KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Members of the The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI), Alexandria, Va., chose new leadership at the association’s 53rd annual meeting, held in Florida earlier this month.
|
|
Kendrick Melrose, executive chairman of the Toro Co., was elected chairman of OPEI; Fred J. Whyte, president of Stihl Inc., was elected vice chairman of OPEI; and Philip J. Tralies, president and CEO of Club Car Inc., was elected secretary/treasurer of OPEI.
Melrose joined Toro, Bloomington, Minn., in 1970 as director of marketing for the consumer products division and in 1973 was appointed president of the company’s Game Time subsidiary. He was appointed vice president of Toro’s outdoor power equipment group in 1976 and was promoted to executive vice president in July, 1980. He was then named president of the company in 1981 and became CEO in 1983. He was named chairman in 1987. In 2005, Melrose stepped out as chairman and CEO and became executive chairman.
Whyte began his career with Stihl, Virginia Beach, Va., in 1971 and in 1982, founded and became president of Stihl Limited, Stihl Inc.’s Canadian affiliate. Ten years later, he was appointed to president of Stihl and his leadership has brought the company 13 consecutive years of annual increases in sales and revenue.
Tralies spent 25 years with Textron, Providence, R.I., before starting his own company, P.J.T. Golf Capital which focused on arranging golf course financing for course owners and operators. While at Textron, Tralies served as vice president of finance and administration for golf cart manufacturer E-Z-Go, and then senior vice president for the same division. He also served as president of the Jacobsen division and president of the Turf Care and Specialty Products division.
“The tradition of strong leadership for OPEI continues with the election of Ken Melrose, Fred Whyte, and Phil Tralies to the OPEI Board,” says Bill Harley, president and CEO of OPEI. “Their experience will be a significant asset to us.”