As part of its ongoing family succession planning and leadership development, third-generation Vermeer family member Jason Andringa transitioned to the role of president early this year. In his new role, Andringa will oversee the Forage and Environmental Solutions groups, reporting to CEO Mary Andringa. He is working to sustain growth and drive future investment for the company. Another priority is to accelerate the company’s momentum in the developing global biomass industry.  


Andringa has been with the company since June 2005, most recently as vice president with responsibility for distribution and global accounts. He holds a Bachelor or Science in mechanical engineering from Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, a Master of Science in aeronautics and astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and an MBA from the University of Southern California.

In an effort to increase emphasis on the biomass and dairy markets, the company also has made some key new hires in the Forage Solutions group. Scott Weishaar was hired as biomass product manager to support the company’s biomass efforts around the world. Weishaar will focus on a blend of forage and environmental solutions including the collection, transportation, handling and processing of various biomass materials for power generation and/or production of second-generation biofuels.

Josh Vrieze has joined as product manager. He comes with several years of dairy industry experience in both product design and account management, among others, holding various roles at BouMatic and ABS Global.

In addition, Morgan Lambert has been hired as a regional sales manager overseeing a restructured eastern sales region focused on the dairy regions surrounding the Great Lakes area. Lambert also brings many years of dairy industry experience, serving in various sales management positions at BouMatic, DVO and AgroChem, among others.
Advertisement


The 16 North American forage sales territories have been organized into four regions, each led by a recently promoted regional sales manager: Ken Tyo, Northwest; Todd Branson, Southwest; Bryan Setzer, Southeast; and Morgan Lambert, East.

As part of their new roles, the regional sales managers will assist distribution development in strategic initiatives and will also supervise teams of forage field sales specialists that will work directly with company forage dealers.  

The regional sales managers will report to Bret Julian, promoted to the position of sales director for the Forage Solutions segment. Julian, who has been with the company for seven years, will focus on beef and dairy markets in North America, and help the company continue to pursue the emerging biomass market.

To facilitate improved training to Forage Solutions dealers, Kert Thielen joined the company earlier this year as the training manager. With 20 years of experience in the training and development arena, sales, factory automation, technical service training and the aviation industry, Thielen believes the most successful training programs are those designed to be applicable to business operations and accessible to personnel.

Alongside Thielen, Amantha Jackson and Bob Peterson, newly hired senior training development specialists, will work directly with dealers to execute dealer-training programs. FG

—From Vermeer Corp. news release

PHOTO
Jason Andringa.Photo courtesy of Vermeer.