Eastek Appoints David Strabel as Vice President of Manufacturing

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Eastek International Corporation announces the appointment of David A. Strabel as Vice President of Manufacturing. In this role, Strabel will lead global manufacturing operations, drive strategic growth initiatives, and further strengthen operational performance across Eastek’s electronics and full-system integration services.

Strabel brings more than 20 years of manufacturing and operations leadership experience within complex, fast-paced environments. He has a proven track record of scaling operations, improving profitability, leading high-performance teams, and implementing systems that support sustainable growth.

Most recently, Strabel served as Director of Operations at Cree Lighting in Racine, Wisconsin, where he managed daily operations for a manufacturing facility specializing in PCBA and lighting products. He led an operations team supporting more than 200 employees across electronics PCBA, powder coating, and assembly operations.

During his tenure, Strabel oversaw the production and testing of complex assemblies, partnered closely with R&D teams to accelerate product transitions from design to mass production, and established internal structures to support new contract manufacturing business. His leadership also included significant capital investment initiatives, negotiating equipment acquisitions, and driving measurable efficiency improvements across SMT operations.

Earlier in his career, Strabel held progressive technical and operational leadership roles at Eastek-ACT in Menomonee Falls. He supported equipment and process development in technical roles before advancing into management positions, including Production Supervisor and Manufacturing Manager. He led multi-shift manufacturing teams, supported global operations including collaboration with the company’s facility in Dongguan, China, and led continuous improvement initiatives such as ISO 13485 implementation, Kaizen events, and facility layout optimization. He was recognized with the company’s 2014 President’s Award for his leadership and operational achievements.

“David’s deep expertise in electronics manufacturing, combined with his strategic mindset and hands-on leadership style, makes him an outstanding addition to our executive team,” said Bill Boyer, COO and Executive VP, Eastek International. “His experience in scaling operations, improving performance metrics, and building strong teams will play a key role in supporting our customers and advancing our global growth strategy.”

Strabel holds multiple industry certifications, including SMTA Process Engineer, and has extensive training in lean manufacturing, advanced SMT programming, and strategic deployment processes. His core competencies include operational leadership, P&L management, KPI development, technology implementation, and cross-functional team alignment.

As Vice President of Manufacturing, Strabel will focus on strengthening operational excellence across Eastek’s global footprint, enhancing process standardization, and supporting customers in the medical, industrial, transportation, and energy sectors with high-quality, scalable manufacturing solutions.