Tranzonic names Joe Vitale Chief Corporate Development Officer
Newly created position to pilot strategic growth via M&A The Tranzonic Companies, a manufacturer of personal care and protection, contamination control, and cleaning products, has named Joe Vitale to the newly created role of chief corporate development officer. Vitale will provide strategic direction and leadership as the business expands through acquisitions, investments, and partnerships, and will collaborate with executive leadership on company strategy. M&A is central to the growth strategy of Tranzonic, which has increased sales five-fold in the past decade via acquisitions of diverse companies including Monarch Brands, Acute Care, Adenna, Chemcor, NILodor, Innocore, High-Tech Conversions, and others. Each investment has strengthened Tranzonic’s position as a leader in helping businesses protect, clean, and care for shared spaces where we work, stay, and gather — businesses across manufacturing, food service, healthcare, retail, transportation, hospitality, and other target industries. Vitale’s mission is to optimize Tranzonic’s origination, acquisition, and integration processes to more efficiently identify and partner with new companies to achieve greater growth. He is well-suited to lead the company’s growth efforts, with more than 25 years of professional experience in corporate banking, large and mid-cap industrial, and sponsor-backed portfolio companies. Vitale most recently led M&A and Treasury for Brook + Whittle, before which he spent over a decade with Ferro Corporation, where he helped transform the company through M&A to outperform peer group public companies. He has successfully completed acquisition, partnership, and carve-out transactions in the U.S. and across the world, and his collaborative approach allows for efficient transactions that minimize disruption to the business and preserve value for all stakeholders. “Joe’s values and the engaged culture he creates are well-aligned with Tranzonic and what we plan to achieve as we grow,” said Tom Friedl, CEO of The Tranzonic Companies. “We already have exciting new investments planned for 2024, and Joe’s energy and focus will further our goals as we look to the next decade and beyond.” Vitale earned his MBA in finance from UCLA Anderson and his bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University.
CLARK Material Handling Company announces leadership appointments
CLARK Material Handling Company has announced its plans for upcoming leadership appointments in the North American company. 2023 was a record sales and revenue year for CLARK Material Handling since the purchase of the company by the Young An company in 2003. Dennis Lawrence, President and CEO of CLARK commented on the business’s success, “Our team has worked tirelessly for the past 20 years to rebuild a brand that we can all be proud of. We have endured many challenges with the downturn in the market between 2009 to 2011 and COVID-19 in 2020. Through it all, we have been successful in building a strong team with dedicated employees, dealers, and customers.” Additionally, Mr. S.S. Baik, Chairman of CLARK Material Handling Board remarked, “We had a vision for this business when we acquired the company, and we could not be more pleased with its growth. As we look to the future, we are now making plans to welcome the third generation of the family into this business. They will begin to shape the vision of the business for future generations.” To prepare for this growth, Mr. Dennis Lawrence, President and C.E.O. of CLARK Material Handling Company, has been appointed to the Board of Directors for CLARK Material Handling and will step down as President and C.E.O. on July 1, 2024. He has made strong contributions as a key figure to YoungAn and the Baik Family for over 40 years. In this new role, he will work with the owners on various new strategic projects within the business. Mr. S.S. Baik commented, “We are excited to have Dennis as part of this new team and look forward to growing the business together.” With the above changes, CLARK Material Handling Company is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Michael (Mike) Binnie as C.E.O. effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Binnie is currently serving as C.O.O. of CLARK Material Handling and comes to CLARK with decades of experience leading dynamic teams. Mr. S.S. Baik commented, “Mr. Binnie brings a wealth of business experience to the team, and we are looking forward to the continued growth of the brand.” Mr. Lawrence commented, “Mr. Binnie has proven his business acumen and leadership strength as C.O.O. of CLARK. As the business continues to grow, we have full confidence in Mr. Binnie’s ability to build on the success of the company.”
Coast Guard Captain named Port Security Director
Manning to assume role following March retirement The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners approved the appointment of U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Ryan Manning to lead the Security Division at the nation’s second-busiest seaport. Manning, currently Captain of the Port of Los Angeles-Long Beach and Commander of Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach, will join the Port of Long Beach following his retirement at the end of March. In his present role, Manning leads a team of 550 active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel and a 750-member volunteer auxiliary workforce. This team facilitates regional partnerships and conducts federal maritime safety, security, law enforcement, and environmental protection operations along the coast from Orange to San Luis Obispo County and within the United States’ largest container port complex. Before his current assignment, Manning most recently served as the Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Activities Europe, located in Brunssum, the Netherlands. In this position, he directed U.S. Coast Guard vessel inspection and port security assessments throughout Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Manning received his commission from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1994 and has served in a variety of port safety and security-related positions throughout his career. He has earned master’s degrees in mechanical engineering, joint campaign planning, and strategy. He is also a registered professional engineer in mechanical engineering. The Port of Long Beach Security Division’s top priority is to provide safety and security throughout the Port of Long Beach. The Port takes a leadership role in the development of strategies to mitigate security risks in the port complex, working closely with multiple partner agencies to plan and coordinate security measures.
Alta Equipment Group appoints Jeff Hoover as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
Alta Equipment Group Inc., a provider of premium material handling, construction, and environmental processing equipment, appointed Jeff Hoover as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel effective immediately. Hoover came to Alta via Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, a national law firm, and before that Howard & Howard Attorneys, PLLC where he was a Partner at both firms and specialized in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, commercial lending, and real estate transactions. Hoover holds a Master’s of Business Administration in Finance from Eastern Michigan University and a Doctorate of Law from Cooley Law School. As Chief Legal Officer, Hoover will report to Alta’s Chief Executive Officer, Ryan Greenawalt, and take on the role of leading and coordinating Alta’s legal affairs, corporate governance, and Board relations, as well as being a business partner to our operational leaders from an administrative and compliance perspective day to day. “We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Hoover as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. In Jeff’s previous roles, he was an integral partner to Alta where he supported our growth and development since 2016 as external legal counsel. Jeff has tremendous knowledge of Alta, our history, how we do business, and most importantly our culture,” said Ryan Greenawalt, Chief Executive Officer. “I look forward to the contributions he will make as part of the Alta family.” “I am excited to step into my new role as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel and look forward to using my experience to continue to support the growth and success of Alta. I am thrilled to be joining the Alta family,” said Hoover.
Dorner appoints new Business Development Manager
Dorner has hired Dave Giffels as Business Development Manager. Giffels will be working with the sales team to grow Dorner’s industrial and automation conveyor business into new markets and customer bases. Giffels joins Dorner after spending most of his career in automation sales, including 12 years with Bosch selling palletized conveyor systems. His experience spans across the material handling industry including work with manufacturers, integrators, channel partners, and customers. “Dorner has a long, distinguished history and has developed a reputation as a company that knows how to make conveyor systems the right way,” Giffels said. “I look forward to getting to work with this well-established brand on the manufacturer side again and get out into the field with customers and salespeople.” One of the first initiatives Giffels will be working on is incorporating a solutions-based sales approach in which salespeople will work with customers and channel partners to understand their operations before making recommendations based on each user’s specific goals.
2024 PTDA Foundation Board ready to pioneer new programs
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) Foundation Board of Trustees begin their leadership terms. Matt Pavlinsky, director of power transmission products, at Applied Industrial Technologies (Cleveland, Ohio) assumes the role of president. Pavlinsky has been involved with the PTDA Foundation since 2018. Most recently he served on the Board of Trustees and the PT WORK Force® Education, Research and Knowledge committee. “I am excited for the collective expertise and acumen the 2024 board brings to our efforts as we look in a new direction,” says Pavlinsky, “The Foundation is shifting its efforts to where it can have the most impact. Namely, building awareness of rewarding careers in the power transmission and motion control (PT/MC) industry and developing initiatives focused on providing vital educational and financial support for those interested in pursuing PT/MC careers or who already are working in the industry.” Joining Pavlinsky on the board are: Vice President Mike McLain, vice president, Allied Bearing Supply (Harahan, La.) PTDA President Brian Nowak, president & CEO, Kurz Industrial Solutions (Neenah, Wis) PTDA Treasurer JP Bouchard, vice president, General Bearing Service (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) Keith Nowak, president, MPT Drives, Inc. (Madison Heights, Mich.) Ajay Bajaj, president, Rotator Products Limited (Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada) Rex Davis, VP operations, MAXCO Chain Ltd. (Marietta, Ga.) Hafeez Hameer, national distribution manager, Hercules OEM (Des Plaines, Ill.) Barbara Ross, director channel & representatives, Pfannenburg USA (Lancaster, N.Y.) Scott Taylor, vice president & general manager, Schaeffler Canada Inc. (Stratford, Ontario, Canada) JT Wubbolding, VP sales, NORD Drivesystems (Waunakee, Wis.) Newly appointed PTDA Foundation Director Kevin Koreman will support the board in its execution of plans and programs. Most recently, Koreman was member services specialist with PTDA. He began his career with PTDA as an operations & administrative assistant in 2018. The PTDA Foundation, whose work is funded solely by donations, was founded in 1982 to champion education, outreach and research initiatives relevant to the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry that enhance the knowledge and/or professionalism and productivity for industry stakeholders. The Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation; contributions are tax-deductible to the full amount allowed by law.
AutoScheduler adds Stephen Zujkowski to executive team as Vice President
AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Management System (WMS) accelerator, has announced that Stephen Zujkowski has joined the company as the Vice President of Customer Success. With over thirty years in the supply chain industry, Stephen will bring his extensive experience to help AutoScheduler grow profitably and achieve scale while driving value in customers’ supply chains. “Stephen will be the critical guiding force that oversees our deployment strategy, metric capture and tracking, and overall customer delivery success,” says Keith Moore, CEO of AutoScheduler.AI. “He will be the face of success for all AutoScheduler’s customers, ensuring the talented team continues delivering exceptional services and fostering true partnerships.” “The executives at AutoScheduler are some of the most innovative in the industry, and I am pleased to join them to focus on improving deployment processes and measuring KPIs in customer success,” says Stephen Zujkowski, Vice President of Customer Success at AutoScheduler.AI. “I will ensure customer satisfaction is central to business decisions throughout the organization.” As Vice President of Customer Success, Stephen is responsible for overseeing the strategy, execution, and management of all aspects related to customer deployments and satisfaction. He will ensure that customers derive maximum value from AutoScheduler, leading to improved fulfillment, better labor utilization, and lower costs. As the leader in the Customer Success organization, he will drive measurable positive business outcomes, customer satisfaction, retention, and expansion across the customer base. Previously, Stephen was VP, Global Supply Chain IT at CHEP, a Partner in the Supply Chain practice at Accenture, and a Vice President at Oracle Corporation. He has extensive experience installing and operating Supply Chain technology solutions along with hands-on experience managing warehouses. He combines operations and technology expertise to capitalize on rapidly changing business imperatives. He graduated with a BS in Logistics from Penn State University. He received his MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Manitowoc Board of Directors elects Ryan M. Gwillim as New Director
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. (the “Company”), a global manufacturer of cranes and lifting solutions, announced that Ryan M. Gwillim has been elected to the Company’s board of directors effective immediately. Additionally, the Company announced an increase in the size of the Board from nine to ten directors. Mr. Gwillim is a senior executive with over 20 years of experience in finance and law. He currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Brunswick Corporation, where he previously held successively senior positions including Vice President, Finance and Treasurer; Vice President, Investor Relations; Associate General Counsel International and Mergers and Acquisitions; Assistant General Counsel Corporate and Securities, International Counsel – EMEA; and Corporate Counsel. Prior to Brunswick, Mr. Gwillim was an Associate at Baker and McKenzie. Mr. Gwillim holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, a Master of Science in Accounting, and a JD degree from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. “The Manitowoc Board of Directors is very pleased to have Ryan join the Board. With his strong financial skills and qualifications, along with his extensive background in international mergers and acquisitions, Ryan will contribute greatly to our efforts to increase shareholder value,” said Kenneth W. Krueger, Chairman of Manitowoc’s Board of Directors.
Tompkins Solutions appoints Quinntin Teeling Account Executive
Tompkins Solutions, a supply chain consulting and material handling integration firm, announced that Quinntin Teeling has joined the company as an account executive. In this role, Teeling will be responsible for delivering tailored supply chain solutions that increase operational efficiency and return on investment. With more than half a decade of material handling automation experience, Teeling has worked with major corporations including Amazon, Boeing, Starbucks, PepsiCo and TJX, among others. Prior to joining Tompkins, Teeling held management positions with Dematic and also served as account manager for Pepperl+Fuchs. “We are excited to welcome Quinntin to the Tompkins team,” said David Latona, CEO of Tompkins Solutions. “His successful track record of implementing large-scale enterprise solutions and cutting-edge automation technologies will be integral to the growth and success of both our clients and our organization.”
Scott Schrum joins outside sales team at New Age Industrial
New Age Industrial has announced the appointment of Scott Schrum for outside sales in the Material Handling Division. Scott is a passionate and dedicated business professional with over 30 years of experience in sales and management. After graduating from the University of Kansas in 1992 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Minor in Economics, he began his career in the grocery industry. For 10 years, he worked at New Age Industrial in the Supermarket Sales Division. Since then, Scott has held a variety of sales and management positions with Walmart and is an entrepreneur with a portfolio of successful businesses. Scott is a strong team player with a proven track record of success in building relationships and motivating others. He has a deep understanding of e-commerce and is a safety and efficiency expert. His hands-on experience in the supply chain and warehouse side of the business has given him a keen eye for identifying opportunities for improvement through thoughtful solutions. In his new position in Outside Sales, Scott will work directly with the National Sales Manager, Bob Brackle, and the manufacturer’s representatives to maintain existing business and create new opportunities. He will also attend a variety of national trade shows with the Material Handling Sales Team. According to Scott, one of his primary goals at New Age Industrial is to educate others about the company’s unique ability to design and manufacture custom aluminum solutions. Another of his top priorities is to help customers identify areas for improvement within their warehouses and distribution centers. Scott shared, “We have a chance to show people a better way to be more efficient and safer while improving their overall businesses and processes.” When asked what made him want to come back to work for New Age Industrial, he said, “New Age is a great company with great people and great work ethic, and they produce great products. Material handling has evolved so much, so it’s an exciting area of the business to be involved in. I’m glad to be a part of this growing division!” He also shared, “It was nice to come back after so many years and see some of the same faces that were here when I left New Age in 2002. That level of loyalty from the employees says a lot about this company!” We congratulate Scott Schrum on his new role and look forward to working with him. We are excited to have him on the team. Scott said, “I am excited to rejoin the team at New Age Industrial. I am impressed with the company’s commitment to quality, and I am confident that I can make a positive contribution to the team.”
Nano One announces Carlo Valente as CFO
Nano One® Materials Corp. (“Nano One”), has announced that Mr. Carlo Valente will be joining Nano One as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) on January 15, 2024. Mr. Valente has over twenty-six years of experience supporting companies as they scale up with capital raising, M&A transactions, strategic and tactical planning, and effective finance structures. Most recently he served as CFO of a private, international renewables company where he gained expertise in commercial agreements, strategic partnerships, feedstock, government relations, and incentive programs while engaging in the decarbonization ecosystem that is relevant to Nano One. “I would like to welcome Mr. Valente to the Nano One team as a full-time CFO,” said Nano One CEO Mr. Dan Blondal. “We are confident that he will contribute significantly to shareholder value and to the execution of our licensing strategy, business objectives, and growth targets in the cathode sector.” With a distinguished career spanning over 26 years, Mr. Valente is a seasoned professional in international business development, corporate advisory, accounting and finance. His journey in the business world has been marked by a consistent track record of success, demonstrating exceptional skills across a diverse range of sectors, from nurturing local start-ups to navigating the complexities of multinational corporations. Mr. Valente has held the crucial role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for six companies, of which five were Canadian reporting issuers, where he was directly involved in corporate and project equity facilities totaling approximately $500 million. Notably, two of these companies earned recognition as TSX Venture 50 companies, a testament to his financial acumen and strategic leadership. Mr. Valente has significant M&A expertise, having actively contributed to over 100 mandates in North America and Europe. His financial stewardship and leadership along with a comprehensive understanding of capital markets, commercial agreements, and strategic business plan execution has been a driving force behind the success of numerous enterprises. Blondal added “I would also like to thank Mr. Dan Martino who has served effectively in the CFO role on a fractional basis since January 2020 through Donaldson Brohman Martin CPA, Inc. (“DBM”) where he holds other CFO positions for publicly traded companies. I would like to assure all our stakeholders that Mr. Martino remains dedicated to Nano One’s long-term business success and will serve as Vice President of Finance to provide continuity and support in financial reporting and finance-related projects.” Dan Martino said “It has been an incredible experience to be a part of Nano One’s growth story since early 2020. Since then, the team has grown significantly and we achieved the completion of three equity financings, two strategic financings, various government grants, the acquisition and successful integration of our Candiac operation, and graduation to the TSX, to name a few key milestones. As Nano One continues its growth trajectory, I believe Carlo to be an excellent fit to work alongside the executive team in bringing Nano One’s technology and growth to the next level, while I and DBM support this effort in the capacity as Vice President of Finance.” Mr. Carlo Valente said “I have followed the success of Nano One for some time now and I am honored to be joining this amazing team and company at a critical juncture on its path towards commercialization. I will draw on my past successes in helping companies grow by supporting and ensuring robust financial systems are in place. Dan Martino and the team have built a solid foundation that enables the executive team to readily advance Nano One’s strategic goals and increase shareholder value, and I look forward to contributing to the Company’s growth.”
Columbia Machine, Inc. remembers Fred Neth Jr.
Columbia Machine is mourning the passing of Fred Neth Jr. Fred a proud member of the Columbia Team for 57 years, retiring as Chairman of the Board in December of 2019. Fred held multiple positions with Columbia, playing a critical role for the Company as it grew over the last 86 years and transitioned through the first three generations of family ownership. Many of the factory automation solutions that were designed and built during Fred’s long tenure with the Company is still in operation today. “Fred was very dedicated to the success of our customers and employees. Up until he retired you would regularly see him on the shop floor asking about orders that were getting ready to ship and checking in with employees he had worked with for many years,” said Rick Goode, Columbia Chairman and CEO. “Fred had a deep loyalty to the long-term success of the Company his father founded in 1937. He cared passionately about his Columbia Family and will be missed.” Fred is survived by his wife Michele and sons Gary and Bryan. Fred will be deeply missed by the Columbia Team and the extended Neth Family.
Mark Moffat appointed as CEO of IFS
IFS, the global cloud enterprise software company, announced that Mark Moffat has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Moffat takes over from Darren Roos who has been appointed as the company’s Chair of the Board. Both appointments are effective immediately. The transition provides great continuity for the business by building on the successful strategy that has seen IFS transform into the leading vendor for Asset & Service Management software. Moffat, Roos, and the IFS Executive Team have been working on the transition over the past six months as part of the Board’s succession planning process. Moffat, who was previously IFS Chief Customer Officer, is a well-known and respected technology leader having held several senior positions at PwC before joining IFS. Commenting on his appointment, Mark Moffat, CEO of IFS, said: “It is a great honor for me to lead IFS as we embark on this next chapter of growth. The business has immensely strong foundations to build upon and we have been putting all the right ingredients in place to continue to deliver on our strategy: a differentiated proposition, a hugely advanced and capable AI-based product, an engaged customer base, a motivated partner ecosystem, and of course our talented employee base.” Moffat continued: “I want to recognize and thank Darren for the impact he has had as my predecessor. I look forward to working with him in his new capacity as IFS Chair of the Board.” Under Roos’ tenure as CEO, IFS has more than tripled its overall revenues and transformed into a true Cloud business, from both a product and revenue perspective with 79% of total revenue now recurring (up from 36% when he joined). Thanks to sustained organic growth and customer satisfaction scores that set the industry benchmark, IFS has become the trusted vendor for industry focused applications that help manage assets, people, and customers. Darren Roos, Chair of the Board at IFS, commented: “I am thrilled to appoint Mark as my successor. He has a proven track record, brings a strong network, and is a great leader that people want to follow. I am proud of all that has been achieved since I joined IFS and want to thank the thousands of women and men throughout the business who have lived our shared values and made our customers successful. I am pleased to be continuing my journey with IFS, albeit in a different capacity. There is so much opportunity in the market and, together with the Board, I will work with Mark and his team to ensure we effectively capture it.” Roos concluded: “I take over as Chair of the Board from Jonas Persson, who I want to thank for his great governance and counsel over the years.” Johannes Reichel, partner at EQT (majority owner of IFS), added: “Darren and the leadership team have delivered phenomenal results in turning IFS into one of the fastest growing software businesses operating at scale. Mark has the right background and ambition that will enable IFS to take advantage of the opportunity ahead, and we look forward to him partnering with Darren as our new Chair of the Board.” Reichel added: “I also want to thank Jonas Persson who leaves the IFS Board, having been the Chairperson since EQT acquired the business. He will continue to serve as a Senior Advisor to EQT and is the Chairperson at several other EQT-owned software businesses.” IFS is backed by investors EQT, Hg and TA Associates, a group of world-class investors that have been invested as a trio in IFS since 2022 in a transaction valuing IFS at over $10bn. Together they bring decades of software experience, backing IFS for its next wave of growth. IFS plans to release its financial results for FY2023 on 30th January 2024.
Caldwell hires Berman, Schroeder returns
The Caldwell Group Inc. has made two significant appointments in Teddy Berman and Jay Schroeder. Berman, regional sales manager, joins Caldwell as it’s first ever hire as a direct employee in a territory; until now, the company has worked via sales agents. Schroeder, western sales manager, returns to a business he left last March, with a focus on Caldwell’s RUD line of material handling and lifting devices. Berman brings over 10 years of sales and business development experience from leading companies such as Konecranes America. He will work primarily from his home office in South Carolina with frequent travel to customers. He will be spread across Caldwell, J.C. Renfroe, and RUD brands. Berman, who will cover the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee, said: “I came to Caldwell for the exciting opportunity to be a part of the organization’s growth, especially with their clear focus on the continuous improvement of the customer experience. The strong reputation of these three brands in the material handling industry is also something I look forward to representing and helping to build. “I’ll work hard to support both our distributors and end users alike, depending on the specific case requirements and project complexity. The wide-ranging product lines represent endless opportunities for new applications and solutions to make our end users’ operations safer and more productive.” Darrin Noe, director of sales and marketing, said: “Teddy is charismatic, bringing to the company a perfect blend of personality, energy, and technical ability. Significantly, he is our first hire as a direct Caldwell employee in a territory.” Schroeder will be laser-focused on the RUD line, further raising the U.S. profile of a range of rigging products that is already considered best-in-class in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Caldwell already partners with the RUD Group to unite their sales and marketing activities in North America for RUD material handling and lifting devices within a common organization. The RUD portfolio includes slings and lifting points for the most complex tasks for integration into almost any application. Schroeder said: “The reason I came back is the culture at Caldwell and the ability to go back to selling RUD products. They are the best lifting points in the industry, and they allow me to help customers solve their lifting concerns. I think the biggest challenge is to let the distributors and end users know that Caldwell has made a significant investment in inventory, supported by our in-stock program. “RUD is a high-quality, Germany-manufactured product, so it takes a certain type of company to be able to deliver it here in North America, keeping lead times short and stock levels high, close to the point of use. The timing is perfect to reintroduce RUD to the market with the emphasis on telling everyone we are here—and here to stay.” Noe added: “High-level technical knowledge on the RUD product is something we sorely missed after Jay’s departure. He has immediately stepped back in and helped our organizational efforts, with a sharpened focus on the broad RUD catalog.” Meanwhile, Caldwell has also recruited to several other sales-focused positions, as Noe enthused: “We are excited about plans for the year and ownership continues to invest in many facets of the organization. “In 2024, we are upping the ante for every customer-facing interaction, making sure distributors and end users find it easier to do business with Caldwell than any other lifting manufacturer. Assembling the right team is a critical piece of that mission, and Teddy, Jay, and other recent internal sales team hires, fully support that mission.”
CHEP appoints Xavier Garijo to newly created CEO Americas position
CHEP, a supply chain solutions, announced the appointment of Xavier Garijo as the CEO of Americas effective Jan. 1, 2024, following the announcement that CHEP North America’s president, Laura Nador, left her role on Dec. 31, 2023. Paola Floris, President of CHEP Latin America, and Frank Bozzo, Vice President and General Manager of CHEP Canada and Pallecon North America, will continue in their current capacities and report directly to Garijo. Garijo brings 25 years of experience managing global consumer good supply chains and operations, and multi-industry global logistics businesses. He was most recently a Global Executive Board Member for Contract Logistics at DB Schenker, a German logistics provider. He was responsible for the global contract logistics business, which had a workforce of 40,000 people in 60 countries. Prior to that, Garijo worked in the U.S. and Europe, for 20 years, including managing end-to-end supply chains and operations for Revlon as Chief Supply Chain Officer and in roles of increasing responsibility with Reckitt Benckiser and Unilever. In this newly-created position, Garijo will lead the Americas region combining the previously separate CHEP North America and CHEP Latin America business units. This change reflects the increasing collaboration and interconnectivity between CHEP’s North American and Latin American operations and will help further serve CHEP’s customers and retail partners across the globe. “I am delighted to be joining Brambles as it progresses its digital transformation to ensure ongoing, profitable growth and strengthen further our customer value proposition,” said Garijo. “The business has a vital role in supply chains, which, combined with its leading approach in sustainability, provides an exceptional foundation for continued success. I look forward to working with our internal teams, customers and vendors to drive value for all stakeholders.” As the Americas region continues its transformation, the organization is grateful for the strong contributions Laura Nador, CHEP North America’s former president, delivered in driving operational and safety excellence as well as her care for CHEP’s people and customers. “Xavier is well positioned to build on Laura’s legacy and successes to serve the market needs of today and the future,” said Graham Chipchase, CEO at Brambles, CHEP’s parent company. “As the Americas region moves into this new era, Xavier’s extensive experience in global supply chains and commercial management across the fast-moving consumer goods and logistics industries make him a fantastic choice to elevate the business and lead growth.”
Michael Larsson announced as new president of Dematic and Member of Executive Board of KION Group AG
Dematic has announced that KION Group AG (KGX.DE) has appointed Michael Larsson as President of Dematic Corp. and Member of the Executive Board of KION Group AG. Larsson succeeds Hasan Dandashly, who has retired from the company. In his Board-assignment Larsson will also have responsibility for the KION Industrial Truck Segment (ITS) for the Americas while retaining responsibility for the Dematic Americas region. “With his responsibility for the Dematic SCS business globally and ITS in the Americas, Michael Larsson will further drive our strong commitment to profitable growth. He will expand our integrated solutions strategy on lighthouse projects with top customers,” said Rob Smith, CEO of KION GROUP AG. “It’s a very exciting time to lead Dematic, having the opportunity to work alongside an incredible team of industry experts to build upon our proud history and serving our customers. With the industry undergoing fundamental change, driving the need for increasing levels of automation, Dematic is in a great position to lead with innovative software and technology solutions. I would like to thank Hasan for his strong contributions to the company over the last five years building a strong foundation for future growth,” said Larsson. A 35-year veteran of Industrial Automation and Robotics, Larsson has a proven track-record as a strategic business leader with a focus on customers and people. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President of Dematic’s Americas Region responsible for accelerating growth and driving a market-leading presence in the US, Canada, Mexico and South America. Over the past three years, as leader of the Americas Region, he successfully led the company through complex challenges during the Covid-19 Pandemic as well as historical eCommerce surges of 2021 and 2022. Prior to joining Dematic, Larsson served as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of ABB’s Automotive Business Unit. During his 30-plus-years at ABB, he also served in increasing levels of executive leadership, as CFO and Business Leader across four continents. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from Stockholm University School of Economics in Sweden.
ELOKON promotes Mark Stanton to president & General Manager for North America
Material handling specialist to lead overall operations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for the automated forklift safety and fleet management system company, with Alex Johns taking over as vice president of sales ELOKON, Inc., an innovator in automated forklift safety and fleet management systems, has promoted senior vice president of sales Mark Stanton to the new position of president and general manager for the North American region, effective immediately. Alex B. Johns, ELOKON’s national sales director since 2021, will become the new vice president of sales for the region. Stanton joined ELOKON in May 2023, bringing more than 25 years of experience in the materials handling industry, a deep knowledge of forklift fleet management and forklift safety systems, and an impressive track record of driving growth and innovation. During the 8 months Stanton has been with the company, ELOKON has increased sales by approximately 30 percent and doubled the size of the ELOKON Inc. team. “We expected big things from Mark when we brought him on to lead our sales team in North America last May, and he most definitely delivered,” said Alexander Glasmacher, CEO, ELOKON. “His extensive knowledge of forklift fleet management and safety systems, combined with strong leadership skills and an unparalleled strategic vision, has already resulted in higher sales and stronger employee morale. Mark is the best person to run our growing business in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.” Johns poised to grow sales, increase workplace safety and productivity in expanded sales role ELOKON’s cloud-based forklift fleet management solutions and forklift safety systems are used by some of the world’s largest companies to make their warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants safer and more efficient. North America is the largest addressable market for ELOKON’s solutions, growing steadily over the last three years with Johns playing a pivotal role in the positive growth trajectory. “Alex’s performance as our sales director in the U.S. has been simply stellar, with exceptional engagement with customers large and small,” said Stanton, who works from the company’s U.S. headquarters in Atlanta. “He’s a truly supportive team leader who inspires new sales members as well as current and new customers as we help them to become safer and more productive throughout their warehouses, distribution centers, and manufacturing plants.” Prior to joining ELOKON in May 2021, Johns served as the director of sales for Advanced Mechatronics Solutions in Atlanta, following sales leadership and marketing roles at companies such as Acuity Brands, RAIT88, and Adams Beverages of NC, LLC. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Auburn University’s Harbert College of Business.
Two division directors appointed at Port of Long Beach
Promotions OK’d for Program Management, Central Procurement Services The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday approved the appointment of directors for the Port of Long Beach’s Program Management Division and the newly created Central Procurement Services Division. Monique Lebrun, who has served as the Port’s assistant director of Program Management since December 2022, will become Director of Program Management. She joined the Port in September 2008 and has worked in several roles within the Design and Program Management divisions. The Program Management Division, part of the Port’s Engineering Services Bureau, oversees improvements to harbor, wharfs, terminals, railroads, bridges, roadways and utilities. Terra Van Andel, the Port’s Streamlines project manager since 2022 within the Finance Division, will become the Port’s first Director of the Central Procurement Services Division, which was formed to standardize purchases and contracts across the Long Beach Harbor Department’s 19 divisions. The Central Procurement Services Division will centralize how external contracts and purchases are initiated, processed and executed in an effort to heighten consistency, transparency and efficiency. Lebrun is a registered professional engineer and holds a Master of Science Degree in civil engineering from UC Berkeley and Bachelor of Science degrees in both civil engineering and architectural engineering from the University of Miami. Prior to joining the Port, she worked as an engineer in the private sector for five years. Van Andel joined the Port’s Finance Division as the contract compliance manager in 2020 and has spent the past year assisting with the Port’s transition to a centralized procurement system. She previously served two years as the business process improvement officer in the City of Long Beach Department of Financial Management after working 13 years in the City Auditor’s Office, where she rose to deputy city auditor. Van Andel earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both accounting and in management with an emphasis in leadership from Arkansas State University. The appointments are effective Jan. 13. The Port of Long Beach is a global leader in green port initiatives and top-notch customer service, moving cargo with reliability, speed and efficiency. As the premier U.S. gateway for trans-Pacific trade, the Port handles trade valued at $200 billion annually and supports 2.6 million jobs across the United States, including 575,000 in Southern California. In 2023, industry leaders named it “The Best West Coast Seaport in North America” for the fifth consecutive year. During the next 10 years, the Port is planning $2.2 billion in capital improvements aimed at enhancing capacity, competitiveness and sustainability.
Motion names new SVP Strategy and Markets
Motion Industries, Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and a premier provider of industrial technology solutions, named Chris Cleland to Senior Vice President of Strategy & Markets, effective immediately. Mr. Cleland’s career spans over 25 years in consulting, strategy, marketing, branding, e-commerce, business development, and transformation. In his previous role as Principal Consultant at Cummings Creative Group (CCG), for the past 20 years, he led multiple successful initiatives across several industry verticals, driving growth and innovation for clients—including 12+ years consulting with Motion on marketing and strategy projects. Prior to his time with CCG, Mr. Cleland gained valuable experience as President/Owner of LithoSigns and as a Sales Manager with Citadel Broadcasting. In his new role, Mr. Cleland will lead the Company’s strategy development for its business groups, plus the e-commerce and digital teams. He will report to James Howe, Motion’s Executive Vice President – Chief Commercial Officer/Chief Technology Officer. “Chris brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our team,” said Mr. Howe. “His impressive track record in innovation and transformation makes him a perfect fit for guiding our companywide strategic planning process and shaping our future growth and success. We look forward to an exciting journey ahead.” Mr. Cleland graduated from The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), earning a Bachelor of Science in Business.
American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) announces new Board Chair
The American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN) has announced that it has named Robert O. Martichenko chairman of the board. Martichenko assumes his new role from current ALAN board chair and co-founder Mark E. Richards. “As ALAN enters a new year, I’m delighted to hand off the baton of leadership into Robert’s very capable hands,” said Richards. “His combination of heart, compassion, creativity and logistics experience makes him the ideal choice to guide ALAN as it continues to forge innovative paths in disaster response.” An ALAN board member since 2019, Martichenko is a longtime industry thought leader and active member of the business community. Passionate about the people side of enterprise excellence and the future of workforce development, he co-founded TrailPaths Inc. in 2022, a people development and technology company whose purpose is to create Meaningful Employment Environments™. Prior to that, he spent 15 years as founder and CEO of LeanCor Supply Chain Group. He is an award-winning author of five business books, multiple articles related to Lean, enterprise excellence, supply chain management and leadership, and one novel, Drift and Hum, which won multiple awards, including the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Winner Award for Best First Book-Fiction. He’s the recipient of numerous prominent industry awards, most notably the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ Distinguished Service Award. He is also a popular speaker and active participant/volunteer on multiple advisory boards, including the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME). “It is extremely humbling to step into Mark’s current role,” said Martichenko. “Both he and ALAN Executive Director Kathy Fulton are visionary leaders whose passion and work ethic have earned ALAN an upstanding reputation throughout the supply chain industry. I look forward to working side by side with them as ALAN continues to show how meaningful logistics is to the disaster relief community.” “Over the years, Mark has guided us so capably through everything from hurricanes and tornadoes to global pandemics, all with incredible calmness, intelligence and humanity,” said Fulton. “However we’re delighted to know that we have such a capable successor in Robert. We’re looking forward to the amazing talent and new energy and ideas he’ll bring to this role.”