Shelley Machine & Marine
Shelley Machine & MarineIn 1973, John Shelley Sr. started Shelley Machine & Marine, an expert machining, fabrication, and welding shop specializing in ship repairs. His son John Jr. and daughter Lauretta both worked for him to start the family business. When John Sr. retired, the Shelley family worked hard to keep the business running, but due to management issues there was a change of ownership. “In 2006, we took our family name off the business,” explains John Shelley Jr. “After taking a two-year leave of absence from the business, we decided to open our doors again at 1300 Plank Road.” Besides this short break, they have been running a successful business for over 45 years.
Shelley Machine & Marine opened an 8,500-square-foot fabrication shop in 2009 with new business partners, including Tim Lauzon, who is also the welding manager. “We had jobs come in the door before our order forms were even printed,” says John Jr. During 2013, Jillian Shelley, John Jr’s daughter, moved home and rejoined the family business at its new location and is currently the office manager. “I had worked for my grandpa after I graduated from York University in 2004, so I was familiar with the operation of the business,” shares Jillian.
They grew steadily, and in December 2016 they expanded the facility to include a 12,000-square-foot heavy lift shop. Their services include CNC and manual machining, fabrication, fitting, machine fabrication, maintenance, metal forming, pressure vessels, ship repairs, welding, CNC plate cutting, plasma and water jet cutting. Shelley Machine & Marine also services the marine industry in the Great Lakes, which use the docks in Sarnia, Windsor and Hamilton. “We do a lot of repair work when the ships are refueling at the dock. During the winter, we do maintenance and safety work when the ships are docked for a couple of months,” explains Jillian.
Apprenticeship students and co-op programs have been an integral part of their success in the community. “We continue to support the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program at local high schools, the apprenticeship program at local colleges, and the Community Living program that supports people with intellectual disabilities,” shares John Jr. Before closing in 2006, the Shelley’s employed over 100 people, and when they reopened in 2009, they started with only five employees. John Shelley Jr. states, “Giving people jobs is why we do what we do. We’ve now grown to over 35 full-time employees.”
Shelley Machine & Marine works collaboratively with many other local businesses. “There are a lot of local companies working in this industry, but we try to support each other and often help each other to get a job done,” explains Jillian. “Many of the businesses we work with are also family-owned with a couple of generations involved.” For Jillian, the most rewarding part of the business is the family connection. “I love going to industry conferences and hearing people share stories about my Grandpa John and my Dad. I’m proud to be the third generation in this business.”
Related Stories
Paulina's Flower Shoppe
On May 8th, 2017 Paulinas Flower Shoppe opened its doors for business at 1018 Murphy Road. When you drive up to the location, you immediately realize that this has always been a flower shop. Since 1953 the building was known to the city of Sarnia as Buchners Flowers. We purchased the e
H. Moore and Son Windows & Doors
H. Moore and Son, located at 1578 London Line in Sarnia, is owned and operated by Bob and Nancy Bork. In 1952, Harry Moore started building and selling aluminum storm windows and doors out of his garage. A few years later, Moore e...
Lambton Mutual Insurance Company
In 1875, a group of enterprising Lambton County farmers formed Lambton Mutual Insurance Company. There were very few insurers in Canada at that time, and none of them would insure these farmers, so they banded together and decided that the premiums of many would pay the losses of the few, shar
BDO Canada LLP
In 2021, BDO Canada will celebrate 100 years as an accounting firm. They have offices across the country, including in Sarnia. The original Sarnia office grew out of W. L. Smith and Partners, which dates back to the '40s. Lyle and Jimmy Smith joined their father's firm, and were integral in g
Related Stories
Nicole Smith - Twin Bridges EXIT Realty
Nicole Smith is the first to admit that the thrill of closing a deal is what motivates her when it comes to working as a real estate agent. I've always worked in sales and I am definitely a very social person, Nicole proclaims. I got to know a lot of people while working locally at the ma
Manley's Basics
Some things never change, and Manleys Stationery & Office Supplies is proof of that: even as they've evolved from selling yeast to textbooks to stationery and office furniture, Manleys has, for over 100 years, prioritized customer service above all else. Manleys was founded in 1900 by Bl
Royal LePage Realty - Mike Cullis
Mike Cullis comes from a long line of entrepreneurs. His grandfather ran a fried chicken restaurant, called The Chicken Palace, that later became a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. He worked alongside Colonel Sanders opening the initial KFC restaurants in Sarnia-Lambton, and at one point operated
Alicia Hardman thinks it's high time that people started showing hard cider some love. Alicia, who along with her husband Garren, owns and operates Shale Ridge Estate Winery in Thedford, Ont., 20 minutes south of Grand Bend. The couple feels hard cider is rightfully starting to make a name for its
Own a local business in Sarnia-Lambton?
Your customers, your link, your revenue. We do the rest.
Become a #local Partner and we pay you 100% of every gift card members spend with you. It costs you nothing to join.
Free. Takes about three minutes.
