Shawn Donke

Background

About Shawn Donke

As a hands-on technical leader with over 13 years in industrial electronics repair, I’ve grown from technician to VP by focusing on what matters most: building capable teams, solving complex problems, and driving continuous improvement. Currently serving as Vice President of Technical Operations at Classic Automation, I oversee our test and repair departments—leading cross-functional strategy, improving processes, and developing the next generation of leaders. I believe in empowering people with the right tools and expectations, then getting out of their way so they can thrive. My background blends deep technical expertise (component-level repair, SMT soldering, test instrumentation) with strategic leadership experience—helping scale operations, reduce turnaround time, and increase repair throughput. I’ve led departmental overhauls, implemented lean practices, and guided both systems and people through growth. I’m IPC J-STD-001 Certified (All Modules) and hold a Six Sigma White Belt from SixSigmaOnline. I stay hands-on, mentor directly, and take pride in fixing not just industrial controls—but the processes and cultures around them.