Jason Struthers is a 1993 graduate of the University of Illinois General Engineering program, which later was merged into the current IESE Department. He has over 27 years of global experience within diversified industrial manufacturing businesses, and has held roles in sales, marketing, engineering, and operations. His career has been a broad mix of both private and publicly held companies, private-equity firms, and entrepreneurial pursuits.
During his college years, Jason was very active in Engineering Council from his first role as president of the Engineering Freshman Committee and continuing through various leadership roles which culminated with his senior year as executive vice president. He chaired the Engineering Employment Expo in 1991 and organized the University’s first sponsorship of the National Engineering Council conference in 1990. He was also very active in student housing as a Resident Assistant for two years and a Resident Director as a senior. His passion for Illini sports meant that he hardly missed a home football, basketball, or hockey game in his years on campus.
Directly after graduation, Jason started his professional career in Cleveland with Parker Hannifin Corporation where he spent 14 years enroute to the executive leadership team as a VP Sales and General Manager. His next stop was Chicago-based IDEX Corporation as President of various fluid transfer and pump manufacturing businesses. KOHLER CO. then hired him as president of their power generation businesses around the globe, before he was approached by a private equity (PE) firm to be the CEO of The Crosby Group, a global manufacturer of lifting equipment based in Tulsa. His role there was to prepare the business for resale, which was accomplished in late 2013 when global private equity giant, Kravis, Kohlberg, & Roberts (KKR), acquired the business. Jason stayed with KKR in transition for almost another three years before pursuing other personal interests.
He has remained active at the UIUC campus and serves on various committees and advisory groups, including the IESE Alumni Advisory Board. He also earned an MBA from Ashland University in 1996. Today he splits time between business investments, Board of Director roles, consulting, teaching, and philanthropic interests. After college, he reconnect with and married his childhood sweetheart, Amie, and the couple has He, and his wife, Amie, of over 25 years, live in the Chicago suburbs. The couple has three children; two in college and one in high school. When not enjoying his family or actively working, he enjoys home improvement projects, writing, photography, leisure travel, and genealogy. Of course, his passion for Fighting Illini sports has never diminished, and he is usually found hosting tailgates during football weekends or as a regular fixture in the basketball, volleyball, or hockey stands.
