New President and CEO of ORV

[IdahoBob]

Northwood Promoting Orton To President & CEO

December 1, 2017

"Northwood Investments, parent company to Northwood Manufacturing and Outdoors RV Manufacturing based in La Grande, Ore., announced the promotion of Craig Orton to president and CEO, replacing Jim Jones.

According to a press release, Orton has been a long-time employee at Northwood where he has served as CFO for over 10 years. Prior to his stint at Northwood, Orton served as a group controller for Jeld-Wen Inc. where he oversaw five international and nine domestic entities.

Northwood COO Ward King stated, “Given Craig’s familiarity with both companies along with his well established relationships with our current staff, this will be a truly seamless transition. All business operations at both facilities will continue to run as they currently have been.”

FYI

Bob

[Highway 4x4]

Yes Bob, the "new man at the helm" thread covers it with a link.

[Rickeoni]

Another bean counter rises to the top.

[60sumtin]

Promoting CFOs often results in more focus on the money than the product. I have a 3 year old Jeld-Wen garden door in my home and its both poorly constructed and designed so from my perspective ORV's future doesn't appear to be to promising.

[egwilly]

Originally Posted by Rickeoni

Another bean counter rises to the top.

Agree 100%. We're in trouble now.

[Lac]

Originally Posted by IdahoBob

Northwood Promoting Orton To President & CEO

December 1, 2017

"Northwood Investments, parent company to Northwood Manufacturing and Outdoors RV Manufacturing based in La Grande, Ore., announced the promotion of Craig Orton to president and CEO, replacing Jim Jones.

According to a press release, Orton has been a long-time employee at Northwood where he has served as CFO for over 10 years. Prior to his stint at Northwood, Orton served as a group controller for Jeld-Wen Inc. where he oversaw five international and nine domestic entities.

Northwood COO Ward King stated, “Given Craig’s familiarity with both companies along with his well established relationships with our current staff, this will be a truly seamless transition. All business operations at both facilities will continue to run as they currently have been.”

FYI

Bob

In case your wondering re Jim Jones:

Outgoing President and CEO Jim Jones took a brief sabbatical in late October, and had been talking for several months about spending more time with his family. Northwood wishes Jones well, the company said.

[Highway 4x4]

Jim Jones is a great guy, easy and fun to talk to. I hope he has many fun years ahead with family. The new guy has some big shoes to fill and I wish him the best in doing it.
The bottom line in any business is the "bottom line". You can build the best product out there but if you don't make enough money to pay the bills, no one has a job. There have been several top quality RV Mfg close their doors in the last 10 years. Right now the RV industry is "on Fire" but will it last and for how long?

[jswharton]

FYI- Jim Jones is a bean counter too

[Lac]

I really don’t care if the new person is a bean counter, lawyer, engineer, pilot, scientist, cowboy, cowgirl, firefighter, doctor, nurse etc. etc. just someone who can show and demonstrate quality control leadership and who knows who pays their salary. Only time will tell and if nothing improves there are other trailer manufacturing companies that will gladly take our money.
IMHO

Coops

[Highway 4x4]

Absolutely correct Lac.
But then again as I have said,,, "we have the best house in a very bad neighborhood".

[jswharton]

I too agree about quality and best house comments

Over on the Northwood forum there is also much conversation about quality. What struck me about the announcement was that Northwood Investments, is where Craig Orton was promoted to CEO. Northwood investements has the Northwood Manufacturing and ORV divisions, two kids with slightly personalities, with the same parents.

On Jim Jones LinkedIn profile he posted “Northwood Manufacturing & Outdoors RV Manufacturing manufactured 4,873 units this last fiscal year, July 2015.” And “We employ about 600 people at July 2015.”

With change brings hope, and would hope that some of the more simple quality issues could be addressed and yet expect as Highway 4X4 stated, “we have the best house in a very bad neighborhood” to continue.

[60sumtin]

If that best house in the neighborhood is neglected because the new owner wanted to save money rather than fix the problems it gradually becomes like the rest of the neighborhood. I'd rather have an experienced doctor with a good track record operate on me than an accountant or plumber - no matter how good they are. It'll be interesting to see where he takes the company.

[Super Thirty]

Originally Posted by Lac

I really don’t care if the new person is a bean counter, lawyer, engineer, pilot, scientist, cowboy, cowgirl, firefighter, doctor, nurse etc. etc. just someone who can show and demonstrate quality control leadership and who knows who pays their salary. Only time will tell and if nothing improves there are other trailer manufacturing companies that will gladly take our money.

IMHO



Coops

Well said LAC. I have to agree. My experience is that new management tends to cause some changes in the food chain below it. Hopefully they can keep the top performers.

[Highway 4x4]

Perhaps Mr Orton could make a video to put on the company websuite telling everyone where he came from and what his plans are for the future of ORV.