Mike Keeler has become vice-president of international operations for Hendrickson, and Mike Gottschalk has succeeded him as general manager of Hendrickson Auxiliary Axle Systems. Joining Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems in 1988, Gottschalk held various positions beginning in engineering and expanding to operations.
Kenworth Truck Co has named its 2007 Kenworth Service Council, which is comprised of leading service managers in the United States and Canada. Members are: Chairman — Frank Chiarizia, Inland Kenworth, Burnaby, British Columbia; Mike Allen, GreatWest Kenworth, Calgary, Alberta; Ralph Goodrich, Kenworth Sales, Spokane WA; John Gibson, Truck Enterprises, Harrisonburg VA; Scott Elders, Michigan Kenworth, Grand Rapids MI; Mark Haywood, Cooper Kenworth, Durham NC; Jody MacDonald, Tandet Kenworth, Kingston, Ontario; Rick Saner, MHC Kenworth, Springfield MO; and Kenworth Dealer Council representative Jay Ellison, Kenworth of South Texas, Pharr TX.
The Holland Group Inc has announced that Ken Hurst has accepted the position of vice-president of operations for Holland USA. Most recently, he was vice-president of operations (USA and Mexico) for Benteler Automotive Corp.
Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC has promoted Bob Johnson to aftermarket sales regional director for the Southern region. Johnson, who began his employment with Bendix in 1989, most recently was an aftermarket senior account manager in Texas.
Phillips Industries has promoted Pat Clift to national sales manager-trailer OEM. He will be headquartered at the Electrical Harness Division in Dallas TX. Clift previously served in sales, new business development, and operations, as well as being responsible for the company's two Canadian warehouses.
Sokolis Group, a fuel management and consulting firm, has hired Joe Silverio as an account manager and fuel consultant. With more than 10 years' experience in the petroleumindustry, his most recent position was senior account manager with Heating Oil Partners, Fleet Fueling Division.
NationaLease has promoted Andy Stopka to vice-president of maintenance. He joined NationaLease in 2003 as the national account director of maintenance and has 26 years of transportation industry experience.
J J Keller & Associates Inc has hired George “Tim” Wanninger as an account executive for the Services Sales Group, serving the St Louis/Kansas City metropolitan area. Wanninger, who is based in St Louis, spent the past 20 years in the transportation industry, selling outsourced services and onboard computer systems. Keller has hired Deanna Nelson as the Midwest metro field sales manager for the Services Sales Group. She is based in Sun Prairie WI and most recently was vice-president of sales at Wavechange Logistics. Keller has hired Ken Cotton as a safety consultant for the Regulatory and Safety Consulting Center. Cotton, based in Little Rock AR, most recently was director of Pro-Safe Services at AmeriFleet Transportation.
Pedro Ferro has been named president of Webb Wheel Products Inc. He comes to Webb from ArvinMeritor Inc, where he had global responsibility for brakes and wheel ends as vice-president and general manager-Braking Systems and Commercial Vehicle Emissions.
Rod McKenzie is celebrating his 15th anniversary as president of The Penray Companies Inc. McKenzie and previous co-owner Dennis Swick purchased Penray from Nalco Chemical Co in 1992. Both men had served 20-plus years as Nalco employees.
Ryder System Inc has appointed David Bouchard senior vice-president and general manager of International Operations. This follows the announcement that Bobby J Griffin, who previously led International Operations, will retire from the company in the first quarter of 2007 after 34 years of service to Ryder. Bouchard most recently served as senior vice-president of High Tech and Consumer Industries for Ryder's US Supply Chain Solutions business segment.
Tuthill Drive Systems has added Jeff Behling as director of sales and marketing. With 30 years of fluid systems industry experience, he formerly was vice-president of sales and general manager with a manufacturer of hydraulic components for agricultural equipment and other heavy-duty, off-highway vehicles.