Caron Ng’s Blueprint: Honoring Family Legacy Through Manufacturing Innovation

By ICIC | September 11, 2025

From Global Dreams to Family Duty

In 1997, Caron Ng was preparing for a career that would take her around the world as a United Nations interpreter. But when her family needed help with their business, she made a choice that would change everything. She joined NU-SET Lock as warehouse staff and worked her way up to her current position as Principal CEO.

When she stepped into the company, she didn’t just inherit a business. She embraced a legacy built across two continents and three generations. Originally founded in Hong Kong by Caron’s grandfather, NU-SET has been a fixture in American manufacturing for more than 30 years.

From its early days producing traditional lockboxes to its current lineup of smart security products, NU-SET has always stood for trust, craftsmanship, and family.

Honoring the Past, Building What’s Next

Growing up, Caron saw firsthand what it meant to build something that lasts. Manufacturing wasn’t just a job, it was a way of life. When she stepped into leadership, she brought a fresh perspective rooted in respect for tradition and a clear vision for the future.

Rather than simply maintaining the foundation her family built, she helped the company evolve, guiding NU-SET into new territory. Under her direction, the company expanded into smart technology, embraced e-commerce, and developed patented innovations that redefined how we secure and share our spaces.

Today, NU-SET is the only certified Minority-Owned and Women-Owned lock manufacturer and direct distributor in the U.S. It serves major retailers like The Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Amazon, while staying true to its roots as a family-run business. The company now holds more than 22 patents and trademarks, a reflection of Caron’s commitment to forward-thinking design.

Learning, Growing, and Giving Back

Caron didn’t come to leadership through a traditional business school path. She learned by doing and by seeking out programs designed for entrepreneurs like her. She’s an alumna of ICIC’s Inner City Capital Connections (ICCC) program, which supports established small business owners in under-resourced communities with executive education, coaching, and capital access strategies.

Through ICCC and other programs, Caron gained the tools to scale her business, navigate challenges, and lead with confidence. These experiences helped her sharpen her instincts and build a network of peers and mentors who understood the unique pressures of running a small manufacturing company.

Now, she’s giving back to that same community.

Shaping the Future of Manufacturing with ICIC

In 2024, Caron joined the advisory board for ICIC’s newest executive education initiative: the Manufacturing Accelerator Program: High-Growth Strategies for Manufacturers. Launched in August, MAP is a national, virtual program designed specifically for small manufacturers looking to grow. It offers expert-led classes, peer networking, and practical strategies for scaling operations, improving efficiency, and accessing capital.

Caron’s role on the advisory board helps ensure the program reflects the real-world needs of manufacturers. Her insights, drawn from decades of hands-on experience, helped shape a curriculum that is grounded, relevant, and actionable.

For Caron, this is more than a professional milestone. It’s a way to support the next generation of manufacturers and honor the legacy she’s continuing.

Small Business, Big Vision

Caron’s story is a reminder that innovation doesn’t always mean starting over. Sometimes, it means building on what came before and honoring the past while creating space for something new.

Her journey shows that small businesses can do big things when they have the right support, the courage to evolve, and a deep connection to their roots.

Are you a manufacturer ready to grow?
ICIC’s Manufacturing Accelerator Program is practical, focused, and created by people who understand the journey. Learn more and take the next step in building your future.