On Thursday, July 18th, Cresswood held its third annual company cookout with our world class team. It was a beautiful day on which to celebrate the milestone of our CEO’s 46-year anniversary with the company. It was also an occasion to recognize and give appreciation to our talented employees and the strong teamwork culture we can be proud of.
Jack Cress came to work for his father Ron back in 1978. Jack was working as a photographer in the Houston area at the time and moved to Illinois to help his dad run the business. Jack brought a unique perspective to the company, one that helped it transition over the years to become a world leader in the manufacture of single-shaft industrial shredders. When Jack started, the company was running as a job shop, taking metal fabrication orders for companies like Caterpillar and Barber Greene. Some of the work involved creating large industrial weldments, a skill that later played a big role in the company’s success. The economic environment in the 80s and 90s saw the large-scale move to offshoring large percentages of our domestic manufacturing as companies took advantage of cheap labor overseas. This created a very difficult situation for most domestic job shop businesses as margins shrunk. Many American manufacturing companies were forced to close or significantly downsize during this period.
Jack helped his father navigate these difficult times by shifting the business model from job shop work to operating exclusively as an OEM. Jack also made it a priority to make the company debt-free, and he credits his strong faith in helping him steer the company through some very dark and lean years. Thanks to his leadership, Cresswood emerged smarter, stronger, and poised for growth. Today, Cresswood has built a reputation as an industry leader and a manufacturer of premium products serving the plastic, pallet, wood, and paper recycling industries. Jack is definitely a people person, and this has helped the company build amazing relationships with its employees, our community, and our customers.
We celebrated with grilled gourmet brats and burgers and enjoyed the special meal in our outdoor area on one of the most beautiful summer days. The sales team did the grilling, a way for them to thank all of the skilled workers who build the quality systems they sell. Many employees took the time to enjoy looking at our community garden beds which are located on the south side of the area. It was a great time for good food and fellowship, and to recognize our founder who made it all possible.
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