Women In Trucking Association announces its August 2022 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Maria Rodriguez as its August 2022 Member of the Month. Maria is a professional driver for NFI Industries. As a longtime restaurant worker laid off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maria was seeking stable employment when her boyfriend, who was also pursuing a career in transportation, convinced her to try trucking school. Being a mother of a 4-year-old son, she needed a job to provide for her family while being close to home. She attended the New England Tractor Trailer Training School (NETTTS) and knew it was the right career path. During her time at NETTTS, NFI’s core family values and local routes stood out to her, and she was offered a driver trainee opportunity. With a consistent schedule, she appreciates being able to be home before her son finishes school. “I think I’m unique because I’m a mother and I am still able to go to work as a truck driver. It’s very rewarding to have a stable income and be able to come home to my son,” she said. Additionally, Maria is a trainee in the Biden administration’s Trucking Action Plan’s extended 90-Day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge, which is focused on attracting and retaining talent within the transportation industry. Earlier this year, she was chosen to participate in a special White House event for the program, allowing her to make a speech about her journey to truck driving and then introduce the President of the United States, Joe Biden. The attendees of this event included freight executives, WIT President and CEO Ellen Voie, truck drivers, and senior officials. As a first-generation immigrant from Venezuela, Maria is proud to be an advocate and uses her voice to encourage other minorities, including other females and Latinas, to pursue a career in the transportation industry. “Women are capable of getting into trucking, they just need to take the first step and enroll,” Maria says. “There are plenty of opportunities where you can go over the road or if you’re a mother like myself, there are local routes where you are home daily.”
JLG names Andy Daw Vice President, Global Procurement & Supply Chain
JLG Industries, Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company and a global manufacturer of mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs) and telehandlers, announces that industry-veteran Andy Daw is the new Vice President of Global Procurement and Supply Chain for the Oshkosh Access segment, which includes the JLG® aerial equipment and Jerr-Dan® towing and recovery equipment brands. In this role, Daw leads the brands’ global procurement and supply chain teams, providing a strategic vision for growth and implementing enterprise-wide initiatives to build and maintain a resilient supply chain for the company. Daw comes into this position with more than 20 years of working experience in the heavy equipment and engine industries. “The complementary combination of procurement and supply chain responsibilities in this role appealed to me because it allows me to use my understanding of how the market works and apply my knowledge of the industry’s supply chain dynamics to build healthy relationships with vendors. My emphasis is on fostering collaboration to increase efficiencies and drive growth — not just for the Access segment but also for our business partners,” says Daw. According to Daw, he will help JLG navigate the current market uncertainty by calling on both global and domestic suppliers to be part of the solution. He says it’s not about location but where the organization’s demands are best met. “Moving forward,” he adds, “the team’s continued focus will be on developing and supporting partnerships in the supply chain that will sustain JLG’s competitive advantage, enabling us to serve our customers better than anyone else in the industry by meeting their needs today and in the future.” Before joining the company, Daw built and led globally diverse supply chain and engineering teams for Caterpillar Inc. and Perkins Engines, Ltd. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business from Birmingham City University. “With JLG’s strong global brand presence and people-first culture, I look forward to leading procurement and supply chain efforts at a company of this caliber,” he finishes.
Mike Zinda named VP of Sales at ePicker
ePicker, an elite material handling equipment provider and one of the industry’s fastest growing OEM, has appointed a strategic new addition to its management team to support its goal of becoming the #1 manufacturer of Lithium forklifts in North America by 2025. Mike Zinda, an industry veteran in material handling with over 27 years of experience has been named as the Vice President of Sales to accelerate the growth and expansion of global sales. Mike brings with him a unique combination of parts, service, sales, and design expertise, with a specific focus on lift trucks, automation, fleet management, telematics, lithium-ion power, and warehouse storage systems. Prior to joining ePicker, Mike worked with both OEMs and dealerships, covering almost every brand of equipment that is offered in the market today. As the Vice President of Sales, Mike will be responsible for expanding the ePicker global sales and distribution network of its product offerings. “Mike is really a game-changer in this industry and an outstanding addition to our dynamic and fast-growing team,” said Jason Bratton, president of ePicker. “Mike brings the energy, optimism, and creativity that will allow us to achieve the ambitious goals we have committed to and navigate through a wildly changing industry and economic environment,” said Bratton. “Mike knows what it takes to exceed the expectations between client and sales team, and that will be our unwavering focus.” ePicker, which promises to “pick up where others leave off,” provides its material handling equipment through a national distribution network. Dealers interested in joining the ePicker network can contact ePicker at www.epicker.com.
Weissman elected Harbor Commission President
Olvera was selected as vice president, both set for one-year terms Harbor Commission Vice President Sharon L. Weissman was elected as Board President on Monday to lead the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners, the five-person board that oversees the Port of Long Beach. The board also selected Bobby Olvera Jr. as Vice President and Bonnie Lowenthal as Secretary. Every July, Commissioners select a President and two board officers to serve one-year terms. The Commission’s new officers will begin their terms on Aug. 8, when outgoing Commission President Steven Neal will hand the gavel to Weissman at the Board’s regularly scheduled meeting that day. Weissman served as a senior advisor to Mayor Robert Garcia from July 2014 and transportation deputy beginning in 2017 until her retirement in June 2020. She is also active in the community, serving as Vice President of Public Affairs and former president of the Long Beach Public Library Foundation and in the past on the boards of the Arts Council for Long Beach, the Long Beach Symphony, and the Fair Housing Foundation. Appointed to the Harbor Commission in 2020, Weissman was elected as Vice President of the Board in July 2021. “I am honored by the trust my colleagues on the Board have placed in me,” Weissman said. “In collaboration with my fellow Commissioners, Executive Director Mario Cordero, and staff, I look forward to navigating our way through the challenges of the supply chain, supporting the necessary infrastructure that will keep the Port competitive, and building upon the port’s robust green initiatives.” Under the City Charter, the Board sets policy for the Port and directs the Port’s Executive Director, who leads about 550 employees in developing and promoting the Port of Long Beach.
CLARK Material Handling Company announces appointment of Joe Raines as Chief Operating Officer
CLARK Material Handling Company, a top-ten global manufacturer of forklift trucks and spare parts, announces the appointment of Mr. Joe Raines as Chief Operating Officer. In this role, Raines will oversee daily operations at CLARK, working closely with our CLARK dealer network, facilitating the continued innovation of the company, as well as working closely with the CLARK management team to build on the success of the company with a long-term strategic plan. He will report to Dennis Lawrence, President, and Chief Executive Officer of CLARK Material Handling Company. “Joe’s extensive background in global supply chain operations, along with his strong management and leadership skills will serve CLARK, our dealers, and our end customers well,” commented Lawrence. “Under his leadership, CLARK will continue to innovate and develop new products while enhancing our efforts to bring our dealers and our customers quality products that meet and exceed their expectations.” Raines has extensive experience in performance improvement initiatives, operations management, and supply chain and distribution oversight. Raines began his career with an eight-year deployment as a United States Army Officer. He then transitioned to management consulting where he worked another eight years with consumer goods companies on performance improvement initiatives. Over the last fifteen years, he has worked in operations management and most recently served as Supply Chain Leader in Costa Mesa, California. Raines will combine his leadership skills with his supply chain management and logistics skills to facilitate growth and innovation within the CLARK organization. “My experience in logistics, management, and supply chain organization will be of great use to me and the CLARK team as we look ahead to the future of the company,” commented Raines. “I am excited to join the CLARK team, expanding on the innovations and legacy of the 105-year-old brand. CLARK is known worldwide as one of the most durable and reliable forklift brands, with a solid legacy and impressive product offering, and I look forward to continuing to build that legacy and brand identity for years to come.”
Raymond welder wins gold in global Toyota Material Handling Group competition
The Raymond Corporation proudly announces Dave Micha, a welder at Raymond, has won gold in the international Toyota Material Handling Group (TMHG) Skills Competition, beating competitors from China, France, Italy, and Sweden, as well as additional U.S. participants. Micha’s win is a testament to Raymond’s century-long reputation of dedication to innovation, quality, and service. The end-to-end solutions provider maintains a constant focus on delivering the utmost quality and works for continuous improvement in every aspect of its business. “The Raymond Corporation heartily congratulates Dave Micha on this high achievement. The passion and dedication our welders like Dave Micha bring to the craft is inspiring and is a testament to the best-in-quality forklifts we build at Raymond,” said Tony Topencik, vice president of operations, quality, and environmental health and safety at The Raymond Corporation. “For an industry that touches almost everything, there will always be a need for skilled workers who provide essential services to help keep the supply chain moving. Our skilled team members are a major part of what has helped Raymond be a leader in the material handling industry for the past 100 years.” The competition consisted of welding a steel pressure vessel, which required performing tack welding, executing semiautomatic welding, and finishing of the vessel’s surface. “It was an honor to represent Raymond in the competition and secure this win,” Micha said. “I’m proud to work for a company that prioritizes quality and values the skilled trades such as welding.” Raymond’s internal welding competition began in 2015, with the goal of helping promote friendly competition and enhancing skills and knowledge among its welding teams. Since then, Raymond welders have earned invitations to compete in the TMHG Skills Competition. “Customer safety and product quality are absolutely essential elements in the products produced by Toyota Material Handling Group,” said Haruhiko Kimata, executive officer of Toyota Industries Corporation and chief supply officer and Takahama plant manager at Toyota Material Handling Group. “The skills of welders, who are directly involved in the production, play a decisive role in product quality. I would like to express my great respect for Raymond’s welders who have consistently been top performers in the TMHG Skills Competition and its mission to improve the skills and motivation of welders.”
Perc Pineda, Ph.D., returns to Plastics Industry Association as Chief Economist
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has announced that Dr. Perc Pineda has returned to fulfill the role of Chief Economist, effective immediately. A member of PLASTICS’ Senior team, Pineda will be an integral part of the association’s ability to continue generating original, scientific and data-driven research for, and on behalf of, the members of PLASTICS. As PLASTICS’ primary expert on economics, statistics, and industry research, Pineda will provide regular updates on the impact of national and global economies to PLASTICS members and the public. Pineda will produce various publications, including PLASTICS’ highly lauded annual Size & Impact report, analyzing the contributions of the plastics industry to the U.S. economy. Pineda will also be PLASTICS’ voice in the public, thought leadership, and conference arenas, addressing industry issues pertaining to the economy. “We are excited to have Perc return to the PLASTICS team,” said Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association. “He brings significant expertise that is unparalleled in our industry. Perc’s invaluable ability to identify economic trends and forecast the state of the marketplace is highly regarded and regularly anticipated by our members.” Prior to returning to PLASTICS, Pineda served as Senior Economist of the Credit Union National Association, where he tracked macroeconomic trends, conducted economic research, wrote articles for industry publications, and interfaced with the media. Pineda’s career experience also includes teaching Macroeconomics at St. Francis College in New York, and Microeconomics, Finance, and Economics of Regulations and the Law at City University of New York. Prior to his academic endeavors, Pineda served as an analyst for the International Monetary Fund. He holds both a Ph.D. and a Master of Philosophy degree in Economics from The New School (formerly The New School for Social Research), a master’s degree in Economics from American University, and a master’s degree in International Management from the University of Maryland. “The plastics industry’s value-add—its contribution to the economy—is a major force within all manufacturing sectors,” said Pineda upon his return. “I welcome the opportunity to, once again, provide economic, industry and market intel to the hundreds of PLASTICS member companies throughout the supply chain and to the industry at large.”
MHS Lift named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Greater Philadelphia award winner
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) has announced MHS Lift, Inc. a provider of warehousing and distribution solutions, as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Greater Philadelphia Award Winner. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed. An independent panel of judges selected MHS Lift based on the company’s exceptional leadership and track record of delivering premium service to high-profile companies both in the Philadelphia region and nationally. The second-generation family-owned company, led by brothers Andy and Brett Levin, has grown from a regional purveyor of equipment into a comprehensive material handling system design and integration house with successful implementations across North America. “Brett and I are honored to be chosen by EY US for this prestigious award and owe this distinction to our MHS Lift team – without their hard work and dedication, none of this would have been possible,” said Andy Levin, President and Co-Owner, MHS Lift. Brett Levin, Vice President and Co-Owner, continued, “The MHS Lift staff goes above and beyond every day, enabling us to expand our services and reach to meet growing customer demand. Their hard work and tremendous commitment to our customers shows through this achievement.” Established over 52 years ago, MHS Lift provides companies of all sizes and industries with warehousing optimization and distribution services and has expanded to include new locations in California and Tennessee. With a new, completely custom service web portal/mobile application called My Fleet 365, a growing list of customers, and more than 175 employees – many of whom stay with the company for decades – the company is seeing an exciting period of growth. MHS Lift is also dedicated to giving back to the local community. Recently, MHS Lift announced the recipients of its annual Scholarship Fund, which selects Camden students who are active members of the Boys & Girls Club of Camden County to attend Rowan University with a full scholarship. As a Greater Philadelphia award winner, MHS Lift will now be considered by the National independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 National Awards. National finalists and winners will be announced in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2023. View the full list of Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2022 Greater Philadelphia award winners here.
Ashley Hood-Morley returns to Plastics Industry Association as Vice President, Industry Engagement
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) has announced that Ashley Hood-Morley has returned to fulfill the role of Vice President, Industry Engagement, effective immediately. As a member of the Senior team, Ashley will be an integral part of PLASTICS’ growth and engagement. Ashley will lead strategy on membership acquisition and retention as well as oversee industry relationships and programs for PLASTICS stakeholders and key strategic partners. “We are excited to have Ashley rejoining the PLASTICS team,” said Glenn Anderson, Chief Operating Officer of the Plastics Industry Association. “Ashley brings a diverse and significant set of executive skills to our association and is highly regarded by our members. In her new role, Ashley’s leadership will be instrumental as we work to rebuild the culture of our association.” Hood-Morley has worked in the plastics industry for more than 15 years, and most recently, has focused on plastics recycling and sustainability. She returns to PLASTICS after serving as the Strategic Initiatives Manager on Eastman’s Corporate Sustainability team where she led the advancement of sustainability integration into business strategies and supported the success of the Circular Economy platform. In previous roles at Eastman, she worked in new product development, manufacturing, quality assurance, and product stewardship, all of which supported Eastman’s Specialty Plastics business. Ashley also spent more than 6 years at the Plastics Industry Association, where she managed new business development as well as PLASTICS’ portfolio of recycling, sustainability, and material initiatives across the organization. “We absolutely could not have found someone more perfectly suited for this role than Ashley,” said Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of PLASTICS. “Her first-hand understanding of our members from multiple perspectives, as well as her industry expertise, makes her an ideal advocate on behalf of our association.” “I am excited to return to PLASTICS and grateful for the opportunity to lead the membership and engagement teams,” Hood-Morley shared. “I am personally committed to the plastics industry and the people that this association represents. I am extremely optimistic about the great things we can accomplish on behalf of our members and looking forward to working with Matt, Glenn, and the leadership at PLASTICS.”
Johnson Controls 38-year Veteran Jeff Williams to retire as president of Global Products
Jeff Williams will retire effective Aug. 1, 2022 A global search for his successor is underway as Johnson Controls accelerates its focus on technology-driven solutions for buildings management to make assets smarter, healthier, and more sustainable Global Products is a business unit of Johnson Controls including product development and R&D Johnson Controls, the global provider of smart, healthy, and sustainable buildings, has announced that 38-year company veteran Jeff Williams is retiring and that a global search is underway for his successor. Williams’ replacement will inherit a business group generating more than a third of Johnson Controls approximately $24B annual revenues including product development and research & development. Williams started at Johnson Controls in 1984 as a sales account manager and spent more than 30 years in its automotive business before taking over as leader of its Global Products business in 2019. He was the co-author of the Johnson Controls Manufacturing Systems operating system that continues to guide the company’s global operations today. “Jeff has been a phenomenal member of our executive leadership team over the past decades, combining an unwavering will to win with faultless integrity,” said George Oliver, Johnson Controls Chairman and CEO. “We thank him for his years of service, and he leaves the Global Products business in fantastic shape, with an amazing opportunity for a new leader to come in and drive forward. He added: “Johnson Controls is at a unique point in its nearly 140-year history as it looks to move an industry that founder Warren Johnson helped to create when he invented the electric room thermostat in 1883. The next chapter will see us reshaping how building technology is designed and applied, using all the power of artificial intelligence through the Johnson Controls OpenBlue platform. Our aim now, and at the heart of the new role Jeff’s successor will take on, is to maximize the performance of our customer’s buildings; harvesting and applying data insights to optimize every aspect of operations – elevating the performance of human users and equipment, while making environments healthier, more secure and sustainable through lowering energy and water use.” Within Global products, alongside leading the HVAC/R and Residential business units, a key focus for Williams’ successor will be steering the fire, security, and controls teams, which are the heart of the transformation of buildings’ operational technology. The application of advanced solutions utilizing Machine Learning is elevating the capacity for ultra-accurate detection insights, ever more efficient responses, and proactive fault reporting.
Synergy Logistics – 50 years ahead of the curve
WMS technology innovator Synergy Logistics celebrates 50 years in business One of the world’s pioneers of cloud-based warehouse management software, Synergy Logistics, is celebrating its half-century milestone. Established in 1972, Synergy initially focused on developing innovative solutions for vehicle route scheduling but 35 years later launched its best-in-breed SnapFulfil WMS, for which it is renowned. Back in 2007, the SnapFulfil suite was architected for the web utilizing Adobe Flex and Microsoft.NET-based C# programming. Its launch spearheaded real-time data information to optimize warehouse management, without sacrificing any functionality. Today, its unique rules-based configuration engine delivers a highly flexible and agile solution that is used in leading e-commerce, D2C, and 3PL warehouses around the world. Included since 2012 in Gartner’s elite WMS Magic Quadrant, Synergy has a global footprint with offices in Broomfield, Colorado, in the US, plus the UK. It continues to pioneer with remote and self-implementation capabilities that empower customers to handle their own multi-site rollouts and develop more sustainable business models. Synergy Chairman, Hugh Stevens, has been at the helm of the company for more than 40 years and proudly remembers launching one of the world’s first warehouse management systems, Locator, in 1985 after being approached by Unilever. Locator morphed into Locator Expert using PowerBuilder on the latest client-server technology – and was utilized by Coca-Cola in the 90s at its huge new distribution center at Wakefield in England, the largest soft drinks factory in Europe. Hugh continues to innovate and shape the future of warehouse infrastructure, saying: “My mantra has always been stick to your knitting! It’s easy to be distracted by market noise but our specialism is warehouse management and I never lose sight of that. We have survived and thrived for half a century by looking ahead. Rather than fearing change, I’ve always embraced it, anticipating what’s next and investing today in tomorrow’s product. “We continue to make a tangible difference through rapid ROI, industry-leading deployment speed, and low total cost of ownership (TCO) and while many competitors have fallen by the wayside over the last five decades, Synergy and our SnapFulfil WMS have stood the test of time and continues to lead the way.” The 50th anniversary is being celebrated throughout the year with staff and customer rewards as well as events and competition initiatives.
The Raymond Corporation recognized as Manufacturing Leadership Award 2022 winner
Raymond’s Greene, New York facility is honored for exhibiting manufacturing excellence The Raymond Corporation has been recognized as a Manufacturing Leadership Awards winner in the Operational Excellence category for its outstanding achievement at its plant located in Greene, New York. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Manufacturing Leadership Council selected Raymond’s Greene facility as a winner for its ongoing culture of continuous improvement, which focuses on warehouse optimization and improved performance. Since 2006, the Greene plant’s use of lean management and continuous improvement methodologies have helped standardize processes, visualize improvements and increase efficiency. The Operational Excellence category of the Manufacturing Leadership Awards recognizes companies whose continuous improvement projects reduce costs, streamline processes, decrease waste, improve quality and enhance overall equipment effectiveness while producing measurable results and enhancing the performance of the company overall. “We are honored to once again be receiving the Manufacturing Leadership Award for The Raymond Corporation’s hard work and dedication to continuous improvement of material handling processes and products in our Greene facility,” said Tony Topencik, vice president of operations, quality, environmental health, and safety. “The plant’s commitment to innovation and optimization continues to allow us to serve our customers better and provide them with innovative end-to-end intralogistics solutions.” Raymond was recognized at the Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala on June 29, 2022. The gala was the closing event for Rethink: The Manufacturing Leadership Council Summit on Marco Island, Florida. For a complete list of winners, visit https://www.manufacturingleadershipcouncil.com/leadership-awards/2022-manufacturing-leadership-award-winners/.
Doc Bailey Cranes & Equipment adds Merlo telehandlers to its fleet
Doc Bailey Cranes & Equipment is a full-service crane, boom truck, and bucket truck rental company. They recently added Merlo telehandlers to their fleet for rent and sale. Machine moving companies are a large part of Doc Bailey’s customer base. Along with cranes and truck-mounted lifts, customers have requested machinery that is not as large as a crane, with more nimbleness than the truck-mounted lift. In doing his research, Doc Bailey found the Merlo P120.10 was a good fit for the needs of his customer base. “It offers 26,500 lbs. maximum load capacity,” Doc Bailey said. “Something my typical competitor does not have. We are a lift specialty company and one of our goals is to be able to fill a niche for our customers. Merlo’s P120.10 is that machine.” “The particular machine-checked a number of boxes,” Bailey continued. “Its cab is larger than others. It is more ergonomic, which my customers like. It is easy to use, and the controls are responsive. Overall, it’s a very nice design. It’s small enough to be nimble, yet has the power needed to safely do what is asked.” Along with filling needs as they arise, Bailey said fairness is always at the top of the goal list. “We take care of our customers. Our primary goal is to save our customers money with products that deliver consistent efficiency and safety whether direct, through rent or re-rent. We both win when we deliver on all points.” Doc Bailey carries Link-Belt, RT cranes, bucket trucks, and mobile truck cranes. They offer rentals, sales, inspection, service work, and repairs on all their equipment. There are three Doc Bailey Cranes & Equipment locations in the USA: the main location in San Lorenzo, California; Las Vegas, NV, and Oahu, HI. All three will carry the P120.10. Vegas is primarily sales and has become “our epicenter for sales and training.” Bailey said. “We train on all the equipment we have. Merlo’s P120.10 is an easy machine to learn. It delivers consistent productivity. It will become a customer favorite.”
Toyota Material Handling acquires PennWest Toyota Lift
Toyota Material Handling (TMH) has announced the acquisition of PennWest Toyota Lift, a Pennsylvania-based forklift dealership with locations in Mount Pleasant, Pittsburgh, and Erie, Pennsylvania. The acquisition was finalized on July 1. The company will continue to be known as PennWest, with no change in management or staffing. “PennWest has been a respected part of the Toyota dealer network for years and a terrific representative of everything Toyota stands for,” said Steve Tadd, TMH Director of Marketing & Dealer Development. “This acquisition will ensure Toyota’s continued representation in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio and offer continued dependable support to PennWest’s customers.” PennWest Toyota Lift, founded in the late 1960s, has an extensive track record of success with Toyota, earning the company’s prestigious President’s Award in both 2018 and 2020. PennWest’s key executives and management will remain and continue to manage the business on behalf of TMH for the foreseeable future. “Toyota is the perfect match for our company,” said PennWest President Mark Gaier. “Toyota’s philosophy to place a high value on quality products, customer service, and associates mirrors our values. The transition will be seamless, and our customers will see business operating as usual.”
Duravant appoints new COO-Emerging Markets
Duravant has announced the appointment of Petros Diamantides to the position of Chief Operating Officer – Emerging Markets for Duravant. Serving customers worldwide, Duravant has facilities throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia and distribution partners across six continents. In this new role, Diamantides will be responsible for driving geographic expansion for Duravant products and services across the company’s food processing, packaging, and material handling sectors by delivering world-class brands, solutions, and infrastructure to support our global customers. “Our initial focus will be on supporting our customers and partners through investments in a sales and service infrastructure. Establishing local operations is key to being able to realize the full potential of certain markets and products,” said Mike Kachmer, President and CEO of Duravant. “With over 30 years of experience supporting a variety of multi-national consumer, commercial and industrial goods manufacturers, Diamantides is well-qualified to lead this global expansion for the Duravant family.” “I am delighted with the opportunity to join the Duravant family. The market-leading brands that make up Duravant are known across the globe and I look forward to working with these strong operating companies to serve our customer partners on all continents,” said Diamantides. Prior to joining Duravant, Diamantides was the president and CEO of Metalfrio Solutions SA, a manufacturer of plug-in commercial refrigeration equipment, based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Diamantides’ distinguished career of diverse global leadership also includes roles as the Managing Director/CEO of Frigoglass SAIC based in Athens, Greece, and General Manager of Panos Englezos & Company, based in Cyprus. Earlier in his career, Diamantides served as a Senior Financial Analyst at Procter & Gamble Health and Beauty Care based in the United Kingdom.
Women In Trucking Association announces its July 2022 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Nona Larson as its July 2022 Member of the Month. Nona is the Director of Customer Experience at PACCAR Parts, a division of PACCAR, Inc. Nona was also a 2022 Top Woman to Watch in Transportation. Since Nona was a kid, she has always wanted to know how things work. She grew up playing with Tonka trucks and working on cars with her dad. It was a source of confidence for her to know how to fix her car. Nona’s desire to understand how things work led her to engineering. Nona majored in chemical engineering and started her career in the aerospace industry. She made the switch to the trucking industry when a friend called her about an opportunity at PACCAR’s Technical Center. Nona is proud of her ability to identify talent in technical areas and help women establish themselves in their career of choice. After making the move to PACCAR, Nona realized she could make a real difference in encouraging women as they advanced in their careers. “I strongly believe in the power of team building and bringing people together with diverse backgrounds. It’s important to avoid stereotypes when building a team so that you create opportunities for non-traditional workers, which contributes to better collaboration and results.” Nona has had an exciting career in engineering leadership roles and advocates for women entering the transportation industry, particularly in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and management roles. “I can relate to women beginning or growing their careers in the transportation industry. Helping women find a path to meet their ambitions is an area I care strongly about. There are so many opportunities for women in the trucking industry and it’s very gratifying to see so many women making their mark in this business.” Nona’s husband is also an engineer and their son followed in his parent’s footsteps. A few years ago, they had a fun family project, rebuilding her son’s 1977 Datsun 280 Z sports car. Nona’s specialty is paint and corrosion and they converted the garage into a paint booth. And because many of the parts are no longer available, they put their engineering skills to the test and made their own to complete the restoration. When Nona isn’t working on projects, she’s playing music. She sings and plays the piano, saxophone, guitar, and other string instruments. Nona’s advice to other women is to be true to yourself. “You can only be one person 24/7 and that is yourself. You can put on a suit or change your style for a presentation, but it’s important to always remain true to yourself.”
Carolina Handling begins construction on new Atlanta facility
Carolina Handling, the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida’s central time zone, has begun construction on a new 82,508-square-foot facility in Fairburn, Georgia. Scheduled to open in early 2023, the new building at 92 Howell Avenue in Fairburn Business Center positions Carolina Handling to better serve the metro Atlanta area where a large number of its customers are located and to strengthen support for more than 100 technicians who are part of the company’s North Georgia service team. The intralogistics solutions provider is expected to hire 70 new field service technicians throughout its five-state service area in 2022. The new Fairburn facility will replace Carolina Handling’s Tucker, Georgia location, where the Charlotte, NC-based company has operated for almost 40 years. The new facility in South Fulton County will feature an expanded warehouse, state-of-the-art office, and meeting space, and will offer close proximity to Interstate 85 and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, according to Mike Gainor, executive vice president of sales. “Carolina Handling experienced extraordinary growth in 2021 and we expect that trend to continue in 2022 and beyond,” Gainor said. “Our new Fairburn facility will allow us to accommodate ongoing growth and maintain the elite level of responsiveness and service for which we’re known.” In 2021, Carolina Handling was recognized for Best Service Performance among all dealers in The Raymond Corporation network. The company also was named a Raymond Dealer of Distinction for the 31st consecutive year for exceeding benchmark standards in sales, customer service, and retention, as well as individual market share performance. In addition, to lift truck solutions, Carolina Handling offers design, engineering, and implementation services to help customers achieve more space, speed, safety, and efficiency with integrated automation technologies through its Intralogistics Solutions Group.
Toyota Material Handling hires new IT Director
Toyota Material Handling (TMH) recently added Daniel Schumacher to its executive team as the company’s new Director of Information Technology (IT). Schumacher joins Toyota from Komatsu, where he served as Global Director of IT Applications and Digital Innovation. Schumacher has more than 20 years of IT experience with previous roles in various technological pathways. He has experience within and outside the material handling industry, making him an ideal fit for TMH, a leading company in material handling that has made significant investments in its ongoing digital transformation. “We are excited to add Daniel to our Toyota family, and we look forward to seeing what he can accomplish in this new role,” said TMH President and CEO Bill Finerty. “Daniel’s strong background in technology speaks for itself, and his character will make him a perfect culture fit at TMH.” Schumacher has spent his early days getting up to speed with the technology footprint that supports TMH’s business operations and learning more about the company’s key projects and how they will contribute to Toyota’s digital transformation. “It’s an honor to have an opportunity to work for a world-class company and brand like Toyota,” Schumacher said. “I look forward to using my past experiences and passion for technology to help TMH achieve its many innovative goals.”
Tranzonic hires Chris Adams as VP of Supply Chain
The Tranzonic Companies, a respected manufacturer of cleaning, maintenance, and personal protection products, has named Chris Adams its new vice president of the supply chain. Adams brings a quarter-century of experience in business-to-business distribution to the role. He has successfully led cross-functional teams in sales, marketing, supply chain, cost-to-serve analytics, and operations to consistently achieve breakthrough performance in profit and revenue. At Tranzonic, Adams will lead the inventory management and logistics teams while also imparting his expertise to operations and system integration. “The global supply chain has experienced a seismic shift the likes of which we’ve never seen,” said Tom Friedl, CEO. “With his history of innovation, I know Chris is the leader to build on Tranzonic’s successes and keep us thriving in this changing landscape.” In his 25-year career, Adams has held senior executive positions with Fortune 500, global, and multi-billion dollar companies. He has been recognized for breakthrough work in distribution, measurement systems, value chain mapping, data analytics, and innovative collaborative strategies. His work has been recognized by Harvard Business Press Balanced Scorecard Report and Harvard Business Review. An early success came with his role on the innovative marketing team that helped develop the retail market for the now gold-standard PURELL® Instant Hand Sanitizer brand. “Navigating today’s supply chain challenges demands creative thinking, solid strategy, and collaboration,” said Adams. “Working with the foundation already in place, I look forward to working with my new Tranzonic team to develop and implement profitable new strategies.” Adams is an advisor to the State of Georgia’s Center of Innovation and Logistics. He also serves as chairman of Marquette University’s Center of Supply Chain Management executive board. He was a summa cum laude graduate of Benedictine University and leads strategy development on their alumni board. Adams is a sought-after speaker at national and international programs including McDonald’s Hamburger University, Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, Palladium’s International Balanced Scorecard Symposium, and multiple international seminars on business forecasting. He has pioneered unique collaborative business planning and modeling processes for manufacturers and distributors including the use of strategy mapping and lean six sigma.
Building a Top-Tier Automation Controls Team, AMT promotes Arthur J. Kahler to Director – Controls Engineering
Applied Manufacturing Technologies promotes Engineering Manager Arthur J. Kahler to Director – Controls Engineering, citing his contributions and hands-on leadership approach Applied Manufacturing Technologies (AMT), North America’s largest independent automation engineering company supporting warehousing and logistics, robot companies, system integrators, line builders, and users of robotic automation worldwide, has announced the promotion of Arthur J. Kahler to Director – Controls Engineering. “Arthur Kahler has demonstrated a hands-on leadership approach to help AMT continue building the industry’s top talent in Controls. His recent promotion to Director – Controls Engineering brings significant strength to our team by providing a highly interactive leadership style to both our customers and teammates,” said Chief Operating Officer Craig Salvalaggio. “Arthur strives to build AMT’s team to be the top in the industry, all with a humble approach to leading people.” In response to his contributions to AMT and its strategic growth plan, Engineering Manager Arthur J. Kaher has been promoted to Director – Controls Engineering. In his new role, Kahler will continue to advance the sales and execution teams as the company transitions to a new generation of leadership. Kahler joined AMT as Senior Engineer – Controls Leader in 2020, bringing more than ten years of experience to the position. In his two and a half years at AMT, Kahler has had a positive influence on the staff of 70 engineers he works with. Kahler commented, “My favorite thing about AMT is the team culture. Everyone is willing to jump in and help and I always feel very supported by my co-workers.” A FANUC Authorized System Integrator and three-time winner of the FANUC Sales Growth Award, AMT offers full-service systems integration, specializing in end-of-line solutions, complex material handling systems, and engineering support such as turnkey industrial controls, robotic programming, and automation consulting. Bringing together best-in-class technologies and custom automation, AMT provides high-quality, cost-effective automation solutions. The company’s solutions have benefited manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, medical, alternative energy, fabricated metal, industrial machinery, rubber and plastics, food and beverage, and many other industries.