James DeSmet

CEO
CRG Automation

James joined CRG Automation in 2019 following two decades in top leadership positions at General Electric and Big Ass Fans. James changed the direction of the company to focus on automation and integration, fulfilling his longtime professional goal of building out his own custom engineering solution firm—one dedicated to solving the kinds of problems that leave most teams scratching their heads. As CEO, James grew the team from six employees to more than 30 while earning numerous professional awards for revenue growth, innovation and culture. James leads the company’s government initiatives, including work with the Department of Defense, as well as driving the overall strategy and direction of the company.

James holds a marine engineering systems degree from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He has earned GE Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt certifications, served 14 years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve, and is president and co-founder of the Louisville-based charity 502cares. When not in the office, he enjoys spending weekends at the lake with his wife, Missy, and their four children.