Awards Nomination time!
OPE+ staff is now accepting nominations for its two awards programs – the Movers & Shakers Award, and the Under 40 Award.
Movers & Shakers Award
The OPE+ Movers & Shakers Award recognizes professionals in the OPE industry who lead with vision and influence to move the industry forward. In the past year, these leaders have embraced the challenges facing the industry, they’ve taken the opportunity to rethink the way they do business, and they’ve managed teams and projects. Winners of this prestigious award span across work segments in the OPE industry. They can work in retail, distributing, manufacturing, professional service, technology, and more.
Winners of this Movers & Shakers award are leading people and teams to success. “Success” might be an objective outcome, goals focused, or it might be more subjective, resulting in a process improvement, a design direction, or a cultural change.
Complete the nomination form.
Under 40 Award
The OPE+ Under 40 Award celebrates the younger generation of pros in the OPE industry who are doing amazing work. The award winners work in dealerships, in technology, in services, and in manufacturing; this award program is open to all who work in the OPE industry. Nominated by their peers and chosen by our staff, the professionals honored here are driving improvements in sales, customer service, marketing and technology, engineering, and more. They’re helping grow the industry locally and nationally. And we need your help finding and recognizing them.
Winners must be under 40 years old on Jan. 20, 2025 – that’s the start of our OPE+ Power Forum conference. We accept nominations from peers and from potential winners themselves. Check the OPE+ website under Events & Awards.
Award criteria is largely subjective; but you know a leader when you see one, and we do too. The Under 40 Award recipients are innovators, solving problems with new ideas, strategies and tactics. They are relentless, with a work ethic that sets an example. They are helpful, working unselfishly beyond their own job title and description. And they are promoters, helping advance the OPE industry for future growth and opportunities.
Nominees can be from any company, group or organization that does business in the OPE industry as long as they are showing the vision and leadership to move their company and the industry forward.
Complete the nomination form.
2023 award winners – Movers & Shakers:
- Ryan Dodson, American Pride Power Equipment, owner. Equipment dealer (Zaynesville, Ohio)
- Andrew Firth, Yakta, CEO. Equipment manufacturer
- Jeremy Krueger, Stihl Inc., director of business development. Equipment manufacturer
- Sean McLaughlin, Flyntlok, CEO. Technology provider
- Rob Reynolds, Midwest Equipment and Supply, vice president & COO. Distributor
- Robb Ponn, Yellowstone Landscape, senior production manager. Landscape service
- Jake Segrin, Wright Manufacturing, business development. Equipment manufacturer
2023 award winners – Under 40:
- Justin Espy, Stihl, Inc., sr. manager of national service. Equipment manufacturer
- Josh Flynn, Power Equipment Plus, CEO. Equipment dealer (Long Island, N.Y.)
- Cameron Gillum, Gillum’s Service and Repair, service manager. Equipment dealer (Ashland, Ky.)
- Ray Harney, Mowers Inc. Bradenton, general manager. Equipment dealer (Bradenton, Fla.)
- Jacob Mandoza, Kubota, sr. product manager, Utility Vehicles. Equipment manufacturer
- Nick Vincent, Wooster Power Equipment, Inc., sales manager. Equipment dealer (Wooster, Ohio)
- Jon VantZelfde, Woodland Equipment, sales & marketing. Equipment dealer (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
