Description

Our WIBA luncheon is a great time to network with like-minded business leaders, enjoy a buffet lunch, and hear from local speakers. This month, we are thrilled to welcome Chip Schellhorn, President of CMJ Manufacturing, Inc., as our guest speaker. 

Originally from Kansas City, Chip spent 11 years in the United States Navy flying F/A-18F Super Hornets and other tactical Navy jets. He made two combat deployments from the USS Abraham Lincoln, and throughout his career, he held a variety of leadership positions, including instructor pilot, standardization officer, and flag aide-de-camp to the Chief of Naval Air Training.

In 2019, Chip and his family moved to Wichita for a Sales and Strategy role at Textron Aviation Defense. Chip was privileged to fly the T-6C Texan II and AT-6E Wolverine as an instructor pilot, demonstration pilot, and international plane captain, and during his four-year tenure at Textron Aviation Defense, he held multiple roles supporting military operators of Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes.

In 2023, Chip launched a self-funded solo search to identify, acquire, and operate a small aerospace business in the Wichita metropolitan area. That search concluded with his successful acquisition of CMJ Manufacturing, Inc. Located in Mulvane, Kansas (approximately 15 miles south of Wichita), CMJ Manufacturing precisely machines tight-tolerance aerospace and defense components with lathe, mill, and gear cutting equipment.

Chip attended Harvard University where he rowed on the Lightweight Crew Team, winning two Conference Championships and one National Championship; he later earned his MBA from Harvard Business School. He speaks fluent Spanish and has traveled extensively through Latin and South America. Along with his wife and two daughters, he enjoys running, hiking, and spending time outdoors.