Upfront: Summer not only thing heating up
By Steve Noe
With the arrival of July, summer is here in full force with heat waves hitting with regularity. But the sizzling summer is not the only thing that is heating up…
Portable generator manufacturers form association
The major U.S. manufacturers of portable generators announced July 8 that they have joined forces to create the Portable Generator Manufacturers Association (PGMA).
“A significant majority of the industry has joined the association and is actively involved in our work,” said PGMA Executive Director John Addington. “With this kind of support, we can make a lot of progress.”
A primary focus of the PGMA will be to develop and influence better performance and safety standards for the industry’s products. The association has defined those products as “engine-driven, portable generators intended for multiple use and intended to be moved, though not necessarily with wheels.”
The PGMA currently consists of the following eight companies: American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Briggs & Stratton Home Power Products, Champion Power Equipment, Generac Power Systems, Pramac America LLC, Techtronic Industries, Wacker Neuson Corp., and Yamaha Motor Corp. USA.
The new organization has established bylaws, articles of incorporation, a board of directors, officers, a technical committee, and a statistical committee. Rock Reed of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. has been elected as board president, Michael Gardner of Techtronic Industries as vice president, and George Brandon of Techtronic Industries as the chair of the technical committee.
Headquartered at 1300 Sumner Ave. in Cleveland, Ohio, the PGMA may be reached at (216) 241-7333 or pgma@pgmaonline.com.
I would like to welcome the PGMA to our industry and wish its members the best of luck in the pursuit of their goals.
OPEI announces new board
The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) announced its 2010-11 officers and board of directors during its 58th annual meeting June 25-27 in Couer D’Alene, Idaho.
The officers will be as follows: OPEI Chairman Fred Whyte, president, Stihl Inc.; OPEI Vice Chairman Jean Hlay, president and COO, MTD Products Inc.; and Secretary/Treasurer Richard Fotsch, president of the Global Power Group, Kohler Company.
“Our new officers will lend their leadership during what’s expected to be a pivotal year for our industry,” said Kris Kiser, executive vice president at OPEI. “As a team on the OPEI board of directors, they will bring forward thinking to a variety of issues that our industry is tackling in the next 12 months from legislative and regulatory issues to market issues.”
Whyte added, “The international scope of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute will drive decision making to meet global business challenges. And, we look forward to meeting those challenges through responsible research, design and manufacturing processes that ultimately benefit our customers and the environment worldwide.”
Rounding out the board will be the following: Immediate Past Chairman Michael Hoffman, chairman and CEO, The Toro Company; Daniel Ariens, president, Ariens Company; Steven Bly, executive vice president, Echo Inc.; Edward Cohen, vice president-government & industry relations, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Michael Jones, president, Husqvarna Professional Products; John May, senior vice president, AT&T Global Platform, Turf & Ag Division, John Deere Company; Gary Michel, president & CEO, Club Car, Inc.; Paul Mullet, president, Excel Industries; Todd Teske, president & CEO, Briggs & Stratton Corp.; and Dan Wilkinson, president, Jacobsen, a Textron Company.
For more information on OPEI, visit www.OPEI.org.
OPE Editor Steve Noe
snoe@m2media360.com
