Seattle-based Markey Machinery, which for over 100 years has been a leading marine deck equipment and winch industry business, announced in October that it has two new investors, Christian Schiller and Brian Bogen.
Markey has said that it will continue to operate from its current Seattle production facility and office, with all employees remaining on board. Also, current CEO Blaine Dempke is continuing to lead the business as CEO and will participate on the Markey board as a significant shareholder.
“There will be no changes to the management, employees or the overall business operations other than to provide additional expertise, capital and value we bring to help assist Markey’s continued growth,” Schiller remarked.
Jeff Dempke, who has been with Markey since 2006, has assumed the new role of general manager and has become a shareholder. Robert LeCoque remains actively involved, providing assistance to Markey’s customers and working with the company’s Engineering & Sales group.
“Brian and I made an investment in Markey in partnership with current management to facilitate growing the business to the next level,” Schiller said, adding that he and Bogen believe that it is an excellent platform for further growth.
Dempke and LeCoque started working at Markey as teenagers and rose through the engineering department and machine shop ranks. They took over management of the company in 1996 and bought out the Markey family in 1999.
“Christian and Brian are investing in an ongoing commercial enterprise that doesn’t require change,” Dempke said. “We chose to work with Brian and Christian because of their expertise and resources available in addition to a solid familiarity with a marine business which is cyclical and unique.”
Markey Machinery began operations in 1907, when a young Charles Markey, fresh from a two-year trading expedition on the Alaska and Siberian coast, launched the C.H. Markey Machinery Company serving both the marine and logging industries.