in Michigan, Indiana, New Jersey and Sao Paulo, Brazil in pursuit of his objectives. His is the story of how one immigrant, despite the odds, came to this foreign land and achieved ultimate success through determination and sacrifice. He is an inspiration to all and is proof that the American dream doesn't stop short of one's ability to carry it through.
Now calling Wayzata, Minnesota home, Ehramjian's journey began at the age of twenty. Managing all banking, shipping and insurance transactions for an agricultural export company in Syria, the young Ehramjian quickly climbed up the ranks from clerk to export manager after brokering a 10 thousand-ton wheat deal with the Germans. He stayed with the company until 1959, at which time, he decided to leave Syria and pursue his undergraduate studies in America.
Attending Eastern Michigan University in Yipsilanti, Michigan where several of his friends from Aleppo were studying, Ehramjian completed his education in just two and a half years majoring in three subjects: accounting, French and social studies. Simultaneously during that time, he also worked three separate jobs and met his future bride, Laura Schmoker, whom he married one year later.
Recognizing his ambition and desire to excel, Ehramjian was offered several full scholarships for graduate studies. He chose Indiana University for its accredited international MBA program. Needing a part-time job to support himself and his wife throughout that time, Ehramjian contacted the industrialist, Sarkis Tarzian, the former chief engineer at RCA, and inventor of the first tuner and portable television camera.
"When Laura and I first moved to Indiana, we were driving down the road in Bloomington and saw this sign for Sarkis Tarzian," says Ehramjian. "Since I needed a job, I decided to call and ask for his help. Tarzian agreed to give me a job in the accounting department on one condition-that my graduate studies come first."
Finishing his master's in business administration in just 12 months, passing his written and oral exams, Ehramjian was offered a job with Tarzian, but was interested in working for a larger company instead. Ending up at Ford Motor Company in Michigan in their international division, Ehramjian started working as a financial trainee. Five years later, he moved back to Indiana and started work for Cummins Engine Co., a leading worldwide designer and manufacturer of diesel engines and related products for trucking, power generation, industrial, marine and government markets.
"They invited me to work as an international finance manager at Cummins," says Ehramjian. "I was basically in charge of arranging bank financing for exports to different countries. We dealt with Mexico, the United Kingdom, Latin America, the Far East, the Middle East-wherever Cummins had distributors, I got involved."
With 43 percent of the company's business coming from global sales, after two years, Cummins sent Ehramjian to Sao Paulo, Brazil where he became General Manager in charge of South American countries-- Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. Along with his wife and three children, Hagop, Tamar and Alyce, and later Ricardo who was born in Sao Paulo, the Ehramjian's relocated to Latin America for two years. Later, Ehramjian was asked to come back to headquarters in Indiana as the head of Latin America, at which time Katie, their last child was born. He then was assigned the position as Director of International Development for Cummins. "In other words," says Ehramjian, "I was involved in whatever development activities were going on-joint ventures and overseas investments."
In 1979, Bendix Corporation of Southfield, Michigan, an automotive, avionics and machine tool company which was later purchased by Allied Signal Corporation, offered Ehramjian the position of Assistant Treasurer in charge of all financial activities including funding bank relations, foreign exchange, and cash management. When Allied Signal purchased Bendix in 1981, Ehramjian continued to work for the company in the same capacity, but in Morristown, New Jersey. Once again, the family moved-but not for long. In 1984, Ehramjian was invited to join H.B. Fuller Company as Sr. Vice President and CFO.
"Packaged foods, envelopes, chairs, shopping bags, carpeting, and an infinite number of products used on a daily basis contain adhesives that H.B. Fuller has produced," says Ehramjian. "Their business is to take products already made by other companies and make them stronger, perform better and last longer." Today, 90 percent of the Fuller business comes from the sale of adhesives, sealants and coatings. The company has direct operations in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific, and is headquartered in St. Paul. Global sales are around $1.5 billion today and the company employs some 6000 people.
"My professional objective had been to become the Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 industrial company with enough challenges where my knowledge and experiences would make a positive and substantial difference for the future success of the organization and its people," says Ehramjian. "H.B. Fuller was the ideal opportunity to accomplish my professional objective. On the road to achieving my career objective, serious sacrifices had to be made by my wife, Laura, and our children. Without the rock solid support and cheerleading of my wife, I don't think I could have been successful.
"In reminiscing on a wonderful and fulfilling professional success, I have come to the conclusion that the competitive priorities of family and career should be thoughtfully balanced, with the balance tilting towards family. I am also thankful for the opportunities made available to me which can be found only in America."
Acting as CFO for nine years, Ehramjian was in charge of all worldwide financial activities, including the company's 52 separate factories in 35 countries. When he retired in 1993, the company had doubled in productivity reaching 975 million in sales. Today, Ehramjian continues to consult on financial matters for Lunds Food Holdings, Inc., parent of 18 upscale grocery stores in the Twin Cities.
Ranked as a "must see" for any visitor to Minnesota, the stores offer an unmatched atmosphere including crystal chandeliers, combined with culinary experts to help shoppers answer nutrition, preparation, or party planning questions. "I help out with financial and business matters, as well as on company acquisitions," says Ehramjian. "Two years ago, I was a key player in a very substantial acquisition to buy 10 Byerley's upscale Grocery Stores."
With seven languages under his belt, including English, Arabic, Armenian, Turkish, French, Spanish and Portuguese, Ehramjian, outside of his high powered career, could seem like a fish out of water in Minnesota, where the majority of the population is Scandinavian or German. But since he's been there, he's never felt any difference among his neighbors or those he comes into contact with on a daily basis.
"In fact," he says, "Minnesota offers everything a person could want. Minneapolis and St. Paul are good-sized cities and there is a real sense of community here. The people are as nice as everyone claims, and there is plenty to do in terms of art and cultural activities. The winter is the only bad part. But I believe that if you like outdoor winter sports such as skiing and ice fishing, then Minnesota is a great place to be."
