Brielle Freda, President, Brewster Washers, Fairfield, N.J.
Generation of family ownership: Fifth.
Size of company: Our building is 7,500 square feet, and we have close to 100 customers in industries, including aerospace and robotics as well as the medical field and with organizations such as the Department of Defense. We manufacture washers, shims, disks, spacers and custom precision parts for industrial purposes.
Number of employees: Nine.
First job at this company: I put boxes together at age five. There was a certain way to fold our tiny shipping boxes, which had to be “premade ready” for our different parts. My usual reward was a trip to Toys “R” Us at the end of the week. I got to pick out one new toy. In 2016, after college, I started in the inspector/shipping department and checked on whether outgoing orders aligned with the customer blueprint. Eventually, I moved up to operations manager and my dad’s right-hand woman. When he passed in 2023, I took over as president.
Most memorable thing I learned from my father: To always do the right thing and really enjoy life. As part of enjoying life, he took us on a family vacation every year. One of my favorites was a Disney cruise our parents surprised us with when we were kids. My brother and I thought we were just driving by these big cruise ships, getting out to look at them and then going to a hotel with a water slide for the weekend. Little did we know we were about to board this massive ship with all the fun activities it had to offer.
Our greatest success: Winning the 2024 “MADE in New Jersey” Manufacturing Day Award from the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), and “Manufacturer of the Year”in the small business category. Also, we take pride in being in business for 106 years and being able to support other American businesses.
A quote from our mission statement: It’s six sentences. It starts out: “Our policy is a mandated commitment by all Brewster Washers associates to achieve and maintain leadership within the industries in which we are participants. We will do this by exceeding our customers’ expectations with the highest qualities of service and products.”
On my wall: I inherited a lot of my dad’s trinkets since I moved into his office, and I’m surrounded by family pictures on my wall. I have our family picture of our Cape Cod vacation in a huge frame on my wall, and also my college diploma — Miami University of Ohio, Class of 2016.
One of my greatest accomplishments: Stepping into this role and assuming the position head-on and being a good leader because of all my father taught me. I had just given birth a month before he passed away, so it was a lot.
Advice for other family business leaders: Stay true to yourself and your roots and people will follow you if you’re passionate about what you’re doing.
On a day off I: Enjoy time with my husband and daughter and go on adventures with them. One was a trip to the Turtle Back Zoo. I won a year membership through a Tricky Tray event, and it has been a blast watching her see the animals and learn their names.
Books I think every family business leader should read: “The Crush-It Formula: Break Barriers, Maximize Potential and Achieve Elite Performance” by Jaime Elizondo. He’s my current mentor.
Philanthropic causes our family supports: My father had leukemia, so the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Breast Cancer Foundation and the Special Olympics.
Words I live by: “You don’t have to be perfect to be an excellent leader. You just have to be yourself and keep moving forward.”