Reliable Plating Works CEO Jaime Maliszewski keeping the shine on business

Reliable Plating Works CEO Maliszewski keeping the shine on business By Rich Kirchen  – Senior Reporter, Milwaukee Business Journal

Jan 14, 2021,

Jaime Maliszewski...“I’ll never sell unless I know the people here are taken care of. But I’m not ready to go. I know I’ve got time left in me.”

When Jaime Maliszewski and his brother played pickup football games with the boys in their south side Milwaukee neighborhood, the other kids had to brace themselves when the Maliszewskis were on opposing teams.

Maliszewski says he and his brother Jack fought like enemies in the games but when they were on the same team everything was fine. That competitiveness and teamwork carried over to their family business when they became third-generation owners in 1996 of Reliable Plating Works.

“Everybody says ‘third generation always loses the company,’” Maliszewski said. “We’re like, ‘There’s no way in hell that’s going to happen on our watch. No matter what happens, we’ll do what it takes.’”

Maliszewski is president and CEO of Reliable Plating Works, which is about one mile west of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport in the same neighborhood where he grew up, and Elite Finishing also on Milwaukee’s south side. His brother Jack retired from the business, brother Jeff is vice president of quality and their father “Big John” Maliszewski still serves on the board.

Jaime Maliszewski has led the front-office side of the business through the launch of Elite Finishing in 2001, the recession that started in 2008 and now the pandemic of 2020-2021. In the past year, Reliable Plating added a custom division for small-batch and individual customers and saw its volumes triple in plating for ventilators that have been in demand during the pandemic.

One reason the company has been able to survive this long is a diverse mix of customers for its chrome-plating and metal finishing work, Maliszewski said. They include some of the biggest names in southeast Wisconsin manufacturing such as Broan-NuTone, Harley-Davidson, Snap-on, InSinkErator and Master Lock.

Reliable Plating and Elite Finishing frequently are suppliers to the first-tier or second-tier suppliers to original equipment manufacturers but still must meet exacting quality standards.

Customers credit Maliszewski with showing a sincere interest in their success, promptly addressing any issues that arise and just being positive to work with over the long haul. The electroplating businesses have 110 employees combined with about $12 million annual revenue.

Lee Williams, CEO of Eagle Metal Finishing in Milwaukee, says Maliszewski is high-energy, driven and forward-thinking.

“He’s clearly someone who believes that if we all work together, we all benefit,” Williams said. “It’s not just about Reliable Plating.”

Todd Berkenpas, plant manager of Rockford Process Control in Rockford, Illinois, said Maliszewski treats customers and employees like family. The company has been able to stay ahead of the market, adjust to trials and tribulations of the economy, regulations and ever-changing laws.

As family-owned businesses go, the Maliszewski-owned companies are refreshing in their trustworthiness and high functioning, Berkenpas said.

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“He’s a very competitive person going back to his football days,” Berkenpas said. “The unique thing about him is he’s not cocky. He understands his strengths and weaknesses. He’s probably one of the most trusted people I’ve ever met.”

Maliszewski played football as a safety and linebacker at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he majored in business. He says he never really considered not joining the family business, where he had worked since he was a boy.

Maliszewski worked his way up through the company and joined the office staff while in college before leading the company’s sales team.

“As I started working in the office more and started getting into it, I said ‘I know this industry so well already — why would I go outside?’” he said. “Once I got in I saw how much more I could do.”

He and his brothers launched Elite Finishing to add plating services for aluminum and brass to Reliable Plating’s steel and stainless-steel capabilities.

The plating companies have paid down debt incurred during the 2008-2009 recession and are in a good financial position, he said. Maliszewski, 56, said he plans to continue leading the company for another five to 10 years but he’s not sure a fourth generation of the family will take over.