Heil Environmental — a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based manufacturer of refuse collection vehicles, equipment and replacement parts — recently named its new key account team. Led by Wayne Grundmeier, director of key accounts, the team now includes three new key account managers, Eric Evans, Patrick Schneider and Marv Banowetz. As previously announced, Kevin Coombes is part of the team in the role of key account manager covering targeted accounts in key market areas.
“As our key account customers have become more advanced and technical in their business practices, their expectations of Heil have also increased,” Grundmeier says. “Evans, Schneider, Banowetz and Coombes all have extensive technical backgrounds and experience in the manufacture and use of Heil refuse collection vehicles. Their unique skills will enable them to help our customers keep their fleets running at peak efficiency.”
Evans is key account manager for Allied Waste. He started his career as a product engineer with Heil in 1997. He was promoted to manufacturing manager, then manufacturing process manager and production superintendent. Most recently, Evans had been operations improvement manager, with responsibility for all aspects of production at Heil’s manufacturing facility in Fort Payne, Ala.
Schneider is key account manager for Republic Services. Schneider has a history of quality process improvement responsibilities. After serving as quality systems manager for another manufacturer, he joined Heil in 2001 as a quality technician. He was named Heil’s ISO management representative in 2003. Since Schneider was promoted to quality manager in 2005, Heil’s first-pass yield on delivered vehicles has improved significantly.
Banowetz is key account manager for Veolia Environmental Services. He has the added responsibility of supporting the entire key account team and sales network for training and special technical support needs. Banowetz has more than 20 years of refuse industry experience, including past leadership of Heil’s technical training program for many years. He joined Heil in 1996 and has held a number of positions with the company, including field service, technical support and customer service. Most recently, he served as regional manager for the Midwest region with key account responsibilities for several customers.
Additional personnel changes have been made as a result of promoting these longtime employees. Shannon Harrop will focus on his role as director of product management. Craig Thomas has rejoined the company as Midwest regional manager.
Harrop joined Heil in 2004 and recently had been performing the dual roles of account manager for Allied and director of product management. He now will devote his time to leading the development of customer-driven innovative products. Harrop has worked in the refuse industry for 15 years. He formerly served on the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC) Board of Governors and has received its Distinguished Service Award for his longstanding service to the industry.
