PHILIPSBURG, Pa., April 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lee Industries, Inc., a global supplier of sanitary-stainless-steel-alloy process systems and equipment and fluid-transfer valves to many of the world's top 100 companies in the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, biotech, and chemical industries, today announced the appointment of Joshua T. Montler as president and chief financial officer and chief operating officer. The appointment is effective May 1.

Joshua Montler has served as vice president of finance and operations for the company since 2008 and will succeed his father, Robert W. Montler, as president. Robert Montler will remain chairman of the board and chief executive officer and will continue serving the community through his involvement on various regional boards.

Joshua Montler brings almost 20 years of manufacturing experience to his new role. Prior to joining Lee Industries, he was a senior cost accountant for First Quality corporation in Great Neck, N.Y. Previously, he was a cost accountant with Denver, Colo.-based Gates Corporation. He earlier served as an accountant for Young, Oaks, Brown & Company, an Altoona-based certified public accounting firm.

In his new role, Joshua Montler will continue to implement a business growth strategy based on five measurable values: safety, quality, delivery, cost and morale and will oversee Lee Industries' planned 43,000 sq. ft. expansion adjacent to the company's existing operations in the Moshannon Valley of Clearfield County. He says the expansion will allow Lee Industries to continue to expand its customer base.

"We strive to make our customers successful by focusing on their custom processing needs and providing them with the highest quality, most durable products and services available," he said.

Joshua Montler credits the global success of Lee Industries, a mid-size manufacturer that serves companies ranging from startups to market leaders, with a management philosophy that incorporates the ownership and personal commitment of a family business with the accountability and best practices found in publicly traded, conglomerate companies.

"We're proud to be a family business that operates as if we answer to a shareholder group," said Joshua Montler. "We hold ourselves to the same types of standards you will find in a Fortune 100 company. Our customers know and trust that we run our business the way that they run theirs. This allows us not only to do business with many of the world's top companies but also to attract and retain the caliber of talent we need to continue to meet the needs of our customers."

Lee Industries was founded in 1927. Robert Montler purchased the company in 1986.

Joshua Montler is a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Wayne and earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and a master of business administration degree from Saint Francis University in Loretto. He resides in State College with his wife, Danielle, and their two children.

About Lee Industries

Lee Industries, Inc., www.leeind.com, formed in 1927, has grown to be a global leader in process systems and equipment and fluid transfer valves. The roots of the company were formed in the manufacturing of tin milk cans and heavy duty kitchen utensils. Jacketed kettles and stainless steel manufacturing were later introduced and Lee Industries became the pioneer in stainless steel jacketed kettles. The company now produces custom designed and fabricated stainless steel alloy kettles, tanks, mixers, blenders, agitators, vacuum vessels, and fluid transfer valves for the top 100 companies in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemical industries. Their business philosophy is based on quick response to customer needs and consistent top quality. The newest technological advancements are engineered into all products to help improve quality, reduce operating costs, and increase productivity and profits. Lee Industries is ISO 9000:2008 certified.

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SOURCE Lee Industries, Inc.