John Ofenloch appointed as the leader of AE Shoals Manufacturing & Technology Center

AE Industrial Partners LP, a private equity firm, has appointed John Ofenloch as the president of the AE Shoals Manufacturing & Technology Center. The center was acquired from the Retirement Systems of Alabama in January and is located in Cherokee on 638 acres with 2.27 million square feet of industrial-zoned manufacturing space. AE Industrial plans to market the center as a hub for manufacturing and technology, with a focus on national security, aerospace, and industrial services. They have also announced a partnership with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians to collaborate on federal projects.

Previous tenants of the building include National Steel Car, Navistar, and FreightCar America. John Ofenloch, with over 30 years of experience in industries such as telecommunications, technology, and integrated manufacturing, has been appointed as the president of the center. A native of Huntsville, Ofenloch holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. He expressed his excitement to contribute to the growth of companies driving the next generation of national security and aerospace leadership.

Chris Emerson, senior partner at AE Industrial Partners, expressed his gratitude to the RSA and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians for their collaboration in establishing the center as a premier facility for defense, aerospace, and industrial innovators in the region. The management team at the center will also include Mike Lanier as vice president of development and Nick Willis as the facility manager. The team is looking forward to accelerating growth and welcoming the first tenants to the center in the coming months.