ASHLAND — When Christine Baker Rossi started at the helm of Rossi Machinery Services in the mid 1990s, she was often met with skepticism and condescension.
“Sometimes the old-school manufacturing is a little timid about women, but it’s changing. It was more prevalent when I first began to represent Rossi,” Rossi said. “When I started, I got patted on the head and people would say, ‘Okay, sweetie.’
“They don’t do that anymore.”
They don’t do it in part because attitudes towards women in business have changed — and in part because government agencies and businesses now have incentives to work with women and minority-owned businesses, Rossi said.
It may also be that Rossi’s successful track record and impressive customer list, which includes Timken, J.M. Smucker and Howden USA, speaks for itself.
Rossi received a certificate of commendation Wednesday from the office of Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted as one of the state’s featured businesses for its Ohio Business Profile Program. Husted has declared March “Women-Owned Business Month” and is highlighting women-owned businesses across the state throughout the month.
Rossi’s husband, Mike, repairs and rebuilds machines and machine tools both onsite and at Rossi Machinery’s shop on Cottage Street in Ashland. Rossi runs the product line side of the business, selling products, accessories and safety items to clients.
“When we made Rossi, we wanted it to be a full-service and one-stop shop especially for, we thought, the little guy,” Rossi explained. “But actually, Lockheed Martin was delighted because their philosophy is, ‘If I called you I need you yesterday, and I don’t care what it costs, get it now.’ So we ended up doing enormous stuff for them.”
Rossi said a majority of the company’s business comes through word-of-mouth.
“Most of our rebuilds are still out there churning after 20 years, so that’s a real tribute to the work,” she said. “Small is sometimes better than big and a bad reputation. We have competitors from Akron that are much bigger than us, but their reputation is such that we clean their mess up.”
The Rossis moved their home and business from Akron to Ashland in 2011, the same year Rossi became a certified woman-owned business.
In addition to leading the business, Rossi has been active in the community.
Ashland Main Street executive director Sandra Tunnell referred to Rossi as “the best ambassador ever” for Ashland, and Leadership Ashland director Ginny Telego agreed.
“You’re such an awesome example for not just women in our community but in general … I can’t think of anybody who deserves this more,” Telego told Rossi.
Rossi said the he Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s woman-owned certification is more than just a rubber stamp.
“They come and they look at your facility and they want to see if you’re a pass-through, especially since I’m married to the guy that does a lot of the heavy lifting,” Rossi said. “But I was told the last time that it was clear I was every bit a partner and not a pass-through.”
Rossi said the competitive advantage was her main motivation for seeking the woman-owned certification, but she has found the process has opened doors for her to meet and learn from other strong women in business.
These days, Rossi is working on an application to receive a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise designation, and she’s planning a new business venture and looking to make a new hire to help free her up to do that work.
Rossi invited several local businesswomen and women in leadership roles in the community to attend Wednesday’s certificate presentation.
“I just really appreciate everybody coming today and supporting me, supporting business and especially supporting women in business, because we all have something to bring to the table,” she said.
