Command Alkon has promoted Monty Newport to senior vice president, responsible sales and service functions supporting the company’s integrated software solutions for construction materials industries. He has held sales and service management positions throughout a 23-year tenure at the Birmingham, Ala.-based company.
In a related move, Steve Cox has joined Command Alkon in a new role, vice president of Customer Success. Working with Newport, he will lead education and consulting efforts to assist customers in building and expanding their businesses through Command Alkon products, services and technology. Cox brings more than 20 years’ experience in ready mixed concrete, most recently serving as North American sales director for Grace Construction Products’ Admixture business.
Separately, Command Alkon has appointed of Wendy Davis as associate general counsel. She joins the company from Birmingham’s Engel, Hairston & Johanson P.C., where as a senior associate she served as counsel to financial institutions and small businesses in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Florida, and North Carolina. She holds undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Alabama.
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| Monty Newport |
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| Steve Cox |
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| Wendy Davis |
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| Jeff Vierkant |
Iowa-based Link Manufacturing, Ltd. has appointed Jeff Vierkant as director of Manufacturing, overseeing all truck suspension operations; directing quality initiatives and related lean process improvements; and, providing strategy to advance manufacturing capabilities. Vierkant brings 20-plus years of manufacturing and human resources experience spanning high volume and custom operations in North America, Europe and Asia. Most recently, he served as the vice president of Global Manufacturing for a Fortune 500 company.
Omaha Standard Palfinger has appointed Brian Heffron as national sales manager, where he will report to Vice President – Commercial Products Jim Brown, and focus on the entire product range, including work truck bodies and lifting systems. Heffron transitions to the new post after three years as product specialist – Service Cranes & Mechanics Trucks at Council Bluffs, Iowa-based OSP.
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| Michael Weber |
Zero Energy Systems, a Coralville, Iowa, manufacturer of high performance insulated concrete wall systems, has named Michael Weber executive vice president, overseeing Business Development & Communications.
“His industry expertise and contacts, in addition to technical product knowledge, makes him a vital asset as we grow,” says Zero Energy Systems CEO Scott Long. “Mike’s role on our executive team supports long term expansion plans.”
“Our new plant is capable of shipping high performance, durable, state-of-the-art insulated concrete wall panels to over 20 percent of the U.S. population,” adds Weber, who arrives at the company with a resume including positions at Portland Cement Association and fly ash-based concrete specialist CeraTech Inc. “Improving the energy efficiency and resilience of schools, commercial buildings, industrial plants, and homes has always been a goal of mine. Zero Energy Systems’ employees and new manufacturing facility now makes that a reality.”
Hyster-Yale Materials Handling has changed the name of its wholly-owned operating subsidiary, NACCO Materials Handling Group, to Hyster-Yale Group Inc., effective this month. The re-branding clarifies the group’s position as the operating company under Hyster-Yale Materials Handling and eliminates confusion created by continuing to use NACCO in the operating company name subsequent to the 2012 spin-off of Hyster-Yale Materials Handling from NACCO Industries, Inc.
“While our identity may be new, we remain committed to delivering high quality and innovative products across all our brands, including Hyster, Yale, Utilev and Nuvera,” says CEO Colin Wilson. “The new name and logo further unify our identities and underscore our ongoing commitment to all of our brands, and create an umbrella under which the company will focus on executing its core strategic initiatives.”
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| Paul Mudd |
Paul Mudd has joined Max USA Corp. in Mineola, N.Y., as Eastern regional sales manager. His career includes 25 years of experience in sales of power tools and hardware through distribution into many market segments including commercial, DYI, OEM, government and residential. The company credits his ability to analyze markets, train channel partners and end users with yielding revenue and market share growth.
Ace World Companies, Ft. Worth, Texas, has named Kevin Beavers vice president of Crane Manufacturing and appointed to the executive management committee. The appointment follows his oversight of the manufacturer’s largest order to date: 23 overhead cranes of 10- to 135-ton capacity for an Arkansas steel mill and recycling operation. Beavers’ expanded role will include management of crane manufacturing operations at the 100,000 sq. ft. headquarters, plus a Knoxville, Tenn., satellite plant.
Volvo Group North America joined 153 other U.S. companies in support of the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, standing with the Obama Administration to demonstrate an ongoing commitment to climate action and to voice support for a strong outcome at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris last month (note Government Affairs, page 10):
We applaud the growing number of countries that have already set ambitious targets for climate action [and] support the conclusion of a climate change agreement that takes a strong step toward a low-carbon, sustainable future. We recognize that delaying action on climate change will be costly in economic and human terms, while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy will produce multiple benefits with regard to sustainable economic growth, public health, resilience to natural disasters and the health of the global environment.
“[Our] vision is to be the leading provider of sustainable transportation solutions, and environmental care has been one of our core values for more than 40 years,” says Volvo Group NA Senior Vice President of Public Affairs Susan Alt. “Volvo is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and we encourage other businesses to join us and recognize the importance of reducing their environmental impact.”
In 2010, the company joined the World Wildlife Fund’s Climate Savers Program and exceeded targets during the first commitment period by reducing lifetime carbon dioxide emissions from products by 50 million, and production by more than 20 percent. Volvo Group NA also participates in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Program. By the end of 2014, it was one of only 11 participants to meet its goal early— reducing energy consumption in eight manufacturing facilities by 26.8 percent compared to a 2009 baseline.
Oshkosh Corp. has received the Green Masters designation from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, joining a group of leading Badger State companies honored for significant and ongoing sustainability practices. Over the past year, the manufacturer reduced normalized energy use by 15 percent, and also reduced waste to landfill by an equal amount in Wisconsin. In addition, it has implemented a new community outreach volunteer program that compensates employees for volunteer activities at non-profit organizations during the work week.
“We are honored to be recognized as a Green Master and will continue to make Oshkosh a more sustainable company,” says CEO Charles Szews. “We are dedicated to our continuous improvement effort to produce products that safely and efficiently move people and materials at work, around the globe and around the clock.”
Green Masters is a recognition and assessment program for Wisconsin businesses interested in improving sustainability initiatives. It provides participants a benchmark for themselves, and the ability to compare sustainability performance to other companies in their sector. The program consists of three tiers, with eligibility based on identifying actions in nine key areas: energy, carbon and other emissions, water, waste management, transportation, supply chain, community and educational outreach, workforce management, and governance. Oshkosh has participated in Green Masters since 2013, having been recognized as a Green Professional for the past two years.