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Craig Souser (left), who retired as President and CEO of JLS Automation and becomes Chairman Emeritus, with Russ Stroner, the company’s new President and CEO. (Photo: JLS Automation)
Souser becomes Chairman Emeritus after nearly five decades of leadership
YORK, Pa., Oct. 13, 2026 — JLS Automation, a manufacturer of hygienic robotic packaging systems for the food industry, today announced that Craig Souser retired as President and Chief Executive Officer on Monday, Oct. 12. Souser will stay on with the company as Chairman Emeritus. Russ Stroner, most recently Executive Vice President at Reiser Holdings, succeeded him as President and CEO the same day.
Stroner has also served on the JLS advisory board for the past several years, providing familiarity with the company and its leadership.
Souser has led the company since 1978. His father, Joseph L. Souser, founded it in 1955 as a manufacturers’ representative firm for power transmission equipment. Craig expanded the company into variable frequency drives and motion control, then moved JLS into packaging automation in 1993. Under his leadership JLS shifted its focus to the food industry and became a builder of vision-guided, washdown-ready robotic packaging systems for protein, bakery, cheese, prepared foods and seafood processors.
“My father always said that at the end of the day, all you have is your reputation,” said Souser. “Russ has spent his career with processors on the plant floor, and he understands what our customers count on us for. I’m proud to hand him the company and I’ll be here to help whenever he wants me.”
Stroner brings more than 25 years in food processing equipment. He started in 1998 in the service division of Provisur Technologies and rose to director of sales for the Americas. He later served as president of MP Equipment, a Middleby brand, and held vice president of global sales roles at Bettcher Industries and Cantrell-Gainco Group before joining Reiser Holdings as Executive Vice President.
“JLS has a team that knows how to put robots to work in some of the toughest washdown environments in food production,” said Stroner. “Craig built that, and I’m grateful he trusted me with what comes next. My first priority is spending time with our customers and our people in York.”
About JLS Automation
Founded in 1955 and based in York, Pennsylvania, JLS Automation designs and builds hygienic robotic packaging systems for protein, bakery, cheese, prepared foods and seafood processors. Its vision-guided pick-and-place, carton loading and case packing systems are built for demanding food production environments. Learn more at www.jlsautomation.com.
Media contact
Vincent Reedy
Director of Marketing, JLS Automation
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Vincent Reedy
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