Meet the Leadership Team at Centerline Machine
Learn about the leadership team at Centerline Machine, and our parent company, Dielectric Manufacturing:
Mike Esser Sr., President and CEO
Mike Esser Sr. has been CEO of the company since 2008, and has been with the company since 1980. In his leadership role, Mike makes sure Centerline Machine and Dielectric Manufacturing have the resources and expertise necessary to fulfill the company’s promises to its customers.
He holds a bachelor of business administration degree in finance and marketing from St. Norbert College in De Pere, Wis.
Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with family, traveling, golfing and fishing.
Michael Esser Jr., Chief Financial Officer
Michael Esser Jr. joined the company on a full-time basis in 2011. He currently is the company’s chief financial officer.
Michael holds bachelor of science degrees in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and in finance from DeVry University. He participates in a Vistage business leaders roundtable group.
Chris Esser, Chief Technology Officer
Chris Esser joined the company full-time in 2014, and currently is the company’s chief technology officer. He helps Centerline Machine and Dielectric Manufacturing customers succeed through Continuous Improvement projects, building capacity, and expanding capabilities to meet customer needs. He holds a bachelor of applied science degree in mechanical engineering from UW-Milwaukee. Chris participates in a Vistage (formerly TEC) business leaders roundtable group. Outside of work, Chris enjoys golfing, photography, playing the guitar, and working out at the gym. He is a member of the Wisconsin Golf Association, and the Waukesha Men’s Golf Club, and serves as a judge for Project Lead the Way – a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program at Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, Wis.
Jamie Benter, Director of Business Development
Jamie Benter has work experience rich in both sales and mechanical design, giving him the expertise to collaborate with customers on the front end of their projects. He strives to build relationships with customers for the initial sale as well as sales for years to come. Jamie chose to join Dielectric Manufacturing and Centerline Machine because they align with his personal values and the positive culture is apparent. Jamie is married with two teenage sons, spending much of his free time with their various sport activities. When their sports seasons are done, you can find Jamie fishing, bird hunting, or golfing.
Kristal Waeltz, Vice President – Human Resources
Kristal Waeltz joined the company in August 2022 as vice president for human resources. She holds a master’s degree in Human Resources and Labor Relations from UW-Milwaukee, and is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). She enjoys spending time with her daughters, cooking, and maintaining a busy social life with family and friends. In her role with Dielectric Manufacturing, Kristal provides direction in hiring, administration and training. As a culture creator and facilitator, she aims to consistently deliver a positive experience to drive productivity and fun in the workplace.
Adam Smith, Corporate Controller
Adam Smith joined the Dielectric Manufacturing/Centerline Machine team as Corporate Controller in the fall of 2023. He earned a BA in Accounting from Hope College in Holland, Mich., and is a licensed CPA in Wisconsin. Adam uses his financial background to inspire process improvement that increases productivity and efficiency in all processes throughout the company and for our customers. When not crunching the numbers, Adam enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and sports. He is actively involved in his sons’ baseball teams and serves as the treasurer of his church in Germantown.
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