POWERsuppliers New Stihl Exec Board Chairman Announced Michael Traub will become the new Chairman of the Executive Board of Stihl AG on February 1, 2022. He succeeds Dr. Bertram Kandziora, who is retiring shortly before his 66th birthday when his current Executive Board contract expires. Traub will join Stihl’s Executive Board as of November 1, 2021. Following a brief transition period, he will take over the position of Chairman of the Executive Board from Dr. Kandziora on February 1, 2022. “We are very happy that we were able to win over Mr. Traub for our family-owned company, someone we know will be bringing all his experience and competence to the position of Chairman of the Executive Board. Mr. Traub not only has extensive experience in the management of large business units on various continents, but also brings with him in-depth knowledge of product and sales topics, IT, smart solutions and the start-up world,” says Dr. Nikolas Stihl, Chairman of the Stihl Advisory and Supervisory Board. Born in Ehingen an der Donau, Germany, Traub, a 52-year-old economist spent two decades with the Bosch Group, working at locations in Germany and Asia as well as South and North America. After six years as CEO and President of Bosch Siemens Home Appliances North America, he took over the management of Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC in the U.S. in 2014 and later became CEO of Plum, Inc. “The Stihl family as well as the Advisory and Supervisory Boards would like to extend our deepest thanks to our departing Chairman, Dr. Kandziora, for his outstanding work in sustainably growing the Stihl Group over the past 20 years. Under the stewardship of Dr. Kandziora, Stihl was able to significantly expand its product portfolio and triple its revenue from 1.5 billion euros to 4.6 billion euros in the end of last year, as well as increase its workforce from 6,950 employees to 18,200. His efforts and the success of his approach were decisive factors in establishing the company’s current position as global leader,” says Dr. Nikolas Stihl. Dr. Kandziora joined the company on February 2, 2002 as the Executive Board Member for Manufacturing and Materials. He was appointed as Spokesman of the Executive Board on March 27, 2003 and subsequently as Chairman on July 1, 2005. 6
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Rotary Adds To Sales Force Rotary Corp. has expanded its sales division with the appointment of four new territory managers, according to an announcement by Mark Smith, Chief Sales Officer. Brian Horstmann is Rotary’s new territory manager for South Car- From left, Rotary’s new territory sales managers Donny Thompson, David Sanders, Brian Horstmann and Robert Rayon olina. Horstmann has over 25 years of experience in outside sales with 19 consecutive years of revenue growth. Robert Rayon, who has been involved in power equipment sales and service for the past 35 years, will be territory manager for Arkansas and Oklahoma. Rayon is a fourth-generation power equipment industry member. David Sanders is the new territory manager for Illinois and southeast Missouri. Altogether, Sanders has spent 36 years in parts and equipment sales in the lawn and garden industry. Donny Thompson will be the territory manager for southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle. Thompson owned and operated a power equipment dealership for 10 years and has worked at Rotary’s world headquarters in technical services for the past eight. He is a third-generation power equipment industry member. “Our new territory managers have significant sales experience, but just as important, they have been closely involved with power equipment sales and service for most of their careers,” comments Smith.
Mi-T-M Corp. To Go ESOP Mi-T-M Corp., a privately held company founded by A.J. Spiegel in 1971, has announced plans to share ownership with employees by becoming owned by a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). As an employee-owned company, Mi-T-M Corp. will continue to operate under the same business model and management structure as it has for the past 50 years.
EDA Launches Mentoring Program
The Equipment Dealers Assn. (EDA) has announced the launch of its newest workforce development resource, the EDA Women in Industry Mentoring Program. This novel mentoring program is an offshoot of the EDA Women in Industry initiative that was created last year. Similar programs have been extremely successful all-over North America. The mission of the EDA Women in Industry initiative is to encourage and attract women to the equipment dealer industry by offering a network that nurtures professional success while furthering the mission of the EDA. The EDA Women in Industry Founders Group, a
group of women in c-level, general manager, and dealer principal positions from EDA membership, have been meeting monthly since September and will act as mentors to interested women at other levels of dealership organizations. There is no additional charge for members to participate. Anne Salemo is the facilitator for the EDA Women in Industry initiative as well as the mentoring program. “The mentoring program is for professional development in the construction and agricultural equipment dealers’ industry. This type of program can attract more women and help women move up the corporate ladder. With everything going on in the world right now, this initiative will provide a positive impact for the equipment dealership industry,” she comments. Adding, “We’re seeing more women in dealerships and in leadership positions and we want to make sure those women feel welcome and empowered in their roles. This mentoring program will offer the participants career and professional development as well as growth opportunities in the future.” If you are interested in joining the Women in Industry Founders Group or would like information on becoming a mentor, please contact Anne Salemo, asalemo@equipmentdealer.org.
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