The Engine Division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has promoted four members of its management team. Leading the group announcement is Rodger Howe, who becomes vice president. He is joined by Karen Howard, senior manager, national sales-dealer and select distributor channels, Tom Moskwa, senior manager, engineering & technical services, and Lorraine Lauer, who becomes senior administrative sales supervisor. 

Rodger Howe is now the vice president of Kawasaki's engine division.

Howe, who has served in executive positions with Kawasaki in both the consumer products area and with the Engine Division, most recently as the division’s executive director. His broad experience with the company includes sales, marketing, and operations posts, and he will now oversee various aspects of the company’s growth plans for the division’s business.

Also a veteran Kawasaki employee, Howard has held marketing management titles and is being promoted from her position as national sales manager, dealer and select distributor channels. She will continue to develop and implement strategic sales plans, focus on improvement of dealer traffic, oversee the company’s district manager sales team, and help ensure achievement of wholesale objectives.

Moskwa, most recently the division’s manager of engineering group, will add responsibilities for research and development engineering to his existing oversight of the applications engineering team and the quality assurance group.

The new position includes coordination with Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A. (KMM) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (KHI) in the R&D area as well as development, testing, and analysis of innovative engine performance concepts. He will coordinate new engine product development, helping assure Kawasaki’s ability to meet OEM requirements.

Lauer moves to her new post from the position of sales administration supervisor, where she has oversight responsibility for OEM engine orders and coordinates production with KMM and KHI. The 17-year Kawasaki employee is involved with engine forecasting and business planning both domestically and for export, inclusive of Australia, Central and most of South America.

Kawasaki currently markets more than 40 general purpose engines, most of which are produced by Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Corp., U.S.A., in its Maryville, Mo., facility which has turned out in excess of eight million units.

Kawasaki Engines, a division of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., distributes gasoline engines for landscape, industrial and consumer markets. The division is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., and services customers through a network of more than 7,500 independent dealers through the United States, Canada and the U.S. Trust Territories of the Pacific, including Guam.