A Team Committed to Excellence
Pete Smith
Pete Smith has over 40 years experience in industrial sales and purchasing. His 30 year tenure at AK Steel/Armco has provided him with a broad understanding of steel products, their costs and applications. Working with some of the largest appliance and automotive manufacturers, he has led numerous implementations focusing on how purchasing of raw materials can be optimized and how significant cost reductions can be realized.
Smith founded Chapman Smith Corporation in 1997 for the purpose of assisting OEM companies reduce costs and improve quality in all purchased materials. Chapman Smith Corporation has grown steadily under his leadership and continues to assist manufacturing companies in raw material selection, application and cost optimization.
A graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a degree in Marketing and Finance, Pete enjoys the challenges associated with industrial sales and purchasing. He is married and has two grown married children and four grandchildren. He enjoys golf and tennis and often turns to fishing to relieve stress. He is originally from Dayton, Ohio, but has lived in Northern Indiana for the past 20 years
Craig Erickson
Craig Erickson joined the team in 2007, bringing to Chapman Smith Corporation 24 years of experience in manufacturing, materials, and purchasing with two Fortune 1000 Companies.
Craig graduated from Purdue University with a BS Degree in Industrial Management. He then went to work with Emerson Electric Corp. headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. While at Emerson, he held various positions in Cost Accounting, Project Cost Estimating, and Business Development for the Electronics and Space Division.
Prior to Chapman Smith, he was employed by CTS Corporation, headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana. Most of his 18 years with CTS was spent in the Automotive Products Strategic Business Unit, which has production facilities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Scotland, Czech Republic, and China. During his years with CTS, Erickson held the position of Director of SBU Materials, taking responsibility for the Purchasing, Supplier Development, Production, and Inventory Control, in addition to the Logistics functions of the worldwide organization. He worked to provide cost savings – both in terms of optimizing and negotiating with the supply base – as well as promoting fundamental changes to products to save large amounts of money for the corporation. Total purchases were over $240 Million and were comprised of various commodities needed for the development and production of automotive sensors and engine management components for the US and international automotive markets.
Erickson also held the position of Director of Corporate Sourcing for two years and spent five years as Director/Manager of Operational Excellence. In that capacity he worked to implement a combined Lean and MRP II approach to operating the Automotive Products SBU at all locations.
Lora Kipker
Lora Kipker has over 20 years of experience in customer service and has been with Chapman Smith for 11 years. She is responsible for many aspects of the business, including: processing purchase orders, Invoicing, assisting accounts receivable & payable, customer service, and scheduling shipping &receiving for all orders…and many other “hats”.
Lora graduated from Manchester college with a B.S. in Social Work and a minor in Psychology and Sociology. Her daughter Lynzy who is an IU grad, lives in Bloomington with husband Paul. Lora is “nana” to granddaughter Grayla. She enjoys trips to Bloomington and her hobbies include: yoga, music, concerts, cooking and traveling.
Maelynn Fries
Maelynn Fries has over 13 years experience in manufacturing and over 25 years administrative experience. Maelynn processes purchase orders, packing list, invoicing and assisting with accounts payable. Maelynn is the newest member of the Chapman Smith team.
Maelynn is a graduate of Indiana Tech with a degree in Business Management. She is married with three children. She enjoys many group classes at the YMCA and attending all her kids many activities.