12/1/2014 12:20:00 AM
HEADLINES
Orbitform’s Shirkey Elected to Michigan Senate
Credit: MLive.com
Michigan state Rep. Mike Shirkey – owner of Orbitform Group – will move up to the state senate after winning an open seat in the November 4, 2014 general election.
With 94% of the votes counted, Republican Shirkey won the newly redrawn 16th Senate district with 37,990 votes to Democratic nominee Kevin Commet’s 24,778, according to MLive.com.
Shirkey, 59, has been a state representative since 2010.
“It’s been a pleasure getting to know new friends and constituents in Hillsdale and Branch counties,” Shirkey told MLive.com reporter Will Forgrave. “I’m pleased with how our values align with one another.”
The district includes Jackson, Hillsdale and Branch counties. The city of Jackson has a population of 33,356 and is 78 miles west of Detroit and 39 miles south the state capital of Lansing.
Shirkey told MLive.com he was looking forward to having an “immediate and significant” impact in the Michigan Senate. “My goal is to work together with House reps,” he said. “It’s something that it seems hasn’t been a high priority in Lansing.”
In a 2012 FIN interview following his first year as a state representative, Shirkey cited his personal philosophy of asking “How can I do this?” rather than “Why can’t I do this?” as the key to his success in multiple legislative areas. “I’m here to tell you one person can make a difference. That keeps me fired up.”
Shirkey graduated from General Motors Institute (now Kettering University) and spent 13 years as a manufacturing engineer for GM’s AC Spark Plug division, where he became involved in orbital forming. He became friends with the owners of Orbitform – which at that time was a product line rather than a manufacturer. They sensed the 29-year-old’s enthusiasm and turned to him to build Orbitform.
In 1987 with “little capital and a lot of enthusiasm,” Shirkey took over Orbitform.
Jackson, MI-based Orbitform designs and manufactures orbital forming riveting machines and forming, fastening and assembly automation equipment. Orbitform Group is headquartered at 1600 Executive Dr., Jackson, MI 49203. Tel: 517 787-9447 Fax 517 787-6609 E-mail: sales@orbitform.com Web: orbitform.com ©2014 Fastener Industry News
For more on Mike Shirkey, click on the Fastener History section of GlobalFastenerNews.com:
2012 FIN – Orbitform’s Shirkey Reflects on 1st Year in State Legislature
In 1987 with “little capital and a lot of enthusiasm,” Shirkey took over Orbitform. “There is nothing like debt and uncertainty of the next paycheck to get you out of bed in the morning,” he recalled.
Share: