AEM is pleased to announce the election of three new members to its Sector Boards.

Dietz Lankhorst, president and CEO of Krone NA, Inc. and Keith Johnson, P.E., president of Kondex Corporation, have joined AEM’s Ag Sector Board, while Otto Breitschwerdt, Caterpillar vice president with responsibility for the company’s Building Construction Products Division, has joined the Association’s CE Sector Board.

“At AEM, we benefit from the support of our member companies and the dedication of their representatives who serve in AEM leadership roles,” says AEM President Dennis Slater. “They help ensure our programs continue to meet member and industry needs, and we appreciate their knowledge and participation.”

Lankhorst currently serves as president and CEO of Krone NA, headquartered in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Krone NA has been a provider of hay and forage equipment since 1973. The parent company, Maschinenfabrik Bernard Krone GmbH & Co. KG (MBK), is a century-old, family-owned and operated business located in Spelle, Germany.

Johnson is president of Kondex Corporation and has held leadership roles since joining the company in 2008. Prior roles include executive vice president, vice president of sales and engineering, vice president of business development and product engineering, as well as product engineering manager.

“We welcome Dietz and Keith to our Ag Sector Board and thank them for their volunteer leadership as we work to support our industry and provide solutions to our members,” said Curt Blades, AEM senior vice president of agriculture services and forestry. “Their expertise will be a tremendous asset to the board and provide greater value to our members.”

Breitschwerdt joined Caterpillar in 1990 and has served in a variety of positions in sales, marketing, operations, engineering and supply chain. Prior to being appointed vice president, he was a general manager in Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products Division, with global responsibility for the manufacturing, design and marketing of the small wheel loader, compact wheel loader, compact track loader and skid steer loader product families. Before that, Breitschwerdt spent time in a variety of other Caterpillar assignments in the U.S. and Brazil, including eastern U.S. region manager, engineering and supply chain director, Brazil district manager and Brazil facility manager.

“I am looking forward to working with Mr. Breitschwerdt as a member of our CE Sector Board, and gaining his perspective on the construction equipment industry,” said Megan Tanel, AEM senior vice president of the construction equipment and utility sector. “He brings both a deep and broad knowledge base to AEM, especially when it comes to the construction equipment world in Latin America.”

For more information, visit https://www.aem.org/groups/boards-and-board-level-committees.

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