Alumni Spotlight - Chris LaMothe, '78

Alumni Spotlight - Chris LaMothe, '78 (7/5/2006)

Chris LaMothe

Delaware County's Sherry Laboratories will remain in its home, thanks to six Ball State alumni and friends. Chris LaMothe, '78, and a team of investors purchased Sherry Laboratories from Muncie-based Ontario Corporation. "We worked to make sure Sherry Laboratories is staying in the hands of an Indiana investment team with direct ties to Delaware County and Ball State," said LaMothe, Sherry Lab's new CEO. "I am a proud Ball State alumnus, so when I was assembling our team, it made sense to build it with friends and alumni of Ball State."

Lamothe is joined by Van Smith and John Fisher, long time philanthropic leaders for the university, as well as Tony Schneider, '80, principal of Schneider Huse, Jan Abbs, '76, General Counsel of Ontario Corporation, Reagen Rick, '83, Senior VP of Commercial Lending and General Counsel of First Indiana Bank.

"This is a shining example of how a talented group of Ball State alumni are working together to make great things happen," said Lamothe.

Sherry Laboratories specializes in independent, third-party, single-source metallurgical, nonmetallic, polymer, environmental, microbiological, bioassay and petroleum-related testing and consulting. Annually, Sherry Laboratories performs over 780,000 tests on behalf of more than 1,800 customers throughout the world. It serves industries including aerospace, automotive, defense, general manufacturing, medical, nuclear, petrochemical and refining. Insurance companies, law firms and universities also frequently utilize Sherry's expertise.

Since 1947, Sherry Laboratories has continually expanded its testing capacity. Sherry Laboratories currently consists of a multi-state network of laboratories and employs more than 180 highly-skilled workers. Indiana locations include: Daleville, Ft. Wayne, Warsaw and Columbus. Out-of-state locations include Lafayette and Scott, Louisiana, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 54,000-square-foot laboratory complex in Daleville also serves as the administrative headquarters. For more information, visit www.sherrylabs.com.

LaMothe will serve as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board for Sherry Laboratories. LaMothe said that "Sherry was an attractive target for large competitors and buy-out firms outside Indiana. I am very pleased to be joined by such a strong team of Indiana investors and partners committed to keeping the ownership of Sherry Laboratories right here in our state. Sherry employs over 90 associates in Indiana. These are the kinds of high-tech, high-skill jobs that are so desperately needed to keep and build upon in our great state."

"Sherry Laboratories is a leader in the testing industry," says Christopher LaMothe. "Testing is becoming increasingly more important in R & D and production. Companies often save significant costs, reduce errors and mitigate risk by outsourcing their testing."

"Sherry Laboratories has a reputation as a trusted source for independent testing and consulting. Experienced management supported by highly skilled associates and now led by energetic Christopher LaMothe indicates a promising future for this enterprise in its new and expanded facilities," said Fisher, an investor through Fisher Properties of Indiana, Inc.

For interviews with Christopher LaMothe, Van Smith or John W. Fisher contact Sherry Laboratories,9301 Innovation Drive Suite 103 Daleville, IN 47334, Phone: (765) 378-4111 or rkiger@ontario.com.