Bernie Fromm was just 26 when his father, Louis, died on a Friday afternoon in 1962. Alexander had died the previous year. At the time, Bernie, who had just finished college, was only working part-time for Fromm and didn’t even have a key to the building. But, with no other family members in the business, he knew he had to show up the next Monday morning to run the company.

It was from this incredible legacy that Mike Fromm and Lou Fromm, third generation owners, took their inspiration and guidance. 

“Growing up, I always wished that my dad owned a sporting goods or stereo store,” Mike says with a smile, “because those are things I liked. As kids, we neither fully understood what our dad’s company actually did, nor were we all that curious because it didn’t seem like a very exciting business to be in.”

Throughout their childhood and early adulthood, neither Mike nor Lou had aspirations of joining the family business; however, as life would have it, after pursuing other opportunities and careers, both found themselves back at Fromm in the 1990s when Bernie was contemplating retirement. Under Mike’s leadership, the company flourished. But in 2009, he decided to transition to a professional management model.

“Too often, owners stay at the helm for too long and companies become stagnant,” Mike said sagely. “We didn't want that to happen, and weren’t sure if any of our kids would have interest in joining us.” So they appointed John Hanna, an industry veteran and longtime executive at Fromm, to the role of President & Chief Operating Officer. This represented the first time in Fromm’s 100-year history that the company would be run by someone other than a family member. In 2023, John became a shareholder, which speaks to the trust and confidence Mike and Lou have in him.

Resources like the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance’s Family Business Association have been a mainstay for the Fromm family — participants attend groups independently from their fellow family members, providing a safe space for problem-solving, brainstorming and camaraderie with others on the same journey.

The company has stood the test of time, surviving The Great Depression, two world wars, a recession and wave after wave of cultural change — but one of its biggest tests to date was on March 15, 2020, when the world was brought to a screeching halt by the COVID-19 pandemic. As an essential industry supplying utilities, infrastructure and hospitals, Fromm had to keep its doors open and at the same time ensure the safety and well-being of its employees — all while operating on a fraction of its normal revenues. 

One of the immediate impacts of the pandemic was the shutdown of the construction industry, which accounted for half of Fromm’s business. Many of its manufacturing customers were also running vastly scaled back operations, or had shut down completely. This sudden loss was a significant blow, and the future was uncertain. The management team, determined to protect its workforce, faced the daunting task of keeping the business afloat without the support of government relief programs that were yet to be rolled out.

To survive, Fromm leadership had to make difficult decisions and sacrifices. The management team took significant pay cuts, and various expense reduction measures were implemented. Every possible step was taken to reduce costs without compromising the core operations of the business.

Despite the uncertainty, the Fromm team remained committed to supporting its employees. They understood the importance of maintaining a strong and motivated workforce, recognizing that their people were the backbone of the company.

Reflecting on the experience, Mike, Lou and John realize now that the pressure they faced was indeed a blessing. It provided an opportunity to solve problems and navigate challenges that they might otherwise have never had to face. This mindset helped them stay focused and motivated, even when the path forward was unclear.