We are pleased to announce that Jeffrey Paul (“JP”) La Forest will become the next President of Skidmore. JP brings over 20 years of global senior management experience to Skidmore, most recently as Vice President and Managing Director, Asia, for Perceptron Inc., a maker of laser measurement systems for the auto industry. Before Perceptron, he served as Director of Business Development for the Energy Institute at the University of Michigan, and as Country Manager, Korea, for Tenneco Inc., a multi-billion dollar auto components supplier.
JP believes in a “roll up the sleeves” approach to management. He likes to get to know the people, processes, products/applications and customers that holistically make an organization thrive. JP became particularly attracted to the opportunity at Skidmore, thanks to the wonderful people and hard-working, team-oriented culture that embody it.
JP received a BS in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Dayton University and an MBA with joint major in Marketing and Operations Management from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. JP’s wife, Kristen (or his “better half” as he likes to describe her), is an Education Partnership Coordinator for the Community Financial Credit Union in their hometown of Canton, MI, where she educates children on financial concepts and the importance of financial responsibility. JP and Kristen are the proud parents of four children. Their oldest son, Alexander, 19, is entering his sophomore year at Notre Dame University; their oldest daughter, Emma, 17, is entering her senior year of Salem High School in Canton, MI; and their twin daughters, Madeline and Anna, 14, will both be freshman in high school this year.
JP’s first day with the company will be Wednesday, September 6, 2017. We are very excited to add his immense talent and leadership capabilities to the already great team at Skidmore.