Timberline Manufacturing, a Marion-based electronics contract manufacturer and local employee-owned company, announced retirement plans July 31 for Tom Pientok, its president and CEO and a longtime Corridor business executive.
Mr. Pientok joined the Timberline board of directors in 2013, and for the past six years, he has served as the company’s president and CEO, guiding Timberline through a period of growth and innovation.
Mr. Pientok will continue as president and CEO through March 2025, or until a successor has been named. He will then remain with the company in an advisory capacity until May 2025.
“We are grateful for Tom’s leadership and contributions to Timberline,” Timberline board of directors chair Mike Johnson said in a release. “Tom has been instrumental in building a strong foundation for the future, particularly by fostering a strong sense of ownership and engagement among the employee-owners.”
Timberline’s board of directors has engaged a partner known for its expertise in recruiting high caliber executives for ESOP companies, like Timberline. The firm will help identify the characteristics and values for a successful candidate and conduct a comprehensive search to identify a successor to Mr. Pientok.
“It has been humbling to have had the opportunity to lead Timberline Manufacturing,” Mr. Pientok said in a release. “I am incredibly proud of our employee-owners and what we have accomplished together as a team. Without a doubt, the past six years have been some of the most challenging yet rewarding in my career. We’ve navigated significant transitions, including moving into a new facility, overcoming the challenges of COVID-19, and adapting to a disrupted supply chain.”
According to the release, Mr. Pientok’s retirement from Timberline stems from a personal desire to spend more time with family after a 25-plus-year career in C-level roles, including serving as president and CEO of Apache Inc. from November 1998 to December 2018.
The transition at Timberline is a planned one, and Mr. Pientok has worked with Timberline’s board of directors for nearly two years to establish a smooth succession timeline.
Timberline Manufacturing is a 100% employee-owned (ESOP) company with more than 30 years of experience in electrical contract manufacturing. Its team of 240 employees specialize in wire harness assembly, control panels, electronics and electro-mechanical assembly, with services including engineering support, prototyping and testing.
