Oxbo International Corporation announces the retirement of Scott Korthuis from a career in design and management at their manufacturing facility in Lynden, WA.
Korthuis was involved in developing a rotary picking technology for raspberries and blueberries -- systems that are used on the majority of harvest equipment built today. He was also instrumental in the development and design of the coffee harvester now being marketed under the Oxbo name in Brazil where he assisted in establishing a manufacturing and assembly facility. Additionally, he was involved in the design and development of grape harvesters, high density olive harvesters and citrus harvesters. Korthuis holds six US patents and a Canadian patent.
Gary Stich, President of Oxbo International, offered appreciation and praise in a corporate retirement notice: “Scott has had a great impact on the company beyond Lynden as a valued member of the management team, the oversight team for product development, and the force behind various product development opportunities and corporate improvements. He has always been a key figure… I have appreciated his input and judgment. Scott has always brought a unique blend of technical, customer, and business knowledge to his roles.”
A Professional Engineer, Korthuis first spent six years at Georgia-Pacific using his chemical engineering degree in their pulp and paper operation. His mechanical engineering degree plus his management and business skills prompted an offer in1988 to join a local start-up harvester manufacturing company, Korvan Industries. The following year Korthuis became an owner in Korvan Industries and his 31-year career there would include design and then management roles in engineering, production, sales and customer service. Korvan Industries was acquired in 2012 by Oxbo International.
As an engineer Korthuis was clearly an atypical candidate for public office. However, with continued urging from his city’s retiring Mayor and community leaders, approval from his family, and permission from his employer, Korthuis reluctantly ran for the office in 2009 and was elected to a 4-year term. He subsequently was unopposed for two additional terms and is still at the helm as Mayor in Lynden, WA.
For more information:
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Oxbo International Corporation
270 Birch Bay Lynden Road
Lynden, WA 98264
[email protected]
www.oxbocorp.com