K-Rain Manufacturing Corporation Announces Change in Senior Management
K-Rain Manufacturing Corporation, a manufacturer of professional irrigation equipment, has appointed Bob Finnegan to the position of chief operating officer.
Finnegan joined K-Rain in 1998 as Director of Sales and Marketing and rapidly established himself as a leader in the company. He provides knowledge and expertise in market research, product launches, marketing, brand strategy and logistics management to K-Rain and its clients.
"We are very pleased to announce this change in position,” says K-Rain President Chip Kah. “This adds to our company’s deep-bench leadership strength, allowing us to capitalize and utilize Bob’s organizational and managerial talents. His vision and leadership skills are among his greatest strengths."
Bartlett Tree Experts Promotes Fred Fisher to Safety and Training Coordinator
The F.A. Bartlett Tree Expert Company announced that Fred Fisher has accepted the role of safety and training coordinator for the company’s Midwest division. Fisher will be located in the company’s Lake Barrington, Ill. office and will oversee the safety and regulatory operations of six locations in the Midwest.
Bartlett established the role of safety and training coordinator as part of its ongoing commitment to making safety its top priority. The company now has nine safety and training coordinators in locations across the country and is excited to promote Fisher to this key role.
Prior to this position, Fisher was a local office safety coordinator for Bartlett’s Exton, Pa. office. His sixteen years of experience and varied background in tree planting, nursery operations and line clearance will be valuable assets as he works to further the safety efforts of the company.
“Fred’s extensive experience, hands-on approach to training and ability to communicate at all levels will help bring our safety programs to the next level,” said Mike Robinson, VP and Midwest division manager at Bartlett Tree Experts.
In addition to his work at Bartlett, Fisher is also an ISA Certified Arborist and active participant in ISA’s Penn-Del Chapter Tree Climbing Championships.
The Care of Trees Names Regional Manager/Operating Officer for Illinois Area
Tony Brugger has been named regional manager and operating officer of The Care of Trees Illinois region. Brugger is responsible for overseeing the operations, sales and growth of nine districts in Illinois, a region with 200 employees and $20 million in sales.
Brugger has more than twelve years of management experience and is proficient in Spanish. This allows him to better communicate with The Care of Trees employees who speak English as a second language.
"Tony is a much-needed asset to our team with his great interpersonal skills and proficiency in Spanish," said Scott Jamieson, president and CEO of The Care of Trees. "His breadth of experience in managing and mentoring will improve communication among employees at all levels. This is critical to the success of our leadership program that seeks to build on our successful employee safety record."
"I’m honored to join one of the leading tree care companies in the country," Brugger said. "My goal is to apply a hands-on approach in communicating with each team member. We want a consistent message streamlined throughout each district creating one message, one team, one company."
Before joining The Care of Trees team, Brugger spent several years as regional operations manager for commercial laundry supplier MacGray and operations manager for CBI Fulfillment Center. He received the Operation Excellence Award from MacGray in 2002.
Brugger attended Columbia College and DePaul University, both in Chicago.
Todd Bontrager Named President of United Trailers
Todd Bontrager has been named the new President at United Trailers.
Bontrager started his career with Carpenter Industries, an Indiana manufacturer of school buses, where he was Vice President of North American Sales & Marketing. In 1997, Bontrager was named President of Champion/Crown Financial, which provided product leasing programs for a variety of end-customers including race teams for their race car transporters.
For the last three years, Bontrager served as President of Speedster Motorcars, a Florida manufacturer of handcrafted turnkey replicas of the 1936 Auburn Boattail Speedster, 1939 Lincoln Zephyr and the 1955 Mercedes 300SL Coupe.
“United will be helped tremendously by Todd’s background in both manufacturing and sales,” said Terry G. Whitesell, President and COO of Obsidian Enterprises, United’s parent company. “His knowledge of not only the production side of the process but the sales and marketing side as well will be an invaluable asset to United, contributing greatly to the company’s growth. We are delighted to name him as President."
“United is an outstanding company with wonderful people dedicated to building high quality custom race and cargo trailers,” said Bontrager. “I look forward to working directly with our employees and dealers in making United the premier supplier of trailers for years to come.”