OPEAA announces 2016-17 officers and directors
The Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Association (OPEAA) announced its 2016-17 officers and board of directors during its 30th annual meeting Feb. 6-8 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The new officers will be as follows: Scott Harris, Blount International, as president; Mitzi Kiefer, Stens Corporation, as vice president; Britton Harold, Husqvarna, as secretary/treasurer; and Franck Søgaard, Jarden Applied Materials, as immediate past president.
Angela Golden, NGK Spark Plugs, and Walter Rieck, Prime Line, were elected to the board. Continuing their service on the board will be Jerry Alexander, HBD/Thermoid, and Rodney DeLoach, Rotary Corporation.
The OPEAA annual meeting, which was held at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six and well attended, not only provided several social networking opportunities, but was also highly productive. The meeting began with a cocktail reception and silent auction to benefit the Bill Nelson Scholarship Fund, which offers scholarships to employees and families of OPEAA members. It also featured business sessions with speakers presenting timely and relevant information for the industry.
“This year’s annual meeting highlighted many global changes the outdoor power equipment industry is experiencing,” said new OPEAA President Scott Harris. “The strong U.S. dollar, lower energy pricing, and new technologies continue to demand flexibility of dealers, distributors and manufacturers alike. Market demands are shifting to include products powered by lithium-ion batteries and more-efficient gasoline engines. Consumer decision-making is vastly different from just a decade ago. Taking advantage of the digital tools available today allows our industry professionals to yield a better understanding of customer expectations and trends. In 2016, OPEAA will focus on expanding these resources available to our members, allowing their businesses to excel in the future.”
