Board members of OPEI, which represents the interests of the outdoor power equipment, utility vehicle, and small engine manufacturing industries, help oversee the trade association's work.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute recently announced that three additional board members will be joining the current Board of Directors as of October 21 at the opening of GIE+EXPO and Hardscape North America. They are Tom Duncan, president & CEO of Positec USA Inc., David Withers, president of Jacobsen, and Bjoern Fischer, incoming president of Stihl Incorporated.

"OPEI represents the depth and breadth of the outdoor power equipment, utility vehicle, and small engine manufacturing industries, said Kris Kiser, president and CEO of OPEI. "Board members play a vital role in overseeing our work, ensuring we continue to be the voice of this diverse industry. The additional board members will lend their unique vision and expertise to our already-strong board."

OPEI, a majority shareholder of GIE+EXPO in Louisville, Ky., where more than 18,000 people are expected to converge at the Kentucky Exposition Center on October 21-23, represents its members and their interests in Washington, D.C., educates the public, shares safety standards and best practices. In addition, OPEI's TurfMutt environmental stewardship and education program, created in partnership with Scholastic, teaches children and families how to take care of and enjoy living landscapes.

Continuing their service on the OPEI board of directors are: Daniel Ariens, president, Ariens Company; Earl Bennett, general counsel N.A. and L.A., Husqvarna Group; Edward Cohen, vice president, government and industry relations, Honda North America, Inc.; Tim Merrett, vice president of A & T Global Platform and Turf and Utility, Deere and Company; Tom Cromwell, group president, Kohler Company Power Division; Tim Dorsey, president, Echo Incorporated; Marc Dufour, president, Club Car; Peter Hampton, president, Active Exhaust Corporation; Jean Hlay, president and COO, MTD Products Inc.; Michael Hoffman, chairman and CEO, The Toro Company; Paul Mullet, president, Excel Industries; Lee Sowell, president, Outdoor Products at Techtronic Industries Power Equipment; Todd Teske, chairman, president and CEO, Briggs and Stratton Corp.; and Fred Whyte, president, Stihl Incorporated.