February, 2026- Q: You were instrumental in Enmark’s early growth. How did your journey with the company begin?
A: Enmark was founded in 1983, and I joined the company in 1992. My connection to the steel industry started even earlier, though, back when I was in high school. I spent a summer working at a service center that had just purchased two IBM PCs and needed help figuring out how to use them. They gave me the task of writing software—first to help plan slitter setups (optimizing arbor setups and tool usage) and later to build a basic accounting system. That was my introduction to both the steel industry and software development.
A few years later, while I was in college, Mark Bilek, Enmark’s founder, contacted me because that same steel company I had worked for in high school had purchased their CCFR software and was insisting that my original software be converted to run on their new Unix platform. I was hired to do the conversion and was told I had a job with Enmark when I graduated. I officially joined Enmark in 1992 and eventually came together with other employees to purchase the company in 2000. At that point, we began working with SQL and newer technologies to develop what is now Eniteo. I became the sole owner in 2017. So, while I wasn’t a founder, I’ve been deeply involved in shaping what Enmark has become.
Q: Enmark has grown a lot in the last five years. How has the company and your role changed?
A: It was clear that Enmark’s Eniteo ERP product was a great solution for metal service centers, but I also realized we needed help to grow to meet our potential and become the top product in the industry. During the pandemic, I explored many options and eventually decided to bring in the investment firm of Accel KKR to help us grow faster. It was important to me that Enmark remains dedicated to our customers and current employees, and AKKR was on the same page from the start. They have supported our growth while keeping our commitment to the companies and the people that have made us the company we are today.
I am now Enmark’s chief engineer. What excites me most is that I can focus fully on the product again, especially the core Eniteo user experience—how we improve the product, grow the team and optimize the development process. Over the past five years, we have been able to release a tremendous amount of great software, including new versions of Eniteo that support a wider range of service centers, and new products, such as our EnVision business intelligence tool and our Enmark Pay customer payment platform.
Q: How has the market for metal ERP changed over the years?
A: The biggest change has been the industry’s shift toward value-added services and production. Early on, software for the metals industry was often focused on basic distribution workflows. But over the past 20 years, service centers have realized they can’t just be a marketplace for steel. Instead, they have to add value through processing, production and operational efficiency.
Eniteo was originally developed for multiline companies, but it was always designed with flat roll products and production in mind. That foresight paid off because we have been able to expand the software and the markets we serve. Over the last five years especially, we’ve invested heavily in functionality that supports both flat-roll and multi-line operations.
You also see smaller service centers using technology in ways that only the largest of companies did just a few years ago. Metals companies of all sizes are looking to technology for help with decision-making, process optimization and customer service. We’ve been able not only to keep up with what our customers are asking for but also help them find better solutions and anticipate their needs going forward.
Q: What excites you most about Enmark’s product direction today—especially with AI entering the picture?
A: AI, in particular, has been eye opening. I’ve been writing code since the early 1980s, and this past year has been as impactful as the rise of the internet. AI changes how you approach problems. You don’t start with a blank page anymore; you start with a concept and refine it. It’s made me and our entire team faster and more creative. I’m honestly excited to be involved in this next phase and to see how it unfolds for Enmark and for the industry as a whole.
Enmark Systems Inc., eniteo.enmark.com.
