MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Corp. Charlie Braun, President, Design Engineer Custom Rubber Corp. www.customrubbercorp.com A Legacy of Resilience: The Journey of Custom Rubber Corp. In the bustling industrial hub of Cleveland, Ohio, Custom Rubber Corp. has stood as a symbol of adaptability and commitment to manufacturing since its inception in the 1950s. Founded by two entrepreneurial brothers, the company has seen its fair share of transformations— changing hands multiple times before being acquired by the family of its current president, Charlie Braun. Under Braun’s leadership, the company has navigated industry upheavals, economic uncertainties, and the evolving demands of modern manufacturing, all while staying true to its roots. FROM FAMILY PURCHASE TO INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP In 1980, Braun’s parents purchased Custom Rubber Corp., taking a leap into the rubber industry despite having no prior experience. For Braun, who was just 10 years old at the time, the business quickly became a defining part of his life. “I was always taking things apart, trying to figure out how they worked, and sometimes even putting them back together,” Braun recalls with a chuckle. This innate curiosity for mechanics and manufacturing foreshadowed his future in the family business. While Braun eventually joined Custom Rubber Corp. full-time in 2000, it wasn’t a direct path. After earning a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from Harvard University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University, he gained valuable experience in various industries, including plastic injection molding and enterprise resource planning (ERP) consulting at Ernst & Young. These roles provided him with diverse perspectives and skills, which he brought back to the company. “My father and I agreed that it was important for me to work elsewhere first,” Braun explains. “Those experiences made me realize I wanted to work in manufacturing— to make actual products, not just offer services.” By ARPM Staff 10 / INSIDE RUBBER / 2025 Issue 1
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