MTNA Creates New Sales Region, Appoints New Managers

Marangoni Tread North America (MTNA) reports that it experienced record sales in 2007 and anticipates continued incremental growth. The company adds that increasing its salesperson to dealer ratio is viewed as a priority, and thus MTNA has created an additional US sales region, to give the company a total of four; Northeast, Southeast, Central, West. A new region sales manager, Doug Edwardsen, will be responsible for the newly established Central region. Edwardsen, a former Bandag Executive, has worked within the tyre and retreading industry in the US and Canada for over 25 years and possesses, reports MTNA, extensive experience in the distribution and development of fleet and dealer sales.

“It’s not often you have the benefit to come to work for a company that is so energised by its opportunities,” commented Edwardsen. “I am very happy to be part of the MTNA team and have already witnessed that the fleet customers identify the Ringtread as a differentiated product and recognise the benefits it does/could bring to them. The Ringtread dealers in the Central region are positioned for growth and I have several prospects interested in joining the network.” Doug will

Also joining MTNA as a region sales manager is Don Hunkeapillar, who replaces Marge Connors in the Southeast region. Hunkeapillar has 20 years experience in the tyre and retreading industry, having worked for McGriff Industries, one of the largest US independent tyre dealers and most recently with T.C.I., as a region manager in charge of six commercial stores and two retreading facilities, in Alabama and Mississippi.

“I believe the independent dealer has more opportunity today than ever before going to market, controlling his destiny and profitability,” said Hunkeapillar. “Manufacturers try to control so much of the distribution today that it tends to impede good business as opposed to foster it. The Alpha-Ring manufacturing process is far superior to anything in the market today and the Ringtread quality and performance is better than anything I’ve ever sold. I’m excited to help the Southeast Ringtread dealers increase their fleet business and to bring on new Ringtread distribution in the Southeast.”