Cascade Engineering today announced that Company CEO and founder Fred Keller is transitioning his forty one year leadership role as CEO of the Cascade Engineering (CE) Family of Companies. Keller founded the company in 1973.

Current Cascade Engineering President, Mark Miller will assume the title of CEO and also retain his title as President, while Keller retains the titles of Founder and Chair of Cascade Engineering.

Miller will be responsible for leading 11 diversified business units with 1,300 employees located in 14 facilities throughout the United States and European operations in Budapest, Hungary. Miller will guide the organization’s strategy for continued growth and strong financial performance across all business platforms. Miller will report to the Cascade Engineering Board of Directors.

Miller previously served as the President of CK Technologies (CKT), Group VP of the Transportation Group and the Chief Strategy Officer for the Family of Companies. Under Miller’s leadership, CKT more than doubled in size growing year-over-year throughout the global recession. CK Technologies is the market leader for injection molded bumpers, grilles, roof fairings and chassis skirts exclusively for the Commercial Truck and Bus industry.

“I am thrilled to be able to transition my CEO responsibilities to Mark and am confident that he is the right choice at the right time to lead our efforts for continued growth, prosperity and innovation. Our family and our Board of Directors have expressed their complete support for Mark and his ability to lead Cascade Engineering into the future,” said Keller. “Mark works to empower people and to develop their potential. He is skilled at understanding how our business works and how to have it perform at its highest level. Most importantly, he embraces ‘People, Planet, Profit’ which will continue as the core operating philosophy at Cascade Engineering.”

Miller is a 25-year veteran of the transportation industry with particular experience in injection molding, painting and electroplating technologies. His extensive industry experience has included working with virtually all major OEMs in both the commercial truck and automotive sectors. Prior to joining CK Technologies in 2006, he held a number of leadership positions within the Tier I automotive supply sector for more than 15 years. Miller began his career with Ford in finance after working as an injection molding press operator in college.

Born and raised in Detroit, Mich., Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Wayne State University. He and his wife Diana have three children and live in Grand Rapids.

“Fred Keller and Cascade Engineering have created much more than a successful company during the last 40 years. CE’s commitment to its employees, the community and the environment has created a truly revolutionary business model that I am honored to step in and help advance,” said Miller. “There’s no question that Fred’s legacy will continue on through our commitment to lean and sustainable operations and the company’s Triple Bottom Line strategy. Together with Kenyatta Brame, CE’s Executive Vice President, we will continue to embrace diversity and acknowledge the true value each employee provides, enhance our leadership skills and cultivate CE’s reputation as a world-class manufacturer.”

Keller’s continuing role will focus on CE’s long term governance, while assuring that the company stays true to its founding principles of sustainability and innovation. In other activities, he is the Executive in Residence at the Center for Positive Organizations at the University of Michigan – Ross School of Business where he is teaching, sharing with and learning from the next generation of business leaders. Keller will also continue to be a Kellogg Foundation Board member along with his work with Talent 2025, K – Connect and the Grand River Restoration steering committee.