CHEROKEE — A Huntsville native has been tapped to head up a cutting-edge manufacturing facility in Colbert County.
AE Industrial Partners, a private equity firm specializing in national security, aerospace and industrial services, has named John Ofenloch as president of the AE Shoals Manufacturing & Technology Center.
Acquired in January from the Retirement Systems of Alabama, the AE Shoals Manufacturing & Technology Center is situated on 638 acres in Cherokee with 2.27 million square feet of industrial-zoned manufacturing capacity.
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Ofenloch, a native of Huntsville, has more than 30 years of leadership experience across various industries, including telecommunications, technology, and integrated manufacturing. He was most recently a portfolio CEO and operating partner at Satori Capital. Ofenloch holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Auburn University and an MBA in finance from Southern Methodist University.
“I am excited to be part of this groundbreaking initiative, where we have the opportunity to bring high quality, high-tech manufacturing jobs back to the United States,” said Ofenloch. “Growing up in Huntsville, I got to watch my father work on the Apollo missions and space related initiatives, and now I feel as if I’ve come full circle, helping foster the growth of companies that will drive the next generation of national security and aerospace leadership.”
The facility will serve as a manufacturing and technology center of innovation focused on the national security, aerospace, and industrial services sectors.
“We are excited to leverage John’s decades of experience and regional expertise to accelerate our growth as we prepare to welcome our first tenants in the coming months,” said Chris Emerson, senior partner at AE Industrial. “We extend our gratitude to our partners at the RSA and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for their exceptional collaboration.
“Together, we’ve worked hand in hand to establish the center as the premier facility for defense, aerospace, and industrial innovators in the region.”
AE Shoals is focused on serving the national security, aerospace, and industrial services sectors. Committed to innovation and quality, the state-of-the-art facility will contribute to industry advancement and regional economic growth.
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