Great Lakes announced today that James R. Kunkemoeller, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer, has announced his intentions to retire effective October 31, 2022. The search for Kunkemoeller’s replacement will be extensive and include the evaluation of candidates both from within and outside the company.
Kunkemoeller will continue in his role as chairman of Great Lakes’ Board of Directors. Kunkemoeller joined Great Lakes in 1986, and previously held positions as executive vice president, vice president of sales and marketing, and sales and marketing manager.
Great Lakes has undergone significant development and progress during Kunkemoeller’s tenure, specifically the growth of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), which saw an exponential increase in value since its inception over 30 years ago.
Additionally, Great Lakes completed a five-million-dollar building expansion and capital improvement project in 2002, expanded digital technology and manufacturing beginning in 2007, enhanced automation and computer-aided design for digital appliance fabrication, developed a number of innovative products and services, and underwent a major brand transformation when the company changed its name from Great Lakes Orthodontics to Great Lakes Dental Technologies in 2018.
Combined, these efforts helped establish Great Lakes as one of North America’s largest orthodontic laboratories known for its precision digital splints and custom appliances, provider of over 2,500 products, and the only distributor offering a full-line 3D solution for orthodontic practices and labs.
