Pickle Docks Celebrates 10 Years of Powering Community in Lakeview
A Decade of Jobs, Growth, and Renewed Momentum Along Tamarack Lake
ROCKFORD, Mich. – June 3, 2026 – Byrne, a leading manufacturer of power and data solutions serving contract furniture, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and educational environments, is celebrating ten years of operations at its Lakeview manufacturing facility, affectionately known as “Pickle Docks.”
When Byrne announced plans in 2015 to build in Lakeview and add 32 jobs in Montcalm County, the vision extended beyond manufacturing. The facility transformed a long-vacant industrial property on Tamarack Lake into a place of opportunity for a community with deep manufacturing roots.
The opening of Pickle Docks in 2016 marked a turning point for Lakeview. Today, the facility employs 65 team members, providing stable careers close to home while continuing to build on the original promise of job creation and community investment.
“Investing in Michigan communities has always been central to who we are,” said Dan Byrne, CEO of Byrne. “Lakeview embodies resilience. Over the past decade, we have not only built products here, we’ve built careers, partnerships, and momentum. We are proud to call this community home.”
For many employees, that investment has been personal.
“It was exciting being part of something that was brand new, yet familiar,” said Sheila Yeakey, Production Supervisor at Pickle Docks, who has been with Byrne for 14 years and transferred from the company’s Rockford location when the Lakeview facility opened. “Living only about two minutes from work has been life changing. The quick commute gives me more time with my family, and I love seeing how involved Byrne is in the community through events like Trunk or Treat and the Lakeview Summerfest parade.”
Yeakey said she quickly recognized the impact the facility would have on the area.
“When we opened and saw such a long waitlist for hiring, it really put into perspective how important bringing another manufacturing facility to the area was,” she said. “Celebrating 10 years means being proud of the team I work with every day and knowing we all played a part in reaching this milestone.”
The impact has extended well beyond Byrne’s walls.
Over the past decade, Lakeview has seen renewed investment, infrastructure improvements, expanded services, and a resurgence of community events. Local organizations have also benefited from Byrne’s ongoing support.
“I’ve seen a lot of positive changes in our village over the years, and one of those has been the addition of Byrne,” said Dominic Trevino, Village Trustee and President of the Lakeview Summerfest Committee. “They have over the past few years provided numerous jobs, jobs that probably changed lives. Byrne seems to appreciate their employees as well. I’ve witnessed many events they’ve put on for their employees, and they donate money to our committee every year so we can put on Summerfest. Without help like that, events like Summerfest can’t happen.”
The facility’s nickname, Pickle Docks, pays tribute to the property’s history as the former home of the Michigan Pickle Company, once one of the nation’s largest independent pickle producers. Today, the site has a new purpose, producing power and data solutions that serve customers across the country and around the globe.
“Places matter,” Byrne added. “What we build matters. But where we build it, and who we build it with, matters just as much. Lakeview has welcomed us, worked alongside us, and grown with us. We are grateful for ten strong years and excited for what the next decade will bring.”
As Pickle Docks celebrates its tenth anniversary this June, Byrne remains committed to investing in local talent, strengthening regional partnerships, and honoring the legacy of the site that helped shape Lakeview’s story more than a century ago.
From pickles to power, the docks are working again. And Lakeview continues to grow.
For more information about Byrne and its Lakeview operations, please contact Stephanie Parrish at 616.302.6371 or parrishs@byrne.com.
About Byrne
Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Rockford, Michigan, Byrne is a leading manufacturer of power and data solutions serving contract furniture, hospitality, retail, healthcare, and educational environments. With a commitment to innovation, community investment, and long-term partnerships, Byrne is a recognized global expert in power and data technologies. To learn more, visit www.byrne.com.