Automated Structures Names New Vice President

The former director of the Computer Sciences Corp. unit in Camarillo has invested an undisclosed amount of cash in that city’s Automated Structures Inc., a modular housing manufacturer, and has become a top official of the company.

Wally Boeck, the former Computer Sciences executive, has been named Automated Structures’ vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer, according to Mark Jacobs, Automated Structures’ controller.

“He saw this as a chance to become involved in a non-defense-related industry with a lot of growth potential,” Jacobs said.

The modular housing firm was established last year as an outgrowth of a company formed in 1990 by Automated Structures’ president, Mike Schimpf. The privately held concern has 40 employees, most of them at its manufacturing plant in Paso Robles.

“Modular housing is big in the East but has yet to become a major force in the West,” Jacobs said. “People in this area still think of it in terms of mobile homes, though our product has the look and feel of a stick-built house.”

Jacobs said Automated Structures is working on a 42-house order for a development in Atascadero. Homes there will range from 1,100 to 1,400 square feet and will start at less than $150,000, he said. He added that the company is negotiating to sell panelized housing to a home builder in China.