Methods Machine Tools Inc., a North American supplier of precision machine tools and automation, has announced two key management appointments. Company President Jerry Rex has been named president and CEO and Dale Hedberg has been promoted to vice president of operations.
Methods’ board of directors appointed Rex to his new position after having served as president since April 2017. Prior to that, he was Methods’ chief operating officer.
“Methods is pleased to appoint Jerry as president and CEO. With his strong skill set, machine tool industry knowledge and energetic management approach, we are looking forward to moving the company ahead through his continued leadership, positioning Methods as the industry’s leading supplier of machine tool technology and automation for our customers throughout North America,” said Scott McIver, Methods chairman and third-generation owner.
Rex has an extensive amount of machine tool industry and leadership experience, including hands-on manufacturing, engineering, sales and executive management. He also has served for many years as a member of The Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) board and as chairman of the board of directors of AMT until April 1, 2016. He has carried the CMTSE designation since 1997 and remains an active committee member.
Spanning 40 years, Rex’s manufacturing career began with a machinist position at GE Locomotive and he steadily rose from roles in engineering and applications to production and sales management, and executive positions at manufacturers and machine tool organizations. Before joining Methods, he served as executive vice president of Concept Machine Tools. Prior to that, Rex was president of Hegman Machinery LLC, a Morris Group Co., from 2013 to 2015. For the 20 years prior he held roles including president of Morris South in Charlotte, North Carolina, vice president of Gosiger Inc. in Dayton, Ohio, and regional manager of J&H Machine Tools in Richmond, Virginia.
Methods also has announced that Dale Hedberg has been promoted from director and national product manager to vice president of operations. Hedberg is now responsible for all of Methods’ operations including production, shipping and receiving, inside sales, trade shows and continuous improvement. A machine tool industry veteran, Hedberg has been a Methods’ employee for nearly 20 years in engineering positions, and most recently as product manager for a high-performance CNC Machining Line. Prior to Methods, Hedberg was production manager at a tooling systems company for 10 years.
“Dale’s proven skills for strategically managing Methods’ product lines and a deep knowledge of Methods’ infrastructure, as well as his extensive machine tool experience, made his promotion to vice president of operations a logical one,” said Rex. “He will play a key role on our management team.”
In addition to these management moves, 2018 marks the 60th anniversary of Methods’ founding. To commemorate its anniversary milestone, Methods will be hosting open houses, holding technology events and introducing new product lines throughout the year.
