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Foxhole Group Forges Partnership with CCK Automations to Recapitalize the Business for Growth
December 30, 2021 | Foxhole GroupEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
Foxhole Group, a private Investment firm focused on the industrial sector, announced that it has partnered with J.J. & Sherri Richardson to recapitalize CCK Automations, Inc. CCK is a designer and manufacturer of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs), injection molded plastics and specialty machining, headquartered in Jacksonville, IL with more than 22 years in business. The company, led by Mr.& Mrs. Richardson since its founding in 1999, specializes in the support and design of complex, highly engineered and high-speed circuit board assemblies. CCK’s products are often designed to endure the harshest conditions faced by customers in the agriculture technology, commercial vehicle, and industrial manufacturing sectors, but its superior quality also attracts customers in a variety of other markets, including healthcare, restaurants, agricultural equipment and livestock industry, as well as in the automotive, lighting, heating / cooling, industrial manufacturing and consumer electronics industries.
Foxhole Group will be partnering with the Richardson’s. JJ being an experienced electrical engineer and manager who named the business using the initials of his three children; The Richardson grew the business after owning another successful electrical contracting business in the area, and he will continue in his role as CEO. Mr. Richardson has many years of delighting customers by solving problems that other contract manufacturers simply cannot solve. Mr. Richardson is an extremely active member of the Jacksonville community, serving on the Board of Directors of the Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC).
“I am excited to partner with the Foxhole Group to take the business to new heights by bringing their strategic vision and energy into a business that Sherri and I have poured our hearts and souls into for over two decades” commented CCK CEO JJ Richardson. “This investment will help CCK grow, add capabilities and strengthen our position coming out of the greatest parts shortage the PCBA industry has ever seen, while continuing to provide our customers with a world-class product and unparalleled customer service.”
J.B. Moore, Managing Partner of Foxhole added, “My partner Dan and I became intrigued by the PCBA industry after learning about its criticality in advancing the Industrial Internet of Things. It has been a sector thesis for us for some time. After visiting or speaking with 50 assembly shops, it became clear there was a spectrum of quality, and CCK was clearly near the top. The Richardson’s have done an amazing job of growing the company by continuing to invest in technology. This is a business with an incredible amount of untapped potential, and it is primed for growth given the level of quality staff and automation the Richardson’s have brought into the business. We are thrilled to partner with them to explore opportunities to tap this potential and grow the staff in his state-of-the-art facility.”
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"In a year when every marketing dollar mattered, I chose to keep I-Connect007 in our 2025 plan. Their commitment to high-quality, insightful content aligns with Koh Young’s values and helps readers navigate a changing industry. "
Brent Fischthal - Koh YoungSuggested Items
Hall of Fame Spotlight Series: Highlighting Karen McConnell
05/07/2026 | Dan Feinberg, I-Connect007In 2021, Karen McConnell was awarded the Raymond E. Pritchard Hall of Fame award in recognition of her contributions to the Association and the electronics industry. As a senior staff member and CAD/CAM engineer at Northrop Grumman Enterprise Services, her primary responsibility was to develop a common, shared EDM (Electronic Document Management) library to support the electrical and PCB design tool initiatives across Northrop Grumman Mission Systems.
A Necessary Shift From Gerber to IPC-2581
05/07/2026 | Tracy Riggan, Global Electronics AssociationIPC-2581 is an open, vendor-neutral data exchange standard developed by the Global Electronics Association to streamline the exchange of PCB design information across fabrication, assembly, and test. It replaces multiple legacy formats—including industry standards, Gerber, and ODB++—with a single, comprehensive, XML-based dataset that captures all manufacturing details.
Meet Emerging Engineers: Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker, Summit Interconnect
05/05/2026 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007Patrick Owen and Eric Mickenbecker both work for Summit Interconnect, and are in their second year of the Global Electronics Association’s Emerging Engineer Program with mentor Brian Chislea. They stopped by the I-Connect007 booth at APEX EXPO and shared a bit of their story with me. Patrick has worked at the Hollister, California, plant since 2018, while Eric has been at the Chicago site since 2023. Like many of their peers, they came to the electronics industry from different paths, but are both excited about making an impact.
PCBAA, AAM Take on the Fight to Rebuild U.S. Manufacturing in New Documentary
05/05/2026 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007Throughout most of the 20th century, manufacturing was central to the American Dream of providing stable jobs and pathways to upward mobility. Today, more than 80% of global electronics manufacturing capacity resides in China and greater Asia, raising serious concerns about supply chain resilience and national security.
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
05/01/2026 | Michelle Te, I-Connect007If it feels like the PCB industry is accelerating faster than ever, you’re not imagining it. From advanced materials driven by AI applications to renewed investment in domestic manufacturing—and the next generation stepping into critical roles—there’s a lot shifting at once. My selections for this week highlight where the pressure points are forming, and where the opportunities are emerging.