John MacGregor and his partners spent most of their career working for the man. That is, until they decided to jump into the entrepreneurial world and become their own bosses by starting AA EDM last July.
The Ann Arbor-based firm bought the assets of a bankrupt company that made electronics technology for machines used in diesel engine manufacturing. MacGregor and his partners (George Barbulescu and Nicky Borcea) are now making a go of it after spending several decades each in the industry.
"We made other people money," MacGregor says. "We decided we were going to do it for ourselves. Even though the company went under, it still had a viable product."
It also came with some inventory, demonstration machines and a built-in customer base. The company builds machines and tools for diesel engines manufacturing, but it is such a niche market that the trio aren't worried about the work being shipped overseas.
Instead, they work away from offices on Jackson Road with their three employees. They hope to add 3-5 more within six months and they continue to slowly but steadily build their own company.
"It's not a fast-growing business, but it's a profitable one," MacGregor says.
Source: John MacGregor, president of AA EDM
Writer: Jon Zemke
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