Portland, Ore. – The Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) officially promoted its acting executive director, Chris Scherer, to permanent executive director. Scherer brings over 30 years in consulting and management experience in business and government to this leadership position at OMEP, where he has served as a business advisor, OMEP consultant and chief financial officer, before the temporary position of executive director.

At the same time, OMEP announced the hiring of Charlie Hopewell as Director of Client Services and Larry Pederson as Business Development Manager for the non-profit organization that works with small- and medium-size manufacturing companies around the state. Hopewell most recently was President of Neilsen Manufacturing and Pederson was Economic Development Director for the City of Hillsboro.

About OMEP

OMEP is a not-for-profit team of business and manufacturing professionals – one of more than 60 Manufacturing Extension Partnership resource centers nationwide – that aims to make Oregon companies more competitive. OMEP provides Lean Enterprise training/implementation assistance and industry-driven best practices to a wide variety of industry sectors. A partner of choice for the economic development community, OMEP’s emphasis on strengthening and transforming companies creates a ripple effect of positive sustainable impact on the business, the workforce and the community. For more information about OMEP, please find us at omep.org.