Kawasaki’s Engine Division promotes four executives

Kawasaki Engines, a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., has promoted four members of its management team. Leading the group announcement is Rodger Howe (pictured), who becomes vice president. He is joined by Karen Howard, senior manager, national sales-dealer and select distributor channels; Tom Moskwa, senior manager, engineering & technical services; and Lorraine Lauer, who becomes senior administrative sales supervisor.


Howe has served in executive positions with Kawasaki in both the consumer products area and with the Engine Division, most recently as the division’s executive director. His broad experience with the company includes sales, marketing, and operations posts, and he will now oversee various aspects of the company’s growth plans for the division’s business.


Howard, who is also a veteran Kawasaki employee, has held marketing management titles and is being promoted from her position as national sales manager, dealer and select distributor channels. She will continue to develop and implement strategic sales plans, focus on improvement of dealer traffic, oversee the company’s district manager sales team, and help ensure the achievement of wholesale objectives.


Moskwa, most recently the division’s manager of the engineering group, will add responsibilities for research and development engineering to his existing oversight of the applications engineering team and the quality assurance group.


The new position includes coordination with Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. (KMM) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) in the R&D area, as well as development, testing, and analysis of innovative engine performance concepts. He will coordinate new engine product development, helping ensure Kawasaki’s ability to meet OEM requirements.


Lauer moves to her new post from the position of sales administration supervisor, where she has oversight responsibility for OEM engine orders and coordinates production with KMM and KHI. The 17-year Kawasaki employee is involved with engine forecasting and business planning both domestically and for export, inclusive of Australia, Central and most of South America.


Kawasaki currently markets more than 40 general-purpose engines, most of which are produced by Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A., in its Maryville, Mo.-based facility, which has turned out in excess of eight million units. Kawasaki Engines distributes gasoline engines for landscape, industrial, and consumer markets. The division services customers through a network of more than 7,500 independent dealers through the United States, Canada, and the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, including Guam.

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