Justin Mortara
President, Mortara Instrument Inc.
Milwaukee-based Mortara Instrument Inc., a manufacturer of medical devices for diagnostic cardiology and patient monitoring, was acquired earlier this year by Chicago-based Hill-Rom Holdings Inc. for $330 million. Former chief executive officer Justin Mortara is now president of the company, which was founded by his father, David. Mortara spoke recently at Scale Up Milwaukee’s annual Celebration of Growth event.
- “It’s always about innovation. That’s been our theme. That’s how we’ve driven our growth – taking profits from one venture, pushing them back into the business and investing in new product development, new technologies and how can we serve our customers in ways they have previously not been served and disrupt the established competition.”
- “I was raised in Milwaukee but like some people, I needed to leave to figure out how good I had it…I came back to a city that had fundamentally changed. Graduating in the late ’80s and coming back in the late ’90s, seeing some really interesting things that had happened, some new energy in the city, some new developments. And then getting really excited about what more we could do.”
- “Know your competition. Know how quickly they can respond to anything you might do. How many barriers can you create for that competitor who might follow you?”
- “People matter…but the right people really matter…Somebody could be the smartest guy in the room or the smartest lady in the room, have all sorts of experience, but if they aren’t aligned with how we like to run, how we like to race ahead, how we like to drive, how we like to innovate, then it doesn’t fit.”
- “For those of you in the technology space, don’t start with the technology. If you start with understanding the need and have a deep understanding of your competition and their ability to respond and react, then apply the technology. The technology is then your friend.”
