Rotary fortifies sales team with four industry veterans
Rotary Corporation has hired four outdoor power equipment industry veterans as it expands its sales division to meet the needs of a growing dealer network.
Dick Felder joins the company as director of dealer development, a newly created position designed to build and enhance business relationships with servicing dealers. Felder has more than 37 years of experience in the OPE industry, serving in a broad range of sales positions with Snapper, Simplicity and Briggs & Stratton.
“Dick brings an unsurpassed amount of knowledge and experience to our sales team,” said Mark Smith, vice president of sales and marketing at Rotary. “He will be an invaluable asset to our field reps and the independent dealers they serve. Dick has been involved in sales, training and dealer development for more than 35 years. He will be a great addition as we continue to strengthen our long-standing support for independent dealers.”
Felder said, “My most gratifying experience is working with dealer partners to propose and promote enhanced profitability and growth initiatives that ensure long-term success. It is all about building genuine relationships, providing excellent products, and impeccable customer service. This is why Rotary is an outstanding partner for independent servicing dealers.”
Also joining Rotary are three new territory managers: Chris Gould, Dave Kaip and Bill Parker. Each will be involved in business development, sales and customer support for dealers throughout their respective regions.
Kaip has 17 years of OPE industry experience, the most recent as a territory manager overseeing sales of Echo and Shindaiwa products. He has also worked in dealership sales and as a territory manager for a distributor representing the Toro line. His region includes Michigan as Central territory manager.
Parker began his OPE industry career in 1988, joining Rhode Island’s largest outdoor power equipment dealer. He later served in various positions for a regional distributorship. Parker is the new Northeast territory manager, working with dealer partners in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Gould has eight years of industry experience, working in sales, service and management for an independent dealer. His territory includes southern California.
“I am excited about our new territory managers and the experience they are bringing not only to Rotary, but to our business partners as well,” said Smith. “Our dealer base has increased as demand for our products continues to grow, Although industrywide there has been a shift to online sales, our dealers enjoy the hands-on support our territory representatives provide. Our commitment to dealers ensures long-term success through a partnership that is centered on trust and reliability. This business philosophy remains at the very core of our sales strategy.”
Celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2017, Rotary is a Glennville, Ga.-based global supplier of outdoor power equipment parts, tools and accessories, serving customers in all 50 states and 68 countries. The family-owned business operates eight U.S. distribution centers, as well as alternate shipping centers strategically located throughout the United States.
A state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution facility is located at its world headquarters in Glennville. Approximately 80 percent of Rotary’s complete line of parts is manufactured in the United States.
