The board of directors for the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) elected two new members at a meeting in Miami, Fla.
The two newly elected members are Mark Wagner, president of Club Car and Joseph C. Wright, president and CEO of Excel Industries.
Officers for 2017-2018 are:
- OPEI Chair—Daniel T. Ariens, chairman and CEO, Ariens Co.;
- OPEI Vice Chair—Tom Cromwell, group president – Power, Kohler Co.;
- OPEI Secretary/Treasurer—Bjoern Fischer, president, Stihl; and
- Immediate Past Chair—Tim Merrett, vice president, Global Platform, Turf & Utility, Deere & Co.
The following industry members will continue to serve on the OPEI board of directors:
- Ed Cohen—vice president, Government and Industry Relations, American Honda Motor Co.;
- Tim Dorsey—president, Echo;
- Tom Duncan—president and CEO, Positec;
- Peter Hampton—president, Active Exhaust Corp.;
- Jean Hlay—president and CEO, MTD Products;
- Jeff Hohler—president, Consumer Brands Division, Husqvarna Professional Products;
- Rick Olson—president and CEO, The Toro Co.;
- Lee Sowell—president, Outdoor Products, Techtronic Industries Power Equipment; and
- Todd Teske—chairman, president and CEO, Briggs & Stratton Corp.
The OPEI board of directors also discussed the association’s strategic initiatives for 2018 and beyond.
“Growth and engagement are the watchwords of OPEI this year,” said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI. “We discussed the blockbuster growth of GIE+EXPO, the industry’s signature trade show, as well as the many opportunities and challenges facing our members. We are also very excited about the opening of our new headquarters building in May.”
The final plans for OPEI’s new headquarters building in Alexandria, Va., were finalized, with the grand opening and ribbon cutting set for May 7 from 12-2 p.m.
The new OPEI headquarters includes a conference center that can seat 50 people for in-person and virtual meetings, enabling OPEI members around the country and overseas to participate more fully in association business and activities, said OPEI.
