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Jim Campbell knows his shears!

Jim got his start in the 80’s working as a production welder at LaBounty® manufacturing, where he fabricated new shears and repaired used ones. At the time when he left LaBounty®, he was the Shop Foreman for the second shift.

In 1997, Ken LaBounty offered him the opportunity to be the manufacturing manager at a new shear manufacturing facility called Genesis® attachments. He was responsible for facility design, equipment procurement, hiring manufacturing staff, and developing fabrications fixtures and processes for the new product line. In addition, he implemented Lean workflow throughout the facility.

In March 2008, he co-founded Exodus Machines and was appointed Vice President of Operations, the position he currently holds today.

Exodus Machines is a unique place, not only because it has provided more manufacturing positions in the Superior, WI area, but it is family-owned with an emphasis on creating a special atmosphere for our staff and customers. The entire team works towards one common goal – ensuring our products are making customers more successful in their industry, which is done through creating relationships with and listening to our customers.

What does it mean to be the VP of Operations?

As the VP of Operations, Jim is responsible for procurement, production control, all shop floor staff, fabrication processes, workflow, reconditioned attachments, facility, safety and quality. Basically, he’s responsible from raw material to the finished goods arriving to the customer in a timely manner.

Did we mention, he works with his wife, Debbie? They’ve been married for 28 years and she too knows this industry – spending 18 years working in it. They worked together at Genesis®, where she worked in accounting, part sales and finally settling into production control. She continued that role at Exodus Machines, where she is the production control manager.

Jim says the key to working successfully with your wife is having mutual respect, as well as being able to separate work from their personal life.

It also helps to have a great sense of humor and to drive to work separately!

Family is everything.

Jim and Debbie have three children, Jessica – 32, Michaela – 25, and Nathan – 19 and three grandchildren, Carley – 8, Lexi – 6, and Taylor – 5, along with their fur pups.

When Jim’s not working, he enjoys fishing, hunting, fabricating at home and dirt track racing – Jim Campbell Racing. He really enjoys helping current and old customers with issues that they have with an old LaBounty® or Genesis® hydraulic attachment. Any design from the early 80’s to present, it’s likely that Jim has personally fabricated and assembled those attachments new, as well as reconditioned used attachments back to new factory spec condition.  

Of course, it goes without saying he also enjoys helping with any questions that customers have regarding our awesome Fortress product line that has over 30-years of design and manufacturing experience poured into it.

Exodus Machines is where we are today because of Jim’s leadership in the industry!

Jim Campbell Exodus Machines
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