Bob Black, President & CEO, Juki Automation Systems

January 1st I celebrated my 25th anniversary as a Juki Automation Systems employee. I began work in 1988 as the Product Manager for the PlaceMat 360, the first Juki machines sold in North America.

I have so many great memories of customers, co-workers, and this exciting and fast moving industry we all work in. With over 20 companies manufacturing SMT placement systems, ours is a competitive field and I am proud of the success that Juki has had in being the major player in the Americas.

But for the last 13 years I have been fighting another battle as well.  I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in June of 2000. I have been fortunate to this point and have been able to live a fairly normal life with minor limitations. Unfortunately the MS has been progressing and now requires more treatment and a change to my current lifestyle of frequent travel.

MS is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing (an insulation around nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord. This attack causes inflammation, which destroys nerve cell processes and myelin -- altering electrical messages in the brain.

MS is unpredictable and affects each patient differently -- some individuals may be mildly affected, while others may lose their ability to write, speak or walk. There are several courses MS can take which are unnerving to say the least.

At the request of my doctors, I will be taking a medical leave of absence so I can focus on my health and my fight with MS. As a result I will be on disability for an indefinite period of time. During my absence Bob Black will be assuming my responsibilities and working with JAS's sales management team to serve our customers. I have great confidence that the team will do a terrific job executing the plans in place for 2013.

It is my goal to work with my doctors to improve my condition and be able to return as soon as I can. I also will continue with my activities to raise funds for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society to be used for their extensive activities in MS Research. Your help in this effort would be greatly appreciated by me and the more than 2 million people suffering from MS today around the world.

I wish all of you a great 2013 and hope to be back with you soon.