The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute announced its 2015-2016 officers and board of directors. The officers and new board members were chosen during the OPEI Annual Meeting, which was held June 23-25 in Santa Fe, N.M.
Officers for the 2015-2016 year are:
- OPEI Chair: Lee Sowell, president of outdoor products at Techtronic Industries Power Equipment;
- OPEI Vice Chair: Tim Merrett, vice president of A&T global platform and turf and utility at Deere & Co.;
- OPEI Secretary/Treasurer: Daniel Ariens, president of Ariens Co.; and
- Immediate Past Chair: Paul Mullet, president of Excel Industries.
“I am proud to be part of the outdoor power equipment industry, a member of OPEI, on the Board of Directors for OPEI, and especially to be chairman for the 2015-2016 year,” said Sowell. “I look forward to a productive year in this role—serving our industry and the OPEI member companies.”
Continuing their service on the OPEI board of directors are:
- Earl Bennett, general counsel N.A. and L.A., Husqvarna Group;
- Edward Cohen, vice president, government and industry relations, Honda North America;
- Tom Cromwell, group president—power, Kohler Co.;
- Tim Dorsey, president, Echo;
- Marc Dufour, president, Club Car;
- Peter Hampton, president, Active Exhaust Corp.;
- Jean Hlay, president and COO, MTD Products;
- Michael Hoffman, chairman, CEO, The Toro Co.;
- Todd Teske, chairman, president and CEO, Briggs & Stratton Corp.; and
- Fred Whyte, president, Stihl.
