Mathues retiring as Grote chief development officer

Tom Mathues, chief development officer for industrial food equipment manufacturer Grote Company, is retiring from his present position after 15 years with the firm. He will remain on the company’s advisory board.

Mathues started with Grote Company as vice president of engineering and manufacturing in 2004, and has served in several roles within Grote Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Vanmark Equipment, since.  This includes president of Vanmark following its acquisition in 2007 and later merger with GME (now Vanmark’s Boise location). For the last several years, Mathues has developed new international facets of the business, including spearheading the opening of the Vanmark factory in India.

“It is with mixed emotions that we make this announcement,” said CEO Bob Grote. “Tom has been an integral cog of our business over these years and contributed mightily to our growth. We will miss his detail, his intelligence, his unbridled curiosity and the endless energy he demonstrated daily in his quest for our company’s success.”

Mathues will be at the Vanmark area of the Columbia Food Machinery booth #1355 at Food Northwest, Jan. 14-16.