New Owners of Shine Wire Say Company Will Stay in Adams
ADAMS, Mass. — Adams-based Shine Wire has been acquired by ComSonics Product Solutions.
Former Shine Wire owner Greg Shine and John Tayloe, vice president of manufacturing solutions at ComSonics, informed the Board of Selectmen of the merger on Wednesday. Shine, which has operated in Adams since 1989, has about 45 employees and plans to add more in the future.
The electronic contract manufacturer specializes in cable assemblies, wire harnessing, and electro-mechanical assemblies for use in testing, engineering, medical, aeronautics, military and Homeland Security. It operates out of a 30,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility in the Adams Corporate Park.
Shine said the business will remain in town and he will continue to be a part of it after the acquisition.
"What really solidified the deal was, when I met with Brett Harrison the CEO and John [Tayloe], was their commitment to the town of Adams, to Berkshire County and, most importantly, to the Shine employees," he said.
Tayloe said ComSonics felt Shine was a good fit for acquisition. He said it would allow the Virginia-based company to expand into Massachusetts.
"Great group of people, I've really really enjoyed getting to know them," Tayloe said about SHINE's employees. "I have a lot of fun with those folks. They are hardworking, they are very skilled people, it's what they do. They take what they do very, very seriously."
ComSonics, Tayloe said, is 100 percent employee-owned and has been since 1985. Shine said the employee ownership aspect of the business was one of the main reasons he decided to sell to ComSonics over other options.
"So all of the former Shine employees are now our employee-owners," he said. "It's something I could never give the employees. I couldn't give them ownership the way it was structured prior. But now, every single employee is an owner, anybody new would be an owner."
ComSonics was incorporated in 1972 originally as an audio design and installation company and has one of the oldest employee stock ownership plans, or ESOP.
In other business, Hank Art, chair of the Mohawk Trail Woodlands Partnership, presented the draft 10-year plan to the board.
The partnership has been constructing a revised plan for several months and is looking for community feedback. Those interested can find the plan on the group's website, where community members can leave feedback.
"We decided we needed to get more feedback from the public and municipalities before we move on rushing into this. We wanted to do it right rather than do it fast ... because this plan is quite different than the original one that was done back in 2015," Art said, noting the partnership intends to approve a new plan in September or October.
Art said the partnership is always searching for potential funding from local, state and federal agencies. The group has not received any annual funds from either the state or federal government.
The board approved adding another warrant to the annual town meeting, which would rescind a garbage disposal requirement bylaw. The bylaw stipulates any new buildings in town have a garbage disposal.
The board approved the FY23 Transfer Station fees, which will remain the same as last year.
The board ratified the contract of Department of Public Works skilled laborer Anthony Fiore. Fiore will begin at the position on June 2.
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