Tom Pientok named president and CEO of Folience

CEDAR RAPIDS — Tom Pientok has been appointed as Folience’s new president and chief executive officer, effective June 1. Pientok, a seasoned business executive from Cedar Rapids, steps into this role after serving the past few months in a part-time interim leadership capacity following the departure of former president and CEO, Chris Snyder, in mid-February.

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Pientok has been a member of the Folience Board since 2017 and has served as chairperson since 2019. With his transition to president and CEO, Tracy McCormick, a current board member, will assume the role of chairperson. Additionally, Bill Adamowski will take over as the new Audit Committee chair, replacing McCormick, while Wendy Guillies will continue to chair the Compensation Committee.

“I know I speak on behalf of my fellow directors in saying how thrilled we are that Tom is able to step into the CEO role of this incredible company,” McCormick said in a news release. “As a veteran board member, he has seen Folience grow into the strong company it is today. The Board and leadership team believe he is the right person to take the reins and to lead the Folience employee-owners to greater impact and success.”

Pientok recently retired from Timberline Manufacturing in Marion, where he had served as president and CEO since 2018 and was a board member since 2013. His extensive experience includes a long tenure as an executive of Apache, Inc. in Cedar Rapids, including serving as president and CEO from 2007 to 2018. Pientok is actively involved in Cedar Rapids area business and civic affairs and brings a wealth of experience leading ESOP companies.

“This certainly was not in the cards as little as 30 days ago,” Pientok said of the transition, acknowledging the unexpected end to his retirement. “But I have a deep affection and connection to Folience and I’m blessed to be at a place in my life where I can step in to help the team move forward. Folience has undergone a transition period for the past couple of years after Daniel’s (Goldstein) retirement, which was followed by a shorter-than-expected tenure from his successor. Having served on the board for eight years, I know the company, the board, and the team. I’m confident that together we can build on Folience’s reputation as a stellar, 100% employee-owned portfolio of companies with a passion for excellence.”

Folience is the employee-owned holding company that encompasses The Gazette, Life Line Emergency Vehicles in Sumner and Cimarron Trailers, which has operations in Chickasha, Okla., and Manhattan, Kan.