The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) recently named its new Board President and Directors at the organization’s Annual Meeting at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Park City, Utah.
The OPEI Board of Directors met concurrently with the Annual Meeting, approving the association's budget, the transition of the Board’s Executive Committee, and work plans for the coming year, according to a news release issued by the Alexandria, VA-based organization.
For 2025-2026, OPEI’s Board of Directors includes:
- Chair: Rick Olson, Chairman and CEO, The Toro Company
- Vice Chair: Chris Keffer, President and CEO, STIHL Inc.
- Secretary/Treasurer: Harold Redman, President and CEO, Echo Incorporated
- Equip Exposition Show Chairman: Dan Ariens, Chairman and CEO, Ariens Company
Other Directors appointed during the OPEI Annual Meeting were:
- Jonathan Chase, Vice President of Turf & Utility Business Unit, John Deere
- Mike Clancy, CEO, Chervon North America
- Klaus Hahn, President North America, Greenworks
- Peter Hampton, President and CEO, Active Dynamics
- Brian Melka, President and CEO, Rehlko
- Nelson Wilner, Senior VP & General Manager, Engines, Kawasaki Motors Corp. USA
- Doug Redpath, President & General Manager, Outdoor, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.
- Tom Rugg, Senior Vice President & President, Energy Solutions & Power, Briggs & Stratton
- Andreas Rangert, President – North America, Husqvarna Forest & Garden Division
- Rick Gray, President – Outdoor Power Equipment, Milwaukee Tool
About the Annual Meeting
Nearly 150 attendees and invited guests attended the June event in Park City Utah, where OPEI announced the transition of its Executive Committee Board and heard from a slate of keynote speakers, according to an OPEI news release. Much of the meeting focused on the economic, regulatory, and political trends shaping our industry, as well as strategies for enhancing communication with employees and customers.
“Bringing together 150 attendees and guests, outstanding keynote speakers, and plenty of time to network, this year’s Annual Meeting was truly a standout,” said Kris Kiser, OPEI President. “I’m happy to report that both the association and our trade show are financially healthy and well-prepared to champion our members and the industry as we look ahead to 2025.”
Keynote speakers at the event included:
- Dr. Michio Kaku, internationally renowned theoretical physicist, New York Times best-selling author, and science correspondent for CBS This Morning
- Don Rheem, a returning speaker who works with manufacturing companies across the country to improve communication, customer loyalty, and employee engagement
- Macroeconomic updates from The Farnsworth Group
- A report on the European OPE market from EGMF Executive Secretary Ioana Smarandache
- OPEI’s Washington, D.C., counsel experts with state-of-play updates on trade and tariffs, emissions regulations, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
OPEI is an international trade association representing manufacturers and suppliers of outdoor power equipment, small engines, battery power systems, portable generators, utility and personal transport vehicles, and golf cars. The organization also announced that its 2026 Annual Meeting will be held June 22-24 in Savannah, Ga.
