Rochester Abrasives Industries (RAI) is built upon a solid foundation that is made up of seasoned employees, a clear understanding of the marketplace, a —can do— attitude, and unparalleled customer service. Our leadership is supported by highly skilled and passionate technical experts who welcome any challenge and thrive on finding a strategic, economical solution. Their passion and willingness to roll up their sleeves are what drive the company forward—and what have established RAI as the leader in grinding wheels, grinding segments, and abrasives products.

Gunter Borrosch — Chairman & CEO
Greg Borrosch — President
Bob VanSice — Vice President of Operations

Gunter Borrosch
Chairman & CEO

What is Gunter's role in the company?
Gunter has been in the industrial manufacturing business for almost 25 years. His first-hand experience and understanding of the grinding wheel industry's history and future opportunities have helped shaped RAI into the leader it is today. His role is to provide strategic guidance and advice to help develop the corporate direction and new opportunities relating to key product lines. Gunter is a trusted advisor and mentor to the current RAI leadership team—providing insight, innovation, and industry information that only someone with 25+ years can offer.

In Gunter's own words:
I get up in the morning ready to tackle another day full of opportunities ready to seize. My goal is to help RAI maintain its leadership position as the grinding wheel expert in industries such as Cutlery Knives and Industrial Knives. It is also a passion of mine to help uncover new industry opportunities to champion and new market segments.

Did you know?
I am an avid gardener. My wife and I spend as much time as we can to make the outside of our home look like a park. I currently am learning more about moss gardening, which is very interesting. In addition, I have been to dozens of international markets for both work and pleasure, including Russia, Ukraine, Yugoslavia, Egypt, China, Taiwan, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, just to name a few. I was born in eastern Germany, which is considered Poland today.

Best business advice:
Never lose sight of the value of a meaningful customer relationship. Industrial marketing is primarily based on building solid, long-lasting relationships with customers. It is about being their partner and eyes for the future—helping them plan the next step and accommodating their needs. To do so, you have to be in front of customers regularly'to understand not only who they are and what they need, but also who their customers are and what their customers need and expect.

Greg Borrosch
President

What is Greg's role in the company?
Greg provides the everyday high-level leadership for RAI as it pertains to corporate strategy, direction, operations, sales and marketing, and profitability. He handles most of the financial aspects of the company to ensure revenue and profitability goals are being met. As part of his strategic responsibilities, Greg helps the team uncover new markets and revenue streams, as well as helps develop and launch new product and service offerings for RAI customers.

Greg has been in the grinding wheels industry for over 15 years, with a history in RAI, American Siepmann, and GPB Distributing. He possesses an extensive understanding of where grinding wheels fit in the industry and what industries can take advantage of such technology. He is an active board member for the American Edged Products Manufacturers Association (AEPMA) and has provided educational materials (i.e., articles) and engaged in speaking opportunities with associations such as the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME).

In Greg's own words:
I greatly enjoy interacting with customers and helping them define their specific needs. It is rewarding to me to help customers with specific challenges to find a solution that works exactly like they envisioned. I find great enjoyment in seeing our company grow and prosper in an industry that is ever-changing and becoming increasingly more competitive. It is my job and passion to navigate RAI through these rough waters and to clearly and consistently see new opportunities to proactively meet customer and market demands.

Did you know?
There are several things people may not know about me. For starters, I am a big golfer! I would golf every day if I could. I also have been playing the piano for the last three years, which I really enjoy. In addition, I am an avid traveler and have been to 47 states in the U.S., mostly due to business travel. Traveling is a 'second life— to me now and one I enjoy since I have the opportunity to be close to my customers. And one of my hidden passions is my pinball game addiction! I am an avid pinball machine collector and player. My two kids and I really enjoy a good playoff game every now and then.

Best business advice:
Don't burn bridges and treat customers the way you would want to be treated.

Bob VanSice
Vice President of Operations

What is Bob's role in the company?
Bob has several key responsibilities at RAI. His primary role as technical director and applications specialist is to apply RAI technology to the applications and create solutions for the customer. He also oversees process engineering and quality control to ensure RAI runs smoothly and efficient with the highest quality output. Another focus is on orchestrating the R&D and new product development efforts to ensure RAI stays current with market demands. This includes overseeing new processes and controls with engineering and other Q&A process. Bob always makes himself available to customers for technical support and consultation when they need help determining the right solution for their specific needs and expectations.

In Bob's own words:
Being able to work closely with our customers and RAI's engineers to develop the right solutions to solve specific problems is what gets my juices flowing. I really enjoy a good challenge—and so far there are few which we couldn't overcome! This is greatly satisfying and rewarding for me and our engineers. I also like to pursue new markets and customer segments by developing new product offers and services. This doesn't happen without listening to our customers and the market to determine what is needed and when—keeping proactive in my role is a critical element to our success!

Did you know?
Many people don't realize I am in several types of sports. I am on the board of my son's youth football league. This allows me to be involved in something my twin sons really enjoy. I also am on the board of the Friends of Scholastic Crew'this is a really great organization, one I greatly enjoy and it keeps me involved in a sport with my teenage daughter. My other athletic passion is Karate and I am a Certified Coach through the American Athletic Union (AAU). My 3 kids and I compete both in individual and team events. Lastly, I am a race car fanatic! I have been participating in professional road rallies with the Finger Lakes Region of SCCA (Sports Car Club of America) the last 25 years, and compete in local road rally events.

Best business advice: