First Sierra/Cascade Leasing sales manager Mike Arness has resigned his position to launch Clearview Financial, which will specialize in lease and loan financing for equipment rental companies and dealers. The startup is based in Ephrata, Wash.
"After First Sierra purchased Cascade [last year], I began to realize the parent company and I were philosophically headed in different directions," Arness said. "I decided to make a change. Customers still want the personal touch. They want to know the person with whom they are dealing really cares about them and the challenges they face in today's competitive business climate."
AMECO, formerly known as American Equipment Co., has promoted Russell Miles (pictured) to vice president of sales and marketing, and John Malone to vice president of corporate business services, responsible for information technology and safety strategies.
Miles joined AMECO in 1997 and played a key role in defining the fleet services program, developing pricing models and identifying prospects and staff. Malone has been with the company 27 years, serving as safety officer, operations manager and business development manager.
AMECO, Greenville, S.C., was No. 10 on last year's RER 100.
Airlessco by Durotech has promoted John Ricketts to national sales manager of its rental division. One of Rickett's priorities at the Moorpark, Calif.-based paint sprayer manufacturer is to set up a nationwide organization of independent reps.
Ricketts has more than 28 years' rental experience, including 16 years at a rental business and more than 10 years as national sales manager of Simpson Cleaning Systems.
Burkeen Mfg., Olive Branch, Miss., has named Chuck Spisak as Western regional sales manager for its line of hydrostatic walk-behind and riding trenchers and vibratory cable plows. His territory includes California, Nevada, Arizona and Hawaii.
Perkins Engines, Novi, Mich., has appointed Dominique Volet as regional technical manager, responsible for distributors in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.
Gillette Generators, Elkhart, Ind., has named George Fig to the recently created position of national sales and marketing manager. Fig has 25 years' sales experience, including stints with Bosch and Ryobi.
JLG Industries has appointed Wayne MacDonald as vice president of engineering. He will be responsible for product development of the company's boom lifts and scissorlift products and will report directly to Rao Bollimpalli, senior vice president of engineering.
Godwin Pumps, Bridgeport, N.J., has named Jay Thompson as sales engineer at its Houston office, serving the Texas and Gulf Coast region.
American Equipment Leasing, Reading, Pa., has promoted Eric Schillermann to group vice president, credit.
