OPEI Announces New Officers and Directors

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – The 2005-2006 board of directors of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) was announced during the association’s 53rd annual meeting in Key Biscayne, Fla., on June 24.

The 2005-2006 OPEI Chairman will be Kendrick B. Melrose, executive chairman, The Toro Co. OPEI Vice Chairman will be Fred J. Whyte, president, Stihl. Philip J. Tralies, president and CEO of Club Car, will serve as Secretary/Treasurer.

Other members of the 2005-2006 board are Daniel T. Ariens, president, The Ariens Co.; Steven M. Bly, senior vice president of operations, Echo; William J. Docherty Jr., director, MTD Products; Robert C. Hove, vice president of worldwide sales, John Deere; Paul Krishnan, group vice president, Tecumseh Power Co.; John S. Shiely, chairman, president and CEO, Briggs & Stratton Corp.; David R. Zerfoss, ex-officio president, Husqvarna Forest and Garden.

The Outdoor Power Equipment is a major international trade association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of consumer and commercial outdoor power equipment such as lawnmowers, garden tractors, utility vehicles, trimmers, edgers, chain saws, snow throwers, tillers, leaf blowers and other related products. Founded in 1952, the Institute is dedicated to promoting the outdoor power equipment industry by undertaking activities that can be pursued more effectively by an association than by individual companies.