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Joni Campidilli
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
jcampidilli@percival-scientific.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Percival Scientific Names New CEO as
Long-Time President Gary Wheelock Retires
Perry, Iowa, Oct. 19, 2022 – Percival Scientific has named Jake Oakland its new CEO, effective Oct. 24, 2022. Oakland succeeds Gary Wheelock, who is retiring after working at Percival for 49 years and serving as the president and CFO since 2006.
During Wheelock’s nearly 50-year career at Percival, the company, which manufactures climate-controlled chambers for scientific research, has grown significantly. In 2000, Percival relocated from Boone to Perry, Iowa, and expanded their product line to offer more than 100 chamber models, including proprietary lighting and control systems. Under Wheelock’s leadership, Percival not only increased its global market reach to customers in 89 countries, but it more than doubled in floor space and gained 10 percent more staff with a $3.5 million expansion completed earlier this year.
“I’m thrilled that Jake is joining Percival as its next CEO,” says Wheelock. “I am confident that he will continue to build on our rich history and is the perfect person to lead the company now and well into the future. I look forward to retirement knowing Percival is in great hands.”
Oakland comes to Percival with 16 years of management and engineering experience at John Deere, where he managed over 500 employees throughout his tenure in the areas of operations and manufacturing engineering. His background includes roles as an assembly manufacturing engineer, production supervisor, project manager, manufacturing engineering supervisor/manager and a business unit manager with a staff of 280 people.
“I’m very pleased and excited to be joining the great team at Percival Scientific,” says Oakland. “Percival has an excellent group of people who have delivered value to our customers. They have established a great product offering of world class climate-controlled equipment using in-house design and manufacturing. Gary Wheelock has done a great job developing his team and the business. He will be missed. I look forward to extending his efforts by continuing to work with the team to deliver top notch products, develop our product offering and lead the team to more successes in the future.”
