For several decades, husband-and-wife team Rod and Barbara Brown have worked side-by-side, spearheading operations at MadeToOrder (MTO; asi/259540) -- a Pleasanton, CA-based distributorship with roots stretching back to 1989.

But now, the promo power couple are ready to move onto the next phase of life, and they’re transitioning leadership of the approximately $25 million firm into the capable hands of trusted colleagues.

Barbara & Rod Brown, MadeToOrder. 

This week, the Browns announced that Sandy Gonzalez will be MTO’s new CEO, taking over for Barbara. Meanwhile, Jon Zientek is rising to the roles chief financial officer and chief operating officer; Rod had been CFO. Both appointments are effective immediately, but the Browns say they’ll be around to assist with the transition into April 2020.

“We’ve been planning for this for years,” Rod Brown, 65, told Counselor. “We think it’s time for the company to have fresh leadership, and we think it’s important to make the transition not at a moment of crisis, but while we’re in a position of strength.”

The Browns lauded Gonzalez and Zientek as the perfect professionals to take on the important top executive roles and lead MTO to growth in the years ahead. With about 30 years of promotional products industry experience, Gonzalez has been with MTO since the year 2000. She most recently served as vice president and CIO. Zientek, who joined the distributorship five years ago, was promoted from Vice President of Finance.

“MTO’s newly expanded Board of Directors is excited that Sandy and Jon -- who have demonstrated tremendous leadership and support for their customers, vendors, and employees -- are moving into these roles,” MTO said in a company statement. “With their experience and in‐depth knowledge of MTO and the promotional products industry, and the ongoing support of Barbara and Rod, (the board) sees a smooth transition in leadership.”

In announcing the executive changes, MTO further noted that longtime Vice President of Sales Rex Shoemake is expanding his duties to “engage more deeply with sales partners and grow his vendor relations role with the company.”

MTO is also creating an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which empowers all employees to share in ownership of the firm. Barbara Brown is currently the largest stakeholder in the woman-owned enterprise.

“We’re really excited about the ESOP program – to be transitioning ownership to employees over time,” Rod Brown told Counselor.

The sharp focus on employees has been a hallmark of the Browns’ time in charge of MTO. The firm has – and continues to – provide workers with quality health insurance and a robust retirement plan that has seen some grow their 401(k) accounts into seven figures. “We’ve always felt it was our responsibility to deliver good health insurance and retirement planning,” Rod Brown told Counselor. He said MTO’s focus on charitable giving over the years is also something of which he and Barbara are proud. “I think all businesses have an obligation to give back,” Rod Brown told Counselor.

Looking ahead, the Browns’ plans include world travel. Rod also aims to engage in a less demanding career as a promo industry consultant, and to continue his missions work, some of which Counselor has documented here.

“I’m not anxious to die at my desk,” said Rod Brown. “We have a lot of interests. There’s so much we want to do and explore.”