011: Why Generational Wisdom is Social Wisdom| American Textile Company, Duquesne, PA

Eight years from now, when Lance Ruttenberg blows out the candles on a birthday cake celebrating his company’s 100th birthday, the CEO of American Textile Company will be savoring an industrial hallmark that no Fortune 500 CEO has ever known. Lance and his brother Blake are today the third generation of Ruttenbergs to own and lead the textile firm first established in 1925. While the company may not be in the same weight class as other successful firms with generational-family origins (Ford Motor Company, IBM Corp.), ATC’s longevity is a testament to an ownership/management model that has successfully served an industry, a family, and a devoted employee population for nearly 100 years.