CHARLOTTE, Mich., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Spartan Motors, Inc.
(Nasdaq: SPAR) today announced it has named Randy Knors as President of Road
Rescue, Inc., Spartan’s Marion, S.C.-based subsidiary and a leading engineer
and manufacturer of modular ambulances and specialty vehicles.
The Charlotte, Mich.-based manufacturer of custom motorhome chassis, fire
truck chassis and emergency-rescue vehicles said Knors was previously Vice
President of Operations at Spartan Chassis, the largest and most profitable
subsidiary of Spartan Motors. Knors joined Spartan Chassis in 2002 as
Executive Director of Operations and was promoted in June 2004 to Vice
President of Operations.
At Spartan Chassis, he was instrumental in implementing such key
initiatives as lean manufacturing processes, the “War on Waste” program and
driving consecutive years of return on invested capital of greater than 20
percent through the SPAR (Spartan Profit and Return) program. Knors brings
more than 25 years of engineering, manufacturing and management experience to
Road Rescue, including 20 years of operations management experience in the
automotive industry.
“Randy’s two decades of experience in implementing manufacturing
excellence and his diverse background in manufacturing operations, engineering
and leadership should have an immediate impact on accelerating the
productivity and efficiency improvements we have seen at Road Rescue over the
last four months,” said John Sztykiel, CEO of Spartan Motors. “His prior
experience and successes at Spartan Chassis will help him hit the ground
running as we work to align all three Spartan Motors subsidiaries closer
together for greater gains.
“We are also excited as this demonstrates the growing depth of leadership
within Spartan Motors, as we have a transition plan already in process and
expect no loss of efficiency in the operations of Spartan Chassis.”
Prior to his experience at Spartan Chassis, Knors was Vice President of
North American Operations for Rochester Hills, Mich.-based Eagle Ottawa, a
leader in the manufacture and marketing of top-grain upholstery leather for
the automotive industry. At Eagle Ottawa, Knors managed the daily operations
of seven plants, including three plants in Mexico and more than 3,400
personnel. Prior to this position, Knors held numerous plant manager and
production manager positions in a 15-year tenure with Tenneco Automotive, one
of the nation’s leading Tier 1 auto suppliers. An engineer by trade, Knors
holds a bachelor’s degree in science for industrial technology from the
University of Wisconsin.
About Road Rescue:
Established in 1976, Road Rescue, Inc. (http://www.roadrescue.com )
designs and manufactures custom modular ambulances and specialty vehicles.
The Road Rescue(TM) brand name means high quality, innovation and customer
care for emergency vehicle personnel throughout North America. Road Rescue
vehicles are sold through a dealer network that covers the United States and
Canada. Road Rescue is a subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR).
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. (https://theshyftgroup.com ) designs, engineers
and manufactures custom chassis and vehicles for the recreational vehicle,
fire truck, ambulance and emergency-rescue markets. The Company’s brand names
— Spartan(TM), Crimson Fire(TM), Crimson Fire Aerials(TM), and Road
Rescue(TM) — are known in their market niches for quality, value, service and
being the first to market with innovative products. The Company employs
approximately 900 at facilities in Michigan, Alabama, Pennsylvania, South
Carolina, and South Dakota. Spartan Motors is publicly traded on The Nasdaq
Stock Market under the ticker symbol SPAR.
The statements contained in this news release include certain predictions
and projections that may be considered “forward-looking statements” under the
securities laws. These forward-looking statements are identifiable by words
or phrases indicating that the Company or management “expects,” “believes” or
is “confident” that a particular result “may” or “should” occur, that a
particular item “bodes well,” that the Company “looks forward” to a particular
result, or similar statements. These statements involve many risks and
uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including
but not limited to economic, competitive, governmental and technological
factors affecting the Company’s operations, markets, products, services and
prices. Accounting estimates are inherently forward-looking. Additional
information about these and other factors that may adversely affect these
forward-looking statements are contained in the Company’s reports and filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect
developments or information obtained after the date of this news release.
SOURCE: Spartan Motors, Inc.
CONTACT: John Sztykiel, CEO, or Jim Knapp, CFO, of Spartan Motors, Inc.,
+1-517-543-6400; Jeff Lambert or Ryan McGrath of Lambert, Edwards &
Associates, Inc., +1-616-233-0500, [email protected] , for Spartan
Motors, Inc.
Web site: http://www.roadrescue.com