John E Millsap of Mount Vernon MO has been named vice-president of Ridewell Corp. He has been with Ridewell for nine years and served as the south central regional sales manager for the past eight.
Ted Smith, founder of TSE Brakes Inc, has been named the firm's chairman of the board, a newly created position. Greg Smith has been promoted to president of TSE from his previous role as vice-president of operations. Rod Richardson has been named vice-president of sales/business development and will be based at the new national sales headquarters in Hayneville AL. He formerly was corporate chief operating officer of the Reliance Trailer Group in Cotati CA and Spokane WA. Dennis Gillespie is TSE's new director of sales for OEM/OES groups and also will be based in Hayneville. He most recently was national accounts manager for MGM Brakes. Charles “Charlie” Anderson has been named director of sales — national fleet/aftermarket for TSE national fleet programs and major aftermarket accounts. He previously was national fleet manager for Haldex.
David L Plaster has returned to Hendrickson International, Trailer Suspension Systems, as marketing director. Plaster originally joined Hendrickson as a marketing coordinator in 1994 and became district sales manager before joining Volvo Trucks North America in 1998. He comes to Hendrickson from Michelin North America, where he was a senior sales executive. Steve Kiefer has assumed duties as director of marketing for Hendrickson Truck Suspension Systems while continuing to oversee program management, sales engineering, and technical services with the firm.
Steve Mance has been appointed vice-president and general manager — charging business and information technology of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse group. He previously was vice-president and general manager of the components group at Hendrickson International in Woodridge IL. Bendix has named Kishor Pendse vice-president and general manager of wheel end and business processes. He most recently served as vice-president and general manager — charging business team.
Todd Manson has joined Webb Wheel Products in the newly created position of vice-president — aftermarket sales. Before joining Webb, he most recently served as director of international parts/national sales manager for Paccar Parts, a division of Paccar.
Transportation Technologies Industries Inc (TTI) has named Joe Stinson senior account manager. Before joining TTI, Stinson served as marketing manager with Hendrickson Suspension.
Hadley Products has promoted Gordon J Virginski to director of sales and marketing, effective immediately. He joined Hadley in 1997, bringing seven years of heavy-duty vehicle and aftermarket sales management experience from Sloan Transportation Products and Brake Pro Heavy Duty. Robert Sorum, vice-president of engineering for Hadley, died unexpectedly while visiting family recently. He had served 13 years with the company.
Keith Mfg Co has added Keith Hoffman and Larry Butterfield to its sales force. Hoffman, who has more than 25 years of outside sales experience, will handle mobile division sales for the northeastern United States and will be based in Montoursville PA. Butterfield brings more than 10 years of experience in the trailer manufacturing industry. He will oversee mobile division sales for New Mexico, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana and will be based in Clay Center KS.
Gunite Corp has added Fred Thiel and Frank Payne as district sales managers. Thiel previously held sales and sales management positions with Brake Pro, Abex Friction Products, and Dayton-Walther Corp. Payne held sales management positions with Statoline/Bepco Inc, TSE Brakes Inc, and Neway Anchorlok International. Gunite also named three technical fleet sales/service managers: Steve Judge, Eastern Region; Chris Christiansen, Central Region; and Jim Wright, Western Region. Judge has been Gunite's Mid-East district sales manager the past three years. Christiansen joined Gunite from Rock Falls Leasing Corp, where he was maintenance manager. Wright has been with Gunite for 13 years, holding positions in field service, aftermarket, and fleet sales.