STEPHEN SADLER:
 
Stephen Sadler




 
 
 
 
 
President and CEO of Scate Technologies Inc. in Orion Township. Sadler and his wife founded the firm, which provides commercial off-the-shelf software products and custom software development services for desktop, mobile, Web, and client-server applications in addition to consulting on a variety of services. Customers include a range of nationally recognized businesses. The company recently expanded its Web and application-development division and is hiring additional employees. Sadler holds numerous patents and has assisted many other businesses in developing and launching their new technology. He’s the registered inventor for two other technologies, one of which is currently used to gather real-time statistical data and video for professional, college, and high school sports. In addition, Sadler is an accomplished software and robotics programmer and teaches a variety of programming languages. Previously, he worked at Talon Automotive’s Veltri Division for 11 years, most recently as director of engineering. Sadler graduated summa cum laude from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology, vehicle design.


WHERE BORN: “Nottingham, England.”

MOST INFLUENTIAL PERSONS: “My wife. When I first met my wife I wasn’t working. I was in school and taking business classes at the University of Windsor. She said that’s not who you are – you’re creative and like engineering. So then I started looking for technology jobs. I started designing car parts and it spawned a career in designing and inventing things. It really released my entrepreneurial abilities.”

LAST BOOK READ: “I read the Bible all the time.”

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: “Intense, loyal, creative.”

WHERE MY FIELD/INDUSTRY IS HEADED: “This area is heading in the right direction. With the auto industry not doing well and many creative and technology people in this area, the spawning of new technologies is going to be rampant over the next couple of years. I’m excited about it, as long as we don’t keep losing people. We need to make jobs here instead of shipping them away.”

FAVORITE TECHNOLOGICAL GADGET: “My Wii.”

FAVORITE PLACE: “Nottingham. I moved to Canada when I was 10. I go back to Nottingham every couple of years and play hockey with my friends. Most people don’t know we play hockey in the United Kingdom, but we do.”

FAVORITE HOBBIES: “Hockey.”

FAVORITE FOOD: “Sushi.”

MY HIDDEN TALENT: “Producing art.”

HOW I WANT TO BE REMEMBERED: “As being a good father to my kids.”

Grant Thornton Website At the annual awards reception in April 2014, one Leader & Innovator from the previous 12 months will be selected as the Grant Thornton Leader & Innovator of the Year.