WNY Jobs Newsletter - Employer Success Tips

 

Dave Lupp, CFO

International Imaging Materials, Inc. (IIMAK)

 

Lead with Integrity

 

Dave Lupp is the CFO of International Imaging Materials, Inc. (“IIMAK”), one of Buffalo’s leading manufacturers.  IIMAK makes thermal transfer ribbons for a wide range of printer applications and sells their product all over the world.  Prior to joining IIMAK, Dave worked for Peat, Marwick & Mitchell (currently KPMG) and two other manufacturing companies in financial leadership roles. He has spent the last 16+ years at IIMAK helping them grow, both organically and through acquisitions, as both a public and private company, into a leading business in their industry.  Dave has also taught at UB and occasionally speaks nationally on the topic of middle market acquisitions.

 

Dave has a very no-nonsense style, yet as you talk with him he gives you the feeling you are the only person important to him.  This is one of his many leadership characteristics. 

 

In this interview Dave shares his ideas on leadership and life.

 

What are the defining characteristics of a great leader?

“A leader has to take a legitimate interest in his or her people to be great.  Leaders cannot lose interest and must always be sincere.  Great leaders know how to build relationships with every employee individually.  They show vision, share the mission and build teams that get them there.  A great leader leads by example.  Above all, a great leader shows integrity…always.”

 

Why is it so important to show integrity?

“Integrity builds credibility, and credibility builds trust.  You can’t lead without trust.  If you don’t have trust, you can’t build relationships, and without relationships, a leader has nothing.  Keep in mind that it takes years to build trust.  A leader should work hard to hold onto it because it can be lost very quickly.”

 

How does a leader go about building trust?

“There are several ways a leader builds trust:

ü      Treating people well

ü      Exhibiting honesty

ü      Working hard and smart

ü      Setting a positive example personally and professionally

ü      Transferring knowledge in order to help others grow”

 

What are the characteristics of the person who was your best boss?

“I’ve been fortunate to have had a couple of good bosses over the years.  One, in particular, was early in my career and was a former military guy. He was:

ü      Quietly confident, not boastful and egotistical

ü      Admitted his  mistakes and didn’t take credit for others’ accomplishments

ü      Excellent communicator and relationship builder

ü      Played things clean and honestly

ü      If he didn’t know something, he would say so

ü      Helped educate and helped me learn from my own mistakes”

 

Why is the people component so important in leadership?

“As you deal with higher levels in an organization, egos get bigger.  When people focus on themselves it’s easy for the people component to get left behind.  This is a mistake.  Leaders need to surround themselves with good people and play a key role in their development process in order to succeed.  At all levels, the people component is important, but the higher you climb the more important it becomes.”

 

What advice do you have for dealing with ego driven people?

“One approach is to go in through the back door.  Get them to think your ideas are their ideas. You’ll notice that when you put your ego aside you are more likely to gain the cooperation of others.”

 

How do you recommend a leader takes his or her skills to the next level?

“A leader must challenge himself or herself and improve in a continuous manner.  Start with the end in mind.  When you do this it becomes clear what needs to be improved.  Admit what needs improvement.  Focus on building soft skills as well.”

 

What has been your approach to life?

“To do the best I can every day with a positive attitude while balancing, what I consider to be, the important aspects of life…

ü      Family

ü      Health

ü      Spiritual

ü      Career

ü      Friends

ü      Community

Each day I address every one of these aspects. ”

 

Dave, thank you for helping us grow to become better leaders.