Stephen Odzer

As the current CEO and founder of YBT Industries of Henderson, NV, Steven Odzer has over 30 years of experience in the distribution industry. “I started my first company at age 18 out of my parents’ basement,” he says. In 2000, he was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the area of distribution. Steven Odzer is someone who had a keen eye for business from a young age. “I went to Yeshiva of Flatbush High School and then to the Brooklyn College Scholars program,” he says. With a lifetime of experience under his belt, he shares some tips for starting a distribution business.

Why is Distribution Important?

According to Steven Odzer, the distribution sector is an essential component of the supply chain. The main job of a distributor is to grow a relationship with manufacturers, house the inventory, and distribute the product to each retailer. Steven Odzer says that while manufacturers focus on production, the job of a distributor is to move the inventory and sort it out by individual orders.

Select a Niche

Steven Odzer says that selecting a niche is the first step for those who want to start a distribution business. Focusing on a narrow niche allows distributors to build better relationships with manufacturers and retailers. Those who have a broader business model often spend more time sourcing the products from manufacturers to deliver to the retailers. However, those who narrow their niche remove the added layers of sourcing extra products.

Focusing on Sourcing and Selling

Once they focus on a niche, distributors need to start sourcing and selling, according to Steven Odzer. The first step is to source the products by talking to manufacturers and building relationships. The second step is to build a strong catalog and encourage retailers to obtain the products through their distribution company, explains Steven Odzer.

When he’s not busy growing his distribution business, Steven Odzer dedicates his time to helping worthy causes. “I am a large supporter of both Jewish and non-Jewish causes,” he says. Steven Odzer is also a large supporter of Bris Avrohom, a large non-profit that helps Jewish immigrants from Russia integrate into life in the U.S. Steven Odzer also advocates for the Arab-Jewish business cooperation.

Steven Odzer also likes to prioritize spending time with his family. He has seven children and nine grandchildren who keep him on his toes, according to Steven Odzer. One of his favorite things he likes to do with his grandchildren is going to a New York Yankees game.

As the CEO of the new YBT Industries of Henderson, NV, Stephen Odzer is a man who appears to be able to do it all. Although YBT Industries is a new business in the landscape of distribution, Stephen Odzer has over 30 years of experience in the industry. His new business venture is the result of a lifetime of experience many trials and errors throughout the years.

Stephen Odzer had his humble beginnings in entrepreneurship when he was very young. “I started my first company at age 18 out of my parents’ basement,” He explains. It was his education that propelled him in the right direction. He learned determination and responsibility from the people he encountered, “I went to Yeshiva of Flatbush High School and then to the Brooklyn College Scholars program,” he says.”

Stephen Odzer continued to work hard and challenged every obstacle. In 2000, his hard work paid off, “I was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000 in the area of distribution,” he says. 30 years later, instead of thinking about retirement, Stephen Odzer formed a new company.

During all those years he spent building his business, Stephen Odzer also raised a large family. “I have seven kids and nine grandkids,” he proudly says they keep him on his toes. When he is around his grandkids, there is never a dull moment. Aside from chasing after his grandkids at home, Stephen Odzer also stays connected to his extended family. “I also have many family members living in Israel,” Stephen says. His extended family is quite important to him. In fact, everyone came together to honor his cousin, Nachshon Wachsman, on the 25th anniversary of his kidnapping and murder.

Stephen Odzer’s extended family is a large motivator for his philanthropic work. Stephen says, “I am a large supporter of both Jewish and non-Jewish causes.” Stephen Odzer also advocates for Arab-Jewish business cooperation. He is also a large supporter of Bris Avrohom, a large non-profit that helps Jewish immigrants from Russia integrate into life in the U.S. and continue to foster their religious traditions. Some of the non-Jewish causes he supports include the AHRC, a non-profit that benefits individuals and children suffering from intellectual disabilities.

Even with all of the work he does, Stephen Odzer still has time to spend time on what he loves, sports. Stephen Odzer is also a big fan of the New York Yankees. He will cheer for them when they make the playoffs in 2019. Aside from baseball, Stephen Odzer also likes to follow the Las Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League.

Distribution industry expert, Stephen Odzer, is a man who likes to give back to the community. One of the causes Stephen Odzer and his family have supported for many years is Bris Avrohom, a non-profit that helps Jewish immigrants from Russia to the United States. Stephen Odzer supports this organization with his family in mind. “I have many family members living in Israel, and I am a large supporter of both Jewish and non-Jewish causes,” he says.

Bris Avrohom has worked with Russian Jewish Immigrants since 1979. For 40 years, Bris Avrohon has helped 28,000 immigrants integrate into the community. Stephen Odzer is proud of this organization because they foster traditions that date back 3,300 years. Bris Avrohom offers many services to help grow the sense of community:

1) Shul – the Shul has an open-door policy, and the services offered to foster the traditions.
2) Classes – Bris Avrohom offers a variety of classes, including women’s and men’s Shabbos class, Sunday class, Monday, and Thursday learning classes.
3) Comprehensive collection of publications in Russian.
4) Youth Services – There are a number of youth programs such as Bat Mitzvah Club, boys Chesed Teen Club, Kids Torah, and Tzivos Hashem
5) Cheder Yaldei Menachem – A preschool for children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years old.
6) Mikvah – Bris Avrohom offers a separate Mikvah for men and women to enjoy.

Bris Avrohom is not the only non-profit Stephen Odzer supports. He is also a large supporter of the AHRC Foundation, supports agencies that hire people with disabilities, and Arab/Jewish corporations. When Stephen Odzer is not busy giving back to the community, he is an accomplished businessman. He is the CEO of a new distribution business, YBT Industries of Henderson, NV, and has over 30 years of experience working in the industry. Stephen Odzer developed his skills for business early on “I started my first company at age 18 out of my parents’ basement,” he says with a proud smile on his face. “I was named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000 in the area of distribution,” he also mentions.

Even though he is an accomplished businessman and a philanthropist, Stephen Odzer is a family man. He enjoys spending time with his seven children and nine grandchildren. Stephen Odzer also loves to split his time between cheering for the New York Yankees and the Las Vegas Knights.

Successful businessman Stephen Odzer is the CEO of YBT Industries of Henderson, NV, a distribution business. He has over 30 years of experience in the distribution industry. Stephen Odzer had his beginnings at the age of 18 when he started his first business out of his parents’ basement. Since then, he won the title of Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2000 in the area of distribution. Even though Stephen Odzer owns a business, his life is not all work and no play. Before everything else, he considers himself a family man who always puts his family first. Although it’s not easy to do it all, Stephen Odzer offers some tips on balancing family and career.

Always Put Family First

According to Stephen Odzer, the key to balancing family and career is to always put family first. “I have seven kids and nine grandkids,” says Stephen Odzer. Having a large family means you always have to do what is best for them. When you back your family, they will always back you up. Stephen Odzer is also close with his extended family, “I also have many family members living in Israel,” he says. At the end of the day, businesses come and go, but your family is always there for you. 

Don’t Neglect Your Health

Stephen Odzer knows when entrepreneurs are busy running a business and providing for their family, they often forget to take care of their health. Not taking care of their health because they’re taking care of everything else is a sacrifice they can’t afford to make. It’s important to always put your health first. When you take care of your health, you will be the best version of yourself.

Stay Grateful

When dealing with they’re used to putting out fires on a daily basis, sometimes businessmen forget to be grateful for the things they have. For Stephen Odzer, being grateful is a tactic that never fails, even when things get tough. Focusing on the positives can help businessmen stay on track when the road seems rough.

Learn to Work Smarter

According to Stephen Odzer, one of the best ways to balance career and family is by working smarter, especially when having your own business. Instead of working harder and burning out, it’s important to find ways to work smarter. This will increase productivity and decrease the time spent at the office.

When Stephen Odzer’s not running his business or going to a Yankees game with his children, Stephen Odzer likes to give back to the community. Stephen Odzer is a supporter of Bris Avrohom, a large non-profit that helps Jewish immigrants from Russia. Stephen Odzer also works with organizations such as the AHRC and supports other Jewish and non-Jewish causes.

Stephen Odzer is a businessman with over 30 years of experience in the distribution business. Aside from becoming an entrepreneur at the age of 18, when he started a business out of his parents’ basement, Stephen Odzer loves his community. Stephen Odzer is an advocate for several organizations such as the AHRC Foundation, Bris Avrohom, Arab/Jewish business cooperation, and many other Jewish and non-Jewish causes. As someone who likes to do right by others, he wants to encourage others to become advocates for worthy causes. Stephen Odzer explains how to become an active advocate.

Decide What You’re Advocating For

According to Stephen Odzer, who advocates for Jewish Immigrant causes, the first step is to know exactly what causes you want to advocate for. Once people find a cause they want to fight for, they need to immerse themselves in the cause to understand why they want to support it. It’s important to conduct research to understand the source of the problem, what people are doing to remedy it, and reach out to the people affected.

Use Your Tools to Your Advantage

Stephen Odzer recommends everyone who wants to become an advocate uses every tool at their disposal to support their cause. For example, as a businessman with over 30 years of experience, Stephen Odzer can take advantage of all the contacts he has made over the years. He explains, nowadays, people can use technology to their advantage and advocate for their cause. Many people now take advantage of YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook to bring awareness of the issues they care about.

Narrow Down Your Message

Although many people think the issues they feel passionate about are specific, they also tend to be quite broad. Stephen Odzer believes when the message is concise and clear, it resonates with more people. The best way for advocates to make an impact is by narrowing down their message and sticking to it. This approach will help them reach a wider audience, rather than bouncing around hoping something sticks.

People Have to Know You Care

When you’re new to advocating for a cause, Stephen Odzer recommends you show people you care. How can you expect them to care about it if you don’t believe in it yourself? For example, you cannot tell people to recycle when you don’t do it. People also care about personal stories. Stephen Odzer believes in helping Jewish causes because he has a lot of family in Israel. Sharing his personal experience shows people he cares about the causes he supports.

When Stephen Odzer is not taking care of his distribution business or advocating for worthy causes, he’s a family man. Stephen Odzer enjoys spending time with his seven children and eight grandchildren. Stephen Odzer is also a big fan of the New York Yankees and the Las Vegas Knights.

Aside from being the CEO of YBT Industries of Henderson, NV, Stephen Odzer would consider likes to stay involved in politics. He says, “ I am very involved with the Republican Party and Republican Jewish Committee.” As a supporter of the Republican Party and Republican Jewish Committee, Stephen Odzer likes to encourage everyone to get involved with their local politics. He knows that not many people understand how to get started, so he considers it a joy to encourage others to get into politics. Below, Stephen Odzer talks about how to get involved in politics for beginners.

Volunteer for a Local Political Campaign
Stephen Odzer says the best way to get started in politics is by volunteering for a local political campaign. Volunteers who want to learn how the system works will benefit from learning about it in the headquarters of a campaign. Some volunteers help with tasks such as registering new voters, making phone calls, and more.

Join a Political Party
Although Stephen Odzer proudly belongs to the Republican Party, he encourages individuals to join the political party of their choice. The best way to join a party is to get involved and learn who the candidates running for local offices are.

Donate Money to Political Candidates
According to Stephen Odzer, once people find a candidate they believe in, the best way to support them is by donating money to their campaign. They don’t have to donate a lot of money, but even a little bit goes a long way. Those who donate money to their candidates will get access to their campaigns. Most candidates will acknowledge even the smallest of donations.

Watch the News and Stay Updated
One of the best ways to stay involved with politics is to pay attention to the news, according to Stephen Odzer. Learning about current events from reliable sources will help people understand what is at stake and give them a voice on issues that matter. For example, if there is a municipal issue, learning about it encourages people to take action to fix it. Learning about politics by watching the news also allows people to have educated debates.

Stephen Odzer also supports agencies that hire people with disabilities, the AHRC Foundation, Bris Avrohom, Jewish and Non-Jewish causes, and Arab/Jewish business cooperation. When he’s not supporting important causes and political affairs, Stephen Odzer is busy running around after his eight grandchildren. Stephen Odzer also likes to spend time with his seven children, especially at a New York Yankees game.

Aside from being the CEO of YBT Industries of Henderson, NV, Stephen Odzer would consider himself a family man first and foremost. “I have 7 kids and 8 grandkids,” he says. There’s no doubt that family is one of the most important things for him. Stephen also likes to stay in contact with his extended family, he says, “I have many family members living in Israel, and I am a large supporter of both Jewish and non-Jewish causes.” One of the best perks of having a big family is that he can take his children and grandchildren to New York Yankees games with him.

Although family, his business, and sports are quite important to him, Stephen Odzer finds full-filling making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. Stephen Odzer knows the importance of promoting equality in the workplace, especially for those who suffer from a disability. “We promote and support agencies that hire people with disabilities,” he says.

As a resident of New York, Stephen Odzer strongly supports AHRC. For over 70 years, AHRC has dedicated its cause to helping people with developmental disabilities. AHRC resources expand across all five boroughs and make a difference in the life of over 15,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The work AHRC does to help individuals ranges from specifically tailored programs and services based on their needs. Individuals can receive help via programs at school, day treatment, workshops, and community residences.

With supporters such as Stephen Odzer, AHRC is one of the largest organizations in New York. What drew Stephen Odzer to this cause was the core values that govern AHRC: passion, respect, integrity, diversity, and excellence.

On top of all of the support he gives AHRC and other agencies that support hiring people with disabilities, Stephen Odzer also supports Bris Avrohom – a large non-profit that helps immigrants to the United States from Russia. Stephen Odzer is also a strong advocate of Arab/Jewish business cooperation. Due to his strong connection to his family in Israel, Stephen is also a supporter of many other Jewish and Non-Jewish causes.

Because he believes involvement in the community makes a difference, he is also involved with the Republican Party and Republican Jewish Committee. When Stephen Odzer is not spending time in New York, you can find him in Nevada cheering on for the Las Vegas Knights and taking care of business.