Kewaunee Scientific names Michael Rok VP Manufacturing Operations
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Michael Rok
STATESVILLE, N.C. - Kewaunee Scientific (NASDAQ: KEQU) says Michael G. Rok has joined the company as Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for the laboratory furniture and cabinetry company. 
 
Rok replaces Keith D. Smith, who recently moved to Director of Metal Plant Operations and Facilities at Kewaunee.
 
Rok will have responsibility for all of Kewaunee's domestic and international manufacturing operations, though day-to-day communication with its India manufacturing remains under B. Sathyamurthy, the Managing Director of Kewaunee's International Operations.
 
Rok has a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  He served as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy and received training at the Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida prior to deployment to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm. Rok has been in various manufacturing positions throughout his career, most recently with Danaher Corporation, a global science and technology company, where he was Vice President of Operations, North America, for the KaVo Kerr Group of Danaher.
 
Kewaunee Scientific designs, manufactures, and installs laboratory, healthcare, and technical furniture products. Products include steel, wood, and laminate casework,  moveable workstations, stand-alone benches, biological safety cabinets, and epoxy resin worksurfaces and sinks.  It is one of the largest members of the Architectural Woodwork Institute. 
Kewaunee corporate headquarters are located in Statesville, North Carolina and its has direct sales offices are located in the United States, India, Singapore, and China.  Three manufacturing facilities are located in Statesville serving the domestic and international markets, and one manufacturing facility is located in Bangalore, India serving the local and Asian markets. The Company's China headquarters, sales office, and assembly operation are located in Suzhou Industrial Park, China.
 

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Bill Esler | ConfSenior Editor

Bill wrote for WoodworkingNetwork.com, FDMC and Closets & Organized Storage magazines. 

Bill's background includes more than 10 years in print manufacturing management, followed by more than 30 years in business reporting on industrial manufacturing in the forest products industries, including printing and packaging at American Printer (Features Editor) and Graphic Arts Monthly (Editor in Chief) magazines; and in secondary wood manufacturing for WoodworkingNetwork.com.

Bill was deeply involved with the launches of the Woodworking Network Leadership Forum, and the 40 Under 40 Awards programs. He currently reports on technology and business trends and develops conference programs.

In addition to his work as a journalist, Bill supports efforts to expand and improve educational opportunities in the manufacturing sectors, including 10 years on the Print & Graphics Scholarship Foundation; six years with the U.S. WoodLinks; and currently on the Woodwork Career Alliance Education Committee. He is also supports the Greater West Town Training Partnership Woodworking Program, which has trained more than 950 adults for industrial wood manufacturing careers. 

Bill volunteers for Foinse Research Station, a biological field station staddling the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland, one of more than 200 members of the Organization of Biological Field Stations.