Industry notes

April 1, 2012
News and notes from around the tank truck industry

Trimac Transportation Services Inc has appointed Thamason Fireman as director, strategic development, Quebec. Fireman brings more than 15 years of experience in fleet operations and customer service in upstream and downstream activities in the oil and gas and transportation industries.

Suppliers

Heil Trailer International Company has promoted John Snodgrass to vice-president of global accounts and international sales, responsible for export sales and support through plant operations in Asia and South America. He will report to Randall Swift, president and chief executive officer of Heil Trailer. Snodgrass has worked in the organization for more than 38 years in sales and marketing roles, starting in Milwaukee WI.

OPW Fueling Components, a Dover company, has namedBrandon Grote district manager. Based at OPW's headquarters in Cincinnati OH, he will report directly to Ed Kammerer, western regional sales manager. Grote, who joined OPW in 2000, served most recently as aboveground product manager.

Viking Pump has appointed Kerry Baskins vice-president of sales, responsible for worldwide sales for Viking Pump and Wright Flow Technologies products. Baskins most recently was vice-president of Grundfos Pumps. Viking also named as general manager-parts and service Bill Canady, who was serving as vice-president of marketing.

ChemLogix LLC has appointed Gerry Paulson vice-president, finance and administrative services. He most recently served as chief financial officer at McCollister's Transportation Group. ChemLogix also appointed Marie Holst manager, international sales, and she will be based in Blue Bell PA. Most recently, she was senior account executive at Leman USA.

Jim Arthurs, former vice-president of Westport Cryogenic Systems, has been appointed president of Cummins Westport Inc. Before joining Westport in 2011, he was a managing partner and co-founder of i3 Transition Partners LLP.

David Childers has been named chief executive officer at Compli, provider of on-demand human resources, safety, and compliance management software. He previously was a founder and CEO ofEthicsPoint.

AME International has hired Rob Henwood to fill the new position of heavy-duty aftermarket sales manager, based in the Brooksville FL office of AME. He previously worked for the now-defunct material handling division of Esco.

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems has named Todd Swalesdirector of fleet sales, a newly created position. Before joining the firm, he spent nine years at Meritor, serving as manager of field sales and service for Meritor WABCO since 2010.

Associations

Brown NationaLease President Tom Brown of Des Moines IA was unanimously chosen by members of the Truck Renting and Leasing Association (TRALA) as its 2012-2013 chairman at the association's 34th annual meeting recently. The TRALA board of directors appointed these officers: Steve Lawrence, chief executive officer of Lawrence Leasing, Red Wing MN, was elected vice-chairman; Scott Anderson, senior vice-president of Rush Enterprises, New Braunfels TX, was elected secretary; Kevin Coughlin, manager of leasing products for Daimler Trucks North America, Portland OR, was elected treasurer; and Terence Dubowick, national account manager of Mack Leasing/Volvo Truck Leasing System, Rural Hall NC, became immediate past chairman.

Andreea Raaber, who is Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC vice-president of business development, has been named to the board of the Motor & Equipment Remanufacturers Association (MERA). At MERA, she will work with the Sales & Marketing Council on the organization's Manufactured Again campaign.

Obituary

John C Girard, 75, of Jupiter FL died March 5, 2012. His wife of 51 years, six children, 11 grandchildren, a sister, a brother and sister-in-law, and many nieces and nephews survived him. Together with his father, John L “Jack” Girard and his brother, Bob Girard, John started Girard Equipment Inc in 1952. As president, John took great pride in his business, helping to grow Girard Equipment into one of the nation's leading petrochemical distributors and manufacturers of tank component equipment. John took great pride in the relationships he established in the industry, while keeping pace with the ever-changing needs of the market. Retiring in 2003, John entrusted three of his sons, Timothy, Michael, and David, with running the business. Girard Equipment to this day is known for the innovative and high-quality products the company produces paved by John's vision and dedication with customer safety as the top priority. The funeral took place in Jupiter FL. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach FL 33407.

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