Mitch Free

Mitch Free fervently believed in an idea that struck others as crazy, impossible or worse. Why would someone create an online marketplace when all others were crashing and burning and why do it in an industry as slow to adopt and as fractured as manufacturing? The answer - passion. Mitch Free has spent most of his career solving problems, eliminating inefficiency and not listening to conventional thinking. Mitch founded and now serves as the President and CEO of MFG.com. Through his vision, creativity and persistence, Mitch has grown MFG.com to a company that has become the platform by which the world's manufacturing economy does business. Mitch is responsible for leading the strategic direction of the company and overseeing the overall management of MFG.com. Under his leadership, the company has experienced a tremendous amount of growth globally in a market segment he is continuing to help define. Prior to founding MFG.com, Mitch was founder and CEO of 3DATUM, a provider of technology solutions for the manufacturing and engineering communities. Prior, to founding 3Datum Mitch has held a variety of senior management positions with Northwest Airlines where he managed aircraft engineering, technical procurement and aircraft acquisition projects. Mitch began his career as a machinist and spent years working on the shop floor. Mitch holds two U.S. patents (5,167,720 and 5,162,659) and is recognized among his peers for his strategic vision, domain expertise and creative management style. Inc. Magazine named him an "Entrepreneur of the Year" finalist in 2005, Ernst & Young names him a finalist in 2008 and under his leadership MFG.com was ranked by Deloitte and Touche as one of the top technology growth companies in the U.S., and in the top 10 technology growth companies in Georgia. Mitch is an avid speaker at technology forums and conferences, including recent presentations to the Kellogg School of Business at Northwestern University, Harvard Business School and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Mitch is an active angel investor in disruptive Internet based technologies and marketplaces.

Aviation, Globalization, Internet, Manufacturing