OTR International acquires Hoosier Wheel
OTR International has announced the acquisition of Hoosier Wheel. Hoosier Wheel, located in Evansville, Indiana, is a manufacturer of standard and custom wheel assemblies for off-the-road applications, including lawn & garden, agriculture, and material handling. The company offers a complete line of pneumatic and semi-pneumatic wheels, including both steel and plastic construction, and a diverse offering of tire treads and sizes. The acquisition enhances OTR’s current portfolio of innovative, off-the-road mobility solutions supplied to well-known OEMs and the aftermarket, covering over 1,700 tire models and 300 distinct tread patterns, plus a wide range of rims and wheels. It also creates opportunities in the aftermarket and overseas, while expanding OTR’s U.S. manufacturing footprint in support of localization initiatives pursued by key customers. OTR International is majority-owned by an affiliate of private investment firm Owner Resource Group, LLC (“ORG”). “We are proud to announce the addition of Hoosier Wheel to the OTR family,” said Tom Rizzi, OTR CEO and president. “OTR and Hoosier are regarded as market-leading, off-the-road tire and wheel partners with world-renowned original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket distributors, each recognized for innovative products and services. The addition of Hoosier Wheel increases the company’s U.S. manufacturing footprint while expanding our portfolio and reach in core markets served.” Alex Webb, Hoosier Wheel President, added, “We are excited to join the OTR International family. The combination of Hoosier’s domestic manufacturing facilities and OTR’s global manufacturing and distribution network opens up numerous opportunities for growth and delivery of enhanced products and service to our customers.” The acquisition officially closed on Friday, October 1. OTR intends to continue marketing Hoosier products under the Hoosier Wheel name.
Women In Trucking Association announces finalists for 2021 Influential Woman in Trucking Award
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) and Freightliner trucks announced today three finalists for the 2021 Influential Woman in Trucking award. This is the 11th year for the award which was developed in 2010 as a way to honor female leaders and to attract and advance women in the trucking industry. The award highlights the achievements of female role models and trailblazers in the trucking industry. The 2021 Influential Woman in Trucking award finalists are: Eileen Dabrowski, Director of Learning, Development and Marketing, ReedTMS Logistics Lily Ley, Vice President and Chief Information Officer, PACCAR Amanda Schuier, Chief Operating Officer, Quality Transport Company Eileen Dabrowski is a Ph.D. Candidate from the University of South Florida with a concentration in Curriculum & Instruction. She currently serves as the Director of Learning, Development & Marketing for ReedTMS Logistics, a family-owned and operated asset-based 3rd party logistics solutions provider. Dabrowski has been in the transportation/logistics industry since 2016 and oversees the development and facilitation of all company-wide training programs, new employee onboarding, leadership development, marketing projects/ReedTMS brand integrity, and event planning for the company. She also spearheads company philanthropy initiatives and works hard to maintain and improve employee culture and morale. Dabrowski believes in mentorship and women taking the time to build each other up, not down. She is also an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and believes for the trucking industry to be more supportive and inclusive for all, you must teach children about trucking and work with organizations like WIT to collaborate and showcase the women and minorities who are crucial to the success of the industry. Outside of work, Eileen lives with her spouse, four dogs, and a tortoise in Tampa, Florida. She enjoys traveling, staying active, and volunteering in the community. In 2020, during the pandemic, Eileen took the initiative to become a healthier version of herself so she could better serve others and lost over 50 pounds. Running, boxing, weight lifting, and reading are some of Dabrowski’s favorite self-care activities. Lily Ley is an experienced Technology and IT executive, mentor to aspiring students, and passionate advocate for more inclusive workplaces for women. In her role as Vice President and CIO for PACCAR, a global automotive truck and engine company, Ley leads the Information Technology (IT) division and the modernization of IT for the Digital Age. She brings a customer-first mindset, a focus on applying innovation to deliver tangible business benefits, and a relentless pursuit of enhanced business efficiencies. Ley is a member of the MSIS Board of Advisors at the University of Washington. She is the Executive Sponsor for the PACCAR Women’s Association (PWA) where she advocates for the inclusion of women in the workplace. She is also involved in SeattleCIO, as an Advisory Board Member. In 2016, The Washington Diversity Council recognized her as “2016 Washington Most Powerful and Influential Women.” Ley has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and an MBA from CETYS University and has also completed the Executive Development Program at Stanford. She enjoys spending time with her husband German and two daughters and is passionate about travel and cooking. Amanda Schuier is a fourth-generation trucking industry member, and the first female in her family to hold such a role. She has been involved in trucking since 2006. Her numerous roles in the industry have included positions in marketing, sales, driver recruitment, and operations at the dealer, supplier, and fleet levels. She recently assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer at Quality Transport Company. Her daily duties at Quality include oversight of sales, dispatch, driver relations, safety programs, and new technology initiatives for the company. She is passionate about mentoring other young women as they explore careers in transportation. Schuier is actively involved in the Technology and Maintenance Council (American Trucking Associations) and currently serves as the Study Group Chairman for the Fleet Maintenance Management Study Group. She is only the fourth female Study Group Chairman in the history of the organization. She is currently a director at large, elect, assuming the role in March of 2022. Recently, she began serving a two-year term on the American Transportation Research Institute’s Research Advisory Council. She is also a proud member of Women In Trucking and the Truckload Carriers Association. Schuier was honored as a recipient of the 2017 class of Emerging Leaders in Transportation, as published in Heavy Duty Trucking magazine. She is a 2019 inaugural class graduate of the TMC Leaders of Tomorrow program. In 2020, she received the Women In Trucking’s “Top Women to Watch” award. She was also one of Fleet Owner Magazine’s 2020 “Women Leaders in Transportation.” In 2021, she was named to the “Women in Supply Chain” by Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine. During the Pandemic, Schuier trained with the Medical Reserve Corps to volunteer as a health screener at COVID vaccination clinics throughout the Kansas City area. She resides with her family in Kansas City. All three finalists will participate on a panel at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo held in Dallas, TX, Nov. 7 – 9, 2021. The winner will be announced after the panel discussion, “Inspirational Stories: How to Power Your Career” on Tues, Nov. 9 at 10:00 am CST.
Brian Golden joins Brown Machine Group as Sales Director Americas, GN Thermoforming Equipment
Bringing deep and broad experience in complete turn-key processing solutions BMG (Brown Machine Group) has announced the appointment of Brian Golden as Sales Director Americas, GN Thermoforming Equipment, bringing decades of industry experience to the GN team based in Chester, Nova Scotia Canada. Since 1983, Brian has earned a reputation for his breadth of knowledge and his hands-on approach to solving technical problems. He understands customer needs through his long career serving as both an equipment operator on the factory floor, as a service engineer, and sales executive supporting many different customers on behalf of machine manufacturers. Golden comes to BMG after a tenure as Director of Innovation and Customer Satisfaction at SencorpWhite, where he was responsible for the research and development of product-line enhancements and new-machine developments for the thermoforming business unit. Before that, Golden served as the Vice President of Sales for the Sencorp division of the company, during which he was directly responsible for overseeing the sales activity for the Thermoforming product line. “I am excited to join BMG because the holistic approach of working closely with customers to design and deliver complete systems matches the strengths I offer,” Golden explains. “I look forward to assisting customers in the medical and food packaging industries as well as many other industries that could benefit from the proven turn-key thermoforming, tooling, and automation solutions that BMG offers.” “Throughout his career, Brian has been very active in the Thermoforming community, including being a board member of the Society of Plastics Engineers. He is very well known throughout the plastics industry as a trusted mentor and technical advisor” says Bob Gordert, Vice President Sales – Americas. “Brian’s focus will be to lead the experienced GN sales team to achieve our strategic growth plans, including new customer development and growing BMG’s medical presence for the GN Form Cut Stack machines and Turn-Key Solutions.” BMG acquired GN Thermoforming in the spring of 2021. GN has built a global reputation for excellence in innovation, equipment design, and service throughout the industry. For over 40 years, GN has grown its global presence in the plastics industry, including offices in the Czech Republic, and many agents operating worldwide. GN is the global leader in contact heat thermoformers and a growing provider of innovative form cut stack thermoforming machines.
Women In Trucking Association announces its October 2021 Member of the Month
The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has announced Jazmin Vasquez as its October 2021 Member of the Month. She is a professional driver for NFI Industries at their Chino facility in California. Jazmin’s father and brother are both truck drivers, and Jazmin figured if they could do it, so could she. Jazmin began her professional driving career in 2019, hauling freight over-the-road and while she enjoyed the opportunity to see the country, Jazmin decided to take a yard tractor driving position with NFI two years ago, in part to stay closer to home and her family in southern California. Jazmin is one of few drivers (and even fewer female drivers) in the country who operate an electric heavy-duty truck – in this case, a Kalmar Ottawa electric terminal tractor. Jazmin appreciates the reduction in noise and fumes compared to the diesel truck she used to drive, but most of all, Jazmin is proud of the fact that she is contributing to healthier air quality and a liveable climate future for her nephew and generations to come. Jazmin’s shift is quite rigorous, making dozens of drops and hooks on NFI’s campus each day. She’s been impressed with the electric terminal tractor’s ability to meet the demands of this grueling duty cycle, and she is no stranger to strenuous demands herself, frequently lifting the hefty charging cables on-site in order to plug in the vehicle. Jazmin is looking forward to the next generation of fast chargers, which will be lighter and more nimble. Jazmin recently participated in Run on Less – Electric, an electric truck technology demonstration event in September and is featured in the NFI profile video here. As for being a woman in a male-dominated industry, Jazmin shared that it’s been a great experience so far and encouraged other women to consider a career in the trucking industry, “If you want to drive, don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t.”
Enerpac Tool Group announces leadership transition
Paul Sternlieb appointed President and CEO, Randy Baker to retire as Chief Executive Officer Enerpac Tool Group Corp. has announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Paul Sternlieb as the Company’s President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sternlieb has also been appointed to the Enerpac Board of Directors. Mr. Sternlieb succeeds Randy Baker, who will retire from his role as president and CEO of the Company and as a member of the Board. Mr. Sternlieb’s appointment and Mr. Baker’s retirement are effective October 8, 2021. Mr. Baker has agreed to remain with the company through the end of the calendar year in an advisory capacity to ensure a smooth transition. “It has been an honor to serve as CEO of Enerpac over the last five years,” said Mr. Baker. “With the support of the entire team, we have made significant progress repositioning the business and driving positive change across our organization. Having navigated through the pandemic and with the Company positioned for its next phase of execution, I believe it is an appropriate time for me to step down, and I decided to do so once the right successor was found. I am very proud of all we have accomplished together and am confident in Paul’s and the Enerpac team’s ability to continue growing and transforming the Company following my retirement.” Jim Ferland, non-executive Chair of the Board, said, “We are grateful for Randy’s leadership. He played a key role in reshaping our portfolio and transforming the Company into a pure-play industrial tools and services company and rebranding it as Enerpac Tool Group. With the operational improvements and structural changes that Randy helped put into place, the Company has managed through the impacts of the pandemic on its business and built momentum, validating our strategic focus and setting the Company on a sustainable path to becoming a best-in-class performer in terms of sales growth and margins. On behalf of the Board, we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.” Mr. Sternlieb is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across several sectors, including at global industrial and manufacturing businesses. He most recently served as Executive Vice President and President, Protein, at John Bean Technologies (JBT), and previously held senior positions at Illinois Tool Works (ITW), Danaher, H.J. Heinz, and McKinsey & Company. Throughout his career, Mr. Sternlieb has developed and implemented global operating strategies that deliver meaningful, sustainable organic growth and margin expansion. He has deep experience across a range of key value drivers, including new product development, commercial growth initiatives, digital and IoT innovation, supply chain efficiency programs, and effective capital allocation. Mr. Sternlieb also has a record of implementing Lean principles to drive sustained improvements in operational excellence, productivity, innovation, and cultural transformation at multiple organizations, in addition to successful M&A execution and integration. “Paul is a highly qualified leader, and we are pleased to appoint him as the Company’s next President and CEO,” Mr. Ferland continued. “Our Board conducted a thorough search to identify an executive with a sophisticated understanding of industrial markets and trends, as well as the operational, business development, and leadership expertise to continue executing our multi-pronged strategy. In Paul, we have found a proven executive who meets all of our criteria, with a compelling track record of success leading global industrial businesses. He has extensive experience across several highly engineered industrial product segments, delivering sustained, profitable growth at premier industrial companies, both organically and through the acquisition and integration of multiple businesses. Paul has also demonstrated a strong focus on people, talent, and culture, and an ability to build world-class, high-performing, cohesive, and empowered teams. Our Board is confident that he will complement the deep bench of talent across our management team and that he is the right person to lead Enerpac into the future.” Mr. Sternlieb said, “I am excited to join Enerpac and honored to be leading such a talented team committed to developing and delivering high-precision and high-quality industrial tools and services to customers around the world. The Enerpac Board and management team have made impressive strides transforming the Company into a premier pure-play industrial tools and services company. This is an important time for Enerpac, as the Company executes its growth and profitability strategies while managing through a challenging market environment created by the uneven global recovery from the pandemic. I look forward to working with the team and the Board to continue navigating this dynamic market, capture growth opportunities, and create value for shareholders.” About Paul Sternlieb Mr. Sternlieb most recently served as Executive Vice President and President, Protein at JBT since October 2017. Prior to JBT, Mr. Sternlieb was Group President, Global Cooking in the Food Equipment Group at ITW since 2014. He served as a Vice President & General Manager with Danaher from 2011 to 2014. Before Danaher, he held management roles with the H.J. Heinz Company, a leading food production company, and was a consultant with McKinsey & Company, where he led consulting engagements for several global clients. He has lived and worked in both the US and Europe and has held responsibility for leading businesses in major markets including North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Mr. Sternlieb holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated as a Palmer Scholar, and dual undergraduate degrees in Economics and Computer Science from the Jerome Fisher Program in Management & Technology at the University of Pennsylvania.
The Crosby Group partners with Bridges to Prosperity
The Crosby Group, a global manufacturer of rigging, lifting and material handling hardware, is proud to team up with Bridges to Prosperity (B2P), a program that envisions a world where poverty is caused by rural isolation no longer exists. B2P is a U.S.-based non-profit organization that partners with local communities, partners, and foundations, to build trail bridges that connect residents to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. Since its establishment, B2P has built more than 360 trail bridges in 21 countries, serving over 1.3 million community members throughout the world. Brandy Bertram, Interim CEO and VP of Development at Bridges to Prosperity said: “Rural isolation is a root cause of poverty, and the connection is the foundation to opportunity. We have trusted Crosby products for years to enable our safe, sustainable, and scalable solutions and consider The Crosby Group to be a core partner in every bridge we build.” The Crosby Group’s contribution will include the supply of critical products such as clips, turnbuckles, snatch blocks, and COLT’s (wire rope tension meters) for the construction of the next 32 bridges in Rwanda and 8 bridges in Uganda. Collectively these projects will connect over 181,000 people to health care, education, and employment. The Crosby Group will also provide training and expertise to the teams constructing the bridges to ensure best safety practices for lifting and rigging. Robert Desel, CEO at The Crosby Group said: “We applaud the tremendous impact that Bridges to Prosperity has made in communities around the world and are thrilled that our products and expertise contribute to the mission. As the Bridges to Prosperity teams continue to deploy around the world, we want to ensure they have the best-in-class hardware and in-depth training for safe rigging and operations. Desel added: “In the future, The Crosby Group also intends on sending team members to assist in the building of bridges and in-person training. Together with B2P and our global channel network, we look forward to a world where rural isolation no longer exists so that families can access healthcare, children can travel safely to school, and farmers can reliably reach local markets.”
Toshiba’s Teresa Sternhagen wins Stevie Award for Woman Executive of the Year
Sternhagen receives Honor for Demonstrating Leadership across Toshiba & Community Affirming her extraordinary leadership at Toshiba America Business Solutions and within her community, Teresa Sternhagen has won this year’s Silver Stevie® Award for Woman Executive of the Year in the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. The Stevie Awards have been hailed as the world’s premier business awards. Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Award winners were determined by the average scores of more than 160 business professionals around the world, working on eight juries. Leading by Example Upon joining the company in 2008, the general manager of Toshiba’s toner products division has established a reputation for leadership by successfully deploying supply chain, inventory control, and procurement tactics and strategies. Beginning July 1, 2019, Sternhagen has quarterbacked efforts ensuring premium levels of quality, environmental and occupational health, and safety standards at Toshiba. This encompasses implementing local, state, and national regulatory mandates including current ISO Certifications (ISO 9001:2015 Quality, 14001:2015 Environmental, 45001:2018, and 45001:2019 Health and Safety). She also serves on Toshiba’s Executive Leadership Team, which charts the company’s strategic direction. Maggie Gallagher Miller, president of the Stevie Awards, says, “We thought the remarkable stories of achievement we saw in last year’s awards couldn’t be topped, but we were wrong. Women-owned and -run organizations have contributed significantly to the increase in innovation and entrepreneurial activity we’ve seen globally since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nominations submitted to the 18th Stevie Awards for Women in Business that attest to this are inspiring, humbling, and motivating. We celebrate Toshiba’s Teresa Sternhagen for embodying these positive characteristics to benefit both her company and community.” Eco Champion Sternhagen led Toshiba’s recent sustainability project centering on a one-acre parcel at the company’s Mitchell, South Dakota facility. Toshiba employees across levels and departments took part in planting indigenous flowers and grasses spawning increasing numbers of bee and butterfly pollinators. This project further enhances biodiversity education and awareness for local students. Sternhagen is moreover a 15-year board member of the Bon Homme School District 4-2 in Tyndall, S.D. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Dakota Wesleyan University and CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management), while completing coursework for her CSCP and CLTD, Certified Supply Chain Professional and Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution, respectively. “Teresa is the consummate leader at work and within her community, and we are thrilled for her to receive this wonderful recognition for her efforts,” says Toshiba America Business Solutions President and Chief Executive Officer Larry White. “She leads our toner products division by demonstrating the highest levels of professionalism, positivity, and compassion to Toshiba’s employees, business partners as well as the Mitchell community.”
Merlo telehandlers now available through the GSA
Applied Machinery Sales, importer, and distributor of Merlo Telehandlers and Rotos to the USA, announces that AMS-Merlo is now listed with the General Service Administration (GSA). The GSA is an independent agency of the United States government. It manages, supports, and supplies products and services to government agencies. AMS-Merlo has contracted with ADS, Inc., a military and government equipment supplier with a long history of delivering the right solutions to procurement challenges. “ADS has streamlined the government procurement process,” Scott Bunting, AMS-Merlo National Rental Manager said. “They have developed a solid reputation for working with government suppliers to design custom solutions for meeting government specifications.” To facilitate government agencies researching Merlo telehandlers, AMS-Merlo has added a GSA link to their website, ams-merlo.com. AMS-Merlo supplies and supports a range of Merlo telehandlers and rotating telehandlers with weight capacities from 6,000 lbs. up to 26,500 lbs. Lift heights range from 19 feet up to 115 feet. AMS-Merlo is located in Rock Hill, SC with a national dealer network.
PMMI awards Six PACK EXPO Scholarship winners
The PMMI Foundation, a part of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies, awards six $5,000 PACK EXPO scholarships to students from PMMI Education Partner schools. To qualify for the PACK EXPO scholarship, students must be enrolled at an Education Partner, major in engineering, packaging, processing, mechatronics, or a related field, and must demonstrate a financial need. “This scholarship program shows how PMMI invests in the future packaging workforce,” says Jim Pittas, president and CEO, PMMI. “We are proud that through the PACK EXPO portfolio of trade shows and the PACK EXPO Scholarship program we are able to invest in the future of the packaging and processing community.” The recipients of the PACK EXPO Scholarships are: Monick Castillo – Hennepin Technical College Major: Automation and Robotics Daniel Forseth – Hennepin Technical College Major: Automation Robotics Engineering Technology Bradley Reinhart – University of Wisconsin – Stout Major: Packaging Zoe Statiris – Ryerson University Major: Graphic Communications Management Sierra Strandberg – Illinois Institute of Technology Major: Industrial Technology and Management, specialization in Manufacturing Technology Bastian VanHofwegen – Dunwoody College of Technology Major: ASRO – Automated Systems and Robotics Learn more about the winners at PACK EXPO Las Vegas and Healthcare Packaging EXPO (Sept. 27-29) by visiting the Workforce Development Pavilion (located in the North Hall, N 8701) and the PMMI U Booths (located in the Central Lobby).
Ranger ramps up in Queensland
Ranger Lifting has appointed industry heavyweight Liam Mccaffrey in response to the growing demand for its products and services in Queensland. Ranger, a Sydney-headquartered lifting, rigging, and height safety equipment supplier, already serves the state from New South Wales, and positioning a widely respected professional closer to the point of use was a natural next step. The company also has a facility in Melbourne. Mccaffrey, who will be business development manager, was previously a national infrastructure manager for a large generalist safety company, where his specialist field was lifting and rigging. He will immediately become the Queensland point of contact on national projects, before working mid-term to grow a team and establish a physical presence in the region. The company’s comprehensive inventory in Sydney will provide the necessary stock in the meantime. Ashley Thacker, the General Manager, said: “Southeast Queensland has been on our radar for at least two years now but like all new areas, it wholly relies on having great people. We have competed against Liam on a great number of large projects all along the east coast, so we know the level of contacts and relationships that he will bring along with him. The first two years will be the hardest, so we required a partner who can hit the ground running. Liam has the drive, hard work ethic, knowledge and, most importantly, fits our culture.” Brisbane-based Mccaffrey said: “I respect Ranger for their focus on compliance. They walk the walk and invest in training and up-skilling. The timing is perfect to execute a 10-year growth strategy and business plan of this type. Of course, this is a competitive environment, but with the right people in the right positions, supported by a comprehensive service model, success will follow.” Mccaffrey already has several key targets in mind that could potentially expand the team over the coming months, while relocating staff from further south is also a viable option. Ranger is renowned for its abundance of stock and breadth of expertise at all existing locations, which will be used as a resource while the Queensland operation gathers pace. Thacker is transparent about aiming for a team of 10 within five years, following a similar blueprint to Melbourne, which was opened in January 2018 and is now self-sufficient. Mccaffrey said: “Last year, Queensland proved that the best way to recover from the impact of Covid was to invest in infrastructure. A solid, five-year pipeline is in place. Victoria and New South Wales were 10 years ahead of Queensland due to respective populations and significant investments were made, largely through major transport upgrades. It’s Queensland’s time to shine.” Thacker added: “No matter what the climate may be, if a great person comes available, you take that opportunity straight away. We are not going into the region to dabble in it—we want to give Liam all the resources he needs to become the largest lifting supplier in Southeast Queensland.”
KION North America broadens territory with new locations for dealer partner Carson Material Handling
KION North America just announced a new dealer partner, Carson Material Handling, which has added two locations to better serve its customers in Charlotte and Morrisville (Raleigh-Durham area) in North Carolina. Carson Material Handling is authorized to sell both the Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands at all its locations. “We are extremely proud to partner with dealers who not only sell and support our brands but also offer exceptional customer service,” said Rick Schiel, director of dealer development. “Carson Material Handling is a family-owned business that takes pride in being a leader in service to its customers. By adding these two additional locations in Charlotte and Morrisville, Carson Material Handling will be able to bring the outstanding customer experience they are known for to these new areas while representing the Linde Material Handling and Baoli brands.” Since 2004, Carson Material Handling has offered dependable equipment and service throughout North Carolina, including North-Western South Carolina. That consistent reliability, exceptional customer service, and industry expertise have earned Carson Material Handling the reputation as a trusted source for material handling service and solutions. “We at Carson recognize the Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte markets are two very important markets within our territory,” said Duane Wilson, Dealer Principal/CEO. “With our growing service and sales footprint, we are excited to be able to offer a full product line and the same quality service to our expanding customer base.”
U.S. LBM announces Executive Team changes
Leading building materials distributor expands senior leadership team to support continued growth US LBM, a distributor of specialty building materials in the United States, has announced several additions to its executive leadership team to support the company’s continued growth. “Building high-performing teams is central to US LBM’s value proposition,” said US LBM President and CEO L.T. Gibson. “With a wide range of experience from both within and outside the building materials and construction industry, the new members of our team are proven, forward-thinking leaders with long histories of developing successful partnerships and will further drive the exceptional value US LBM creates for our suppliers, customers, and communities.” The following additions have been made to US LBM’s executive leadership team: Don Riley has joined US LBM as executive vice president and chief operating officer. As COO, Riley is responsible for leading the company’s sales and operations strategy, which includes operational support functions and US LBM’s six operating regions, which are comprised of more than 400 building materials yards, distribution centers, showrooms, and manufacturing locations nationwide. Riley was most recently CEO of Cornerstone Building Brands’ Commercial Solutions business, before which he was president and CEO of NCI Building Systems, which merged with PlyGem, a leading manufacturer of exterior home building products, to create Cornerstone. Riley has held executive leadership roles with ProBuild and Mohawk Industries and holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Manish Shanbhag has also joined US LBM, as executive vice president and general counsel, serving as the company’s top legal advisor, overseeing legal, compliance, and corporate governance. Shanbhag joins US LBM from BrandSafway, a leading global provider of work access and industrial service solutions, where he held the position of executive vice president, chief legal officer, chief compliance officer, and corporate secretary. Prior to this, he was chief legal officer of Edgewell Personal Care, a global publicly-traded consumer products company with a portfolio of well-known personal care brands. Shanbhag has held senior legal roles with Energizer Holdings, Honeywell Life Safety, and the Gillette Company and is a graduate of Columbia University Law School and Amherst College. Pat Managan has been promoted to the role of senior vice president of Supply Chain. In this new role, Managan leads US LBM’s purchasing strategy and organization to support the company’s national network of locations. Managan joined US LBM earlier this year through the company’s acquisition of ACS American Construction Source, where he was chief supply chain officer since the organization was founded in 2018. A widely respected industry leader with more than 35 years of experience, Managan has built strong relationships with suppliers across the building materials space over the course of his career, which has included leadership roles with BMC and Stock Building Supply.
PLASTICS announces sponsorship of MFG Day 2021
The advancing mission of the nationwide “Creators Wanted” workforce campaign, MFG Day highlights modern manufacturing careers for students, parents, teachers, and leaders The Manufacturing Institute announced the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) as an Industry Sponsor of MFG Day 2021. Launched annually on the first Friday in October and continuing throughout the month, MFG Day includes focused events to promote manufacturing to students, parents, and educators. Manufacturers will open their doors—in-person or virtually—to offer a first-hand look at the career possibilities in modern manufacturing. An initiative of The Manufacturing Institute, MFG Day also advances the mission of Creators Wanted, the industry’s year-round effort to build the workforce of the future. “Manufacturing Day is an incredible opportunity for plastics companies to literally open their doors and show people the tremendous career opportunities in the manufacturing industry,” said Tony Radoszewski, president & CEO of PLASTICS.“PLASTICS is proud to be an Industry Sponsor of MFG Day 2021 because we need to continue to do our part to address the shortage of skilled labor across the manufacturing sector by encouraging young people and jobseekers to pursue the many exciting career paths within the plastics industry.” “Without question, the manufacturing industry’s biggest long-term challenge is the skills gap. We have more than 800,000 open jobs in manufacturing, and we will need to fill 4 million positions by the end of the decade, according to research from the MI and Deloitte,” said MI Executive Director Carolyn Lee. “Closing that skills gap requires us to inspire, educate and empower the next generation of manufacturing workers—and that’s where Creators Wanted and MFG Day comes in. Companies that participate in MFG Day and Creators Wanted are taking strong, tangible steps toward strengthening their workforce and closing the skills gap. And our outstanding sponsors are going the extra mile for our industry.” MFG Day helps show the reality of modern manufacturing careers by encouraging thousands of companies and educational institutions around the nation to open their doors—in-person or virtually—to students, parents, teachers, and community leaders. MFG Day empowers manufacturers to come together to address their collective challenges so they can help their communities and future generations thrive. MFG Day is an initiative of The Manufacturing Institute and was originally founded by the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International.
TVH America’s chosen as 2021 Champions of Business honoree
Kansas City Business Journal has named TVH Americas (TVH), a global provider of quality replacement parts and accessories for the material handling and industrial equipment industry, as a 2021 Champions of Business honoree. The 2021 Champions of Business award honors area for-profit companies that set the gold standard for financial performance, innovation, and community involvement. To be eligible for the award, companies must be headquartered in the Kansas City area, have been in business for a minimum of three years, and achieve a gross revenue of at least $3 million annually. Since TVH established its presence in Olathe, KS in 2005, the company has strived to be one of Kansas City’s top employers. This award marks the 3rd year in a row that TVH has achieved this fantastic award, and is evidence of TVH’s commitment to setting the gold standard for employers in our community. “We are proud to be recognized as a Champions of Business honoree for the third year in a row,” said Simon Witdouck, Senior Vice President of TVH Americas. “It’s an honor to be recognized in this elite group of companies including Apollo Insurance Group Inc., JE Dunn Construction, Netsmart, SelectQuote Inc., Summit Homes, and more. I would like to thank each of our employees for their hard work and commitment to each other and our customers. While the past year has been a challenge due to the COVID pandemic, this award is a testament to our ability to work together as one team and accomplish great things.”
WIN adopts new Corporate Name, Centerboard – The Logistics Industry’s Neutral Technology Platform
Offering shippers affordable access to a flexible range of Transportation Management Solutions The logistics technology platform, Web Integrated Network (WIN), just announced it will be adopting a new corporate brand name, Centerboard, to best reflect its overall mission of giving shippers control over their supply chain using the growing slate of neutral, shipper-centric transportation and supply chain management technology solutions it is developing. A truly neutral solution, Centerboard empowers the shipper to utilize its own contract carrier relationships – as well as accessing any carrier/broker in the spot market. There is more than $1 billion in freight value running through the platform. The company also unveiled a range of new features for its core platform, now known as WIN, by Centerboard. Centerboard, which will continue to operate a standalone entity from its former parent company, Odyssey Logistics & Technology Corporation, is focused on providing shippers with solutions that are easy to use, customizable, and designed for integration while being more affordable than other options. Centerboard’s proprietary technologies provide supply chain stakeholders access to real-time data, providing unprecedented transparency and efficiency and helping shippers move goods in the fastest, most cost-effective, and sustainable manner. Unlike older legacy systems, the company’s product development approach leverages modern, nimble, modular architecture, enabling Centerboard to offer shippers of all sizes the advantage of continuous improvement with the latest technology. Centerboard’s philosophy and modular approach enable supply chain participants the ability to integrate and upgrade while minimizing development costs. Centerboard’s leadership team consists of Glenn Riggs, President; Lindsey Shellman, Chief Commercial Officer; and Xavier Amella, Chief Technology Officer. The company was founded in 2017 and the cost-effective, cloud-based solutions it created like WIN, by Centerboard have helped companies of all sizes save time and money, resulting in increased profits. “Dairyland Trading Co. is a satisfied customer of WIN. Last year alone the WIN software contributed to our 27 percent year over year growth,” said Jerry Haines, Owner and Manager at Dairyland Trading Co. LLC. “We are looking forward to using the expanded features of the WIN, by Centerboard offering to increase our efficiencies as we continue to meet the shifting demands of shipping our goods.” Centerboard enables shippers to transact with quality carriers as well as successfully and easily integrate with legacy and emerging technology. Along with a new vision for the industry, the rollout comes with new platform features like advanced shipment notifications which send notifications on all order tracking messages, helping to improve costs, accuracy, and flexibility. Additionally, a new spot quote carrier setup feature helps to increase efficiencies. “Working with Centerboard allows us to provide our customers with seamless, easy access to key transportation management features right within our system,” said John Walker, Logistics Product Manager at Encompass Technologies, a comprehensive cloud-based ERP for the beverage and food industry. “Centerboard’s technology architecture is designed to be flexible, modular, and agile, which allows our team to upgrade to the latest technology, saving our team and customers time and money.” “The rollout of Centerboard’s solutions, including our ability to offer both standard and custom integrations, allows us to solve key issues facing the shipping and logistics industry. For the first time, shippers are able to take command of their supply chain and to access the features they need most,” said Glenn Riggs, President of Centerboard. “Supply chain is the lifeblood of business, but it’s complex, fragmented, and often difficult to find answers to inform good decision making. Centerboard changes that with simplicity, easy integration capabilities, and affordability.”
Two executives named at Port of Long Beach
Commission approves positions in Commercial Operations Bureau The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners on Monday selected two leaders in the Commercial Operations Bureau at the Port of Long Beach, the nation’s second-busiest seaport. Samantha Galltin was appointed Managing Director of the Commercial Operations Bureau, comprising the Business Development, Tenant Services, and Operations, and Security Services divisions. She replaces Kenneth W. Duncan, who left the Port earlier in 2021. Galltin joined the Port as Assistant Director of Business Development in November 2020 following a 13-year career at BNSF Railway. Her last position at BNSF was Director of Port Business Development, Pacific Southwest and Gulf. During her time at the railroad, Galltin also held positions as Manager of Industrial Products Sales, Manager of Customer Integration and Trainmaster. She earned a master’s degree in global supply chain management from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Villanova University. Carlo Luzzi, who has served the Port for more than 30 years, was appointed Acting Director of Tenant Services and Operations. He replaces Glenn Farren, who left the Port earlier this month. The Port is beginning a recruiting process for the role. Since 2014, Luzzi has served as Manager of Intermodal Operations. In this role, he has oversight of truck, marine terminal, and railroad operations. Previously, he was Manager of Rail Transportation and a Civil Engineer Assistant and Associate. He joined the Port in 1988 as an intern. Luzzi has a master’s degree in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, both from Cal State Long Beach. “I’m pleased to add Samantha and Carlo to the executive leadership team,” said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. “The Port will benefit from their experience as we cement our role as the Port of Choice for trade between Asia and the United States.” “Samantha is a talented, dynamic leader, and Carlo is one of the most experienced members of our staff,” said Harbor Commission president Steven Neal. “We look forward to the ways they will contribute to delivering the Port’s $1 billion rail infrastructure program and building on our value proposition as the fastest, most cost-effective commercial gateway on the West Coast.”
H&E relocates with rental focus in the Little Rock area
Effective September 20, 2021, H&E Equipment Services Inc. (H&E) announces the relocation of its Little Rock branch to 11618 Otter Creek South Road, Mabelvale, AR 72103-1658, phone 501-568-7867. The newly renovated 6,450-square-foot facility sits on 1.77 acres with a fully fenced yard area, offices, parts warehouse, and a repair shop with six service bays. It is capable of handling a variety of construction and general industrial equipment for customers in central Arkansas. “To best serve customer demand, we recently sold our Komatsu dealership rights in Arkansas along with our former Little Rock property to focus specifically on rentals, the largest growth area of our business. Our plan is to aggressively grow our rental fleet and expand our product offering of quality equipment with competitive rates throughout the central Arkansas area,” says Branch Manager Trent Taylor. “With easy access to I-30, we can deliver to job sites quickly and efficiently. But even more important than the improvements we are making is maintaining the relationships we have cultivated. Our team is committed to providing exceptional service and is ready to supply whatever equipment solutions our customers may need for the life of their project.” The Little Rock branch specializes in the rental of aerial lifts, telescopic forklifts, earthmoving machinery, compaction equipment, generators, compressors, and more and represents the following manufacturers: Allmand, Atlas Copco, Blue Diamond, Bomag, Case, Club Car, Gehl, Generac Mobile, Genie, Hamm, Husqvarna, JCB, JLG, John Deere, Komatsu, Kubota, LayMor, Ledwell, Link-Belt Excavators, MEC, Miller, Multiquip, Okada, Polaris, Skyjack, SkyTrak, Sullair, Sullivan-Palatek, Takeuchi, Towmaster Trailers, Wacker Neuson, Wirtgen, Yanmar and others.
Berkshire Grey partners with AHS to accelerate Next-Generation Warehouse Robotics for Fortune 100 eCommerce and 3PL providers
Berkshire Grey, Inc., the provider of AI-enabled robotic solutions that automate supply chain processes, is partnering with Advanced Handling Systems (AHS), a system integrator of fulfillment and distribution solutions within the supply chain, to help companies grow despite the labor shortages and logistics challenges that are straining the supply chain. This partnership combines AI-enabled robotic automation and system design and integration services to deliver next-generation warehouse robotics to the world’s largest and best-known eCommerce and third-party logistics (3PL) providers. “Berkshire Grey’s Intelligent Enterprise Robotic solutions set the industry standard – they have the most robust robotics portfolio, handling the broadest range of SKUs,” said Drew Eubank, Sr. Director of Engineering at AHS. “AHS brings a 40-year customer portfolio that spans Fortune 100 brands to emerging eCommerce leaders and they know that robotic automation is core to their supply chain strategy if they’re going to remain competitive. That’s why we’re partnering with Berkshire Grey – to accelerate the integration of next-generation robotic solutions into our customers’ warehouses and facilities.” As more companies feel the pressures of the eCommerce boom and labor shortage, Berkshire Grey’s AI-powered robotic solutions are improving fulfillment across eCommerce and 3PL industries by increasing fulfillment throughput by up to 3X. AHS, an established leader in traditional material handling, is evolving its innovation portfolio through this partnership to help companies streamline processes, improve employee productivity, and deliver flexible solutions that scale. “Only five percent of companies currently have any level of robotic automation in their warehouses and are at risk of losing market share because they can’t keep up with demand — we can help fix that,” said James Hendrickson, Director of Strategic Partnerships & Global Alliances at Berkshire Grey. “Partnering with AHS allows us to deliver a comprehensive robotic automation portfolio, accelerate the adoption of AI and robotics and enable warehouse supply chains across industries to scale and grow.” Berkshire Grey’s Partner Alliance program works with a select group of strategic partners to provide customers across Retail, eCommerce, 3PL, Grocery and Package Handling industries with scalable robotic solutions developed to improve fulfillment throughput while driving down operational costs. Berkshire Grey solutions deliver faster ROI than other providers in the industry and their partner program enables them to team up with the best consultants, integrators, technology providers, and material handling leaders to extend its value-added solutions to customers.
AutoScheduler.AI named a Gartner Cool Vendor
Showcases Innovative, Impactful, and Intriguing new businesses AutoScheduler.AI, an innovative Warehouse Management System (WMS) accelerator, announces mention in Gartner® “Cool Vendors™ in Supply Chain Execution Technologies, 2021” report, published September 9, 2021. The report is written by Gartner analysts Dwight Klappich, Carly West, Oscar Sanchez Duran, Bart De Muynck, and Simon Tunstall. According to Gartner, “Gartner’s definition of a Cool Vendor is a small company offering a technology or service that is innovative, impactful or intriguing. The three elements of a Cool Vendor include: Innovative — Enables users to do things they could not do before. Impactful — Has or will have a business impact, not just technology for its own sake. Intriguing — Has caught Gartner’s interest during the past six months.” [2] “We believe that AutoScheduler.AI illustrates the definition of a Gartner Cool Vendor because we are the first intelligence warehouse orchestration solution in the industry. We have saved global CPG companies more than $4M annually at a single site by improving on-time, in-full fulfillment, labor, and inventory management. We consider that it is a once-in-a-lifetime honor to be mentioned as a Gartner Cool Vendor, and we are truly excited. It will bring us exposure to global businesses looking for unique solutions to their problems, potential investors, and the media writing the next big story to cover,” said Keith Moore, Chief Product Officer AutoScheduler.
FAD Equipment Store expands team
FAD Equipment Store has recruited e-commerce guru Austin Helton to join its team. Headquartered in South Carolina, the store puts lifting, material handling, safety, and load monitoring products a click away from end-users in marine, warehouse, manufacturing, construction, oil and gas, renewables, and other markets. Helton, a serial entrepreneur, and digitalization specialist joins as Vice President, Application Sales and Market Development. He will report to David Ayling, president. “My goal is to simply help package and market the immense value that is already compiled in the team,” said Helton. “I am super excited to join forces with the store and help push the e-commerce model forward in this very traditional, B2B industrial space,” he continued. Helton is experienced in the creation and execution of data-driven strategy that has positioned countless businesses at the top of their marketplaces. His initial focus will be on the presentation of key products to buyers in targeted end-user sectors. Ayling said: “A standout feature of successful businesses is that they have the best people in the right roles. In Austin, we have added a true expert in e-commerce, with a proven track record of delivery, even in the most competitive of marketplaces. Austin adds a different perspective to our team but the enthusiasm, energy, and authenticity that he brings to our dealings mean he fits in perfectly.” Helton added: “I believe the team has a unique and very real opportunity to market these products online in a modern and convenient way that creates real and immediate value for customers. Modern technology and e-commerce, married with the industry experience, vendor relationships, and deep product knowledge that these guys have, is, in my opinion, the differentiating value and recipe for success in the always competitive online landscape.” Helton also joins Jeff Miller, General Manager; Peter McGreal, CFO; Mark Bridger, Vice President, Business and Product Development; and Richard Howes, Vice President, Marketing and Communications.