Ronia Kruse Headshot

Personal Awards

  • EY Entrepreneur of the Year

    Finalist

  • WJR

    Women Who Lead

  • Crain’s Detroit Business

    40 Under 40

  • Inforum’s Inner Circle

    Most Influential Women in Southeast Michigan

  • Rhonda Walker Foundation

    Powerful Women of Purpose in the Technology Industry

  • The Center for Empowerment and Economic Development

    2011 Entrepreneur of Distinction

  • Linwick & Associates, LLC

    Career Mastered: Women’s Leadership in Action Award

  • National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO)

    Top 10 Women in Business

  • Lawrence Technology University

    Leaders and Innovators

  • AAC

    Entrepreneur of the Year

  • Arab American Women Leader

  • National Association of Women Business Owners

    Public Policy Advocate of the Year

Co-Founder & CEO

Ronia Kruse is a dynamic executive who leverages her background as a successful entrepreneur in talent management and workforce solutions; as a Certified Public Accountant and financial expert with a big 4 professional service firm; and as a strategic change agent and human capital disrupter to help board of directors and companies achieve maximum financial results. Kruse is the founder and CEO of OpTech, LLC and OpTech Solutions, a talent development and solutions firm providing services to Fortune 1000 and government clients. She invests in emerging firms and is involved with due diligence for emerging businesses/technologies.

 

Kruse launched OpTech during the sharp economic downturn of 2001, arguably the worst time to start a company, but her business acumen paid off. With her contagious enthusiasm and passion for inspiring others, Kruse brings the unique ability to develop talent and leverage technology, particularly in the realm of crisis management, which led to the exponential growth of her firm, particularly during the 2008/2009 downturn of the economy. Kruse’s unwavering commitment to OpTech’s success and growth has motivated her to make several aggressive decisions including launching OpTech’s solutions practice and developing innovative solutions for clients in the areas of analytics, cyber security, application development and connected vehicles.
Kruse is dedicated to diversity and inclusion and the pursuit of connecting people of all backgrounds with work that enriches their lives. Frequently a mentor to young female professionals and minority talent, Kruse strives to help employees find purpose and empowerment through meaningful work using her transformative strategic initiatives.

 

Before venturing out on her own, Kruse was a senior tax consultant for a big 4 CPA firm, where she specialized in international tax planning strategies for clients, harnessed business process improvement/efficiencies, and developed financial applications for leading industries. In addition, she served as an adjunct professor in the Master of Science Taxation program at Wayne State University.

 

Under her dynamic leadership, OpTech has earned numerous awards for its exceptional service, growth, and diversity including being recognized with Clearly Rated’s 2023 and 2022 Best of Staffing Award for both Talent and Client satisfaction, being named one of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies Worldwide by the Women’s President Organization; Inc. 5000’s - Fastest Growing Private Companies as well as Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firms. Kruse is frequently invited to speak in front of a variety of audiences. Some of these include but are not limited to the U of M’s College of Engineering, WSU Ilitch School of Business, MichAuto, Inforum, and at the Mackinaw Policy Conference.

 

In May of 2023, Kruse completed the Quantum Shift program at the University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business University of Michigan.

 

Kruse has served on several board of directors throughout her career. In these positions, she is frequently called upon to address talent shortages, diversity and inclusion, and provide due diligence to tech start-ups. Some of the many boards she currently sits on include: Detroit Regional Chamber Executive Board; Independent Bank Board of Directors and Audit Committee and ESG task force; Founder and Board Member of Digital Lakes; Inforum Board of Directors and Leadership Committee; Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business – Board of Visitors and BELLE Advisory Board and We Build Character.

 

Kruse has also received several personal awards for her leadership in business, community involvement and public policy initiatives, including Mike Ilitch School of Business Alumni of the Year; Distinguished Citizen Award presented by the Great Lakes Division, EY Entrepreneur of the Year; WJR’s Women Who Lead; Crain’s Detroit Business - 40 Under 40; and Rhonda Walker Foundation.

 

Kruse, a Certified Public Accountant, holds both a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Science in Taxation from Wayne State University in Detroit.