The Outdoor Power Equipment Aftermarket Association (OPEAA) announced its 2013-2014 Officers and Board of Directors during its Annual Meeting in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, held February 16-19, 2013.
OPEAA Officers for 2013 include:
- President Jim Paugh, NGK Spark Plugs
- Vice president Jeff Andrews, Desert Extrusion
- Secretary/treasurer Barry Stiles, Stens Corporation
- Immediate past president Dale Marcell, Oregon Cutting Systems
Anthony Marchese of Husqvarna was newly elected to the Board. Continuing their service on the board are:
- Mark Errick, D E Errick
- Walter Rieck, Sierra/Prime Line Power Equipment Products
- Chris Roessler, Rotary Corporation
- Franck Sogaard, Jarden Applied Products
The 2013 OPEAA annual meeting not only provided several social networking opportunities, including fishing and golfing, but was very productive. Business sessions included speakers who presented timely and relevant information for the industry, including legislative, regulatory and safety issues. 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.
“The 2013 annual meeting reinforced the reality that we belong to a small, but constantly changing industry,” said OPEAA’s new president, Jim Paugh. “These changes are a result of technology, market forces, and the political landscape. This will require OPEAA to stay alert for changes, adapt quickly to the changes, and continue to partner with others in the outdoor power equipment industry. A new initiative in 2013 will be to start gathering additional market data for our members that will help us better understand the size of specific product categories. We are looking forward to the results of our various market studies, but more importantly a profitable year for all our members.”
