Morbark president James Shoemaker Jr. has retired after 13 years with the company.
“My job is complete,” Shoemaker said. “When I became president, I had a mission to regain market share and increase profitability for Morbark, and then to prepare the company for sale. The team at Morbark reacted splendidly, and we successfully regained market share and enhanced our profitability. My intention all along was, once the company was sold, to retire and let the new management take charge and that’s what I’m doing.”
Morbark was acquired by Stellex Capital Management in March of this year. Shoemaker began working with Stellex in September 2015 and agreed to stay on as president for a few months to assist with the transition. He also plans to continue with Morbark in a consulting capacity.
Shoemaker joined Morbark in 2003 as director of operations before being promoted to vice president of operations, and then was named president in 2011.
In May of this year, Shoemaker was honored with the 2016 John G. Thodis Michigan Manufacturer of the Year Award for large tier companies by the Michigan Manufacturers Association.
Shoemaker, who has been involved with numerous local industry associations, plans to continue his work with industry and civic organizations. “I want to increase my engagement to help manufacturing find ways to encourage young people to work in the industry,” he said. “We need to work with education to make the curriculum much more trades-friendly.”
Morbark produces a full line of whole tree and waste wood chippers, flails, brush chippers, horizontal and tub grinders, sawmill equipment, material handling systems and more.
