9/17/24
Douglas Dynamics Inc. (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) announced several senior management team changes. Mark Van
Genderen has been appointed as chief operating officer (COO) of Douglas Dynamics and president of Work Truck Attachments. Chief Human Resources
Officer Linda Evans announced her intent to retire on January 2, 2025, and Shannan
Vlieger has been named senior vice president, people and culture, effective October 1,
2024.
Mark Van Genderen has been promoted to chief operating officer of Douglas Dynamics. He will also retain his title and responsibilities as President of Work
Truck Attachments. Mr. Van Genderen will oversee both of the company’s reporting
segments, Work Truck Attachments and Work Truck Solutions.
Mark joined Douglas Dynamics in 2020 and has served as President, Work Truck
Attachments, President of Commercial Snow & Ice Control (CSI), and Vice President,
Strategic and Business Development over the past four years. Mark brings a combined
33 years of professional experience. Prior to joining Douglas Dynamics, he spent 21 years
in multiple leadership roles at the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, a manufacturer of
premium motorcycles.
“Over the past four years, Mark has established himself as an important leader within our
organization,” noted Jim Janik, Chairman, Interim President, and CEO. “His broad
operational background and demonstrated expertise both at Douglas and in previous
roles make him the ideal candidate for COO. Just as importantly, he has consistently
demonstrated that he shares our values, and his leadership style matches our culture.
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We have every confidence that Mark will continue to succeed and thrive at Douglas
Dynamics as we build a strong, resilient organization.”
Linda Evans plans to retire on January 2, 2025, after
16 years with the company. She joined the company in 2008 as Vice President of Human
Resources. She was promoted to Executive Vice President of Human Resources in 2022,
and Chief Human Resources Officer in 2023. During her tenure, the company has grown
from approximately 500 employees in three locations to approximately 1,700 employees
in 21 locations. Evans has played a pivotal role in numerous aspects of the company’s
growth including its initial public offering, the completion and integration of multiple
acquisitions and developing initiatives to define, shape and maintain our culture.
“Linda’s importance to our company over the past sixteen years cannot be overstated,”
explained Mr. Janik. “She has been instrumental in shaping our culture and has been a
trusted partner to countless people across the entire Douglas organization. We are
grateful for her service and the lasting impact she has had on our company. Her passion
and enthusiasm will be greatly missed, and we wish her the very best in her retirement.”
Shannan Vlieger has been promoted to senior vice president, people and culture,
effective October 1, 2024, reflecting her outstanding contributions during her eight-year
career at Douglas Dynamics. In this new role, she will oversee all Human Resources
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functions, Organizational Development, and Safety for Douglas Dynamics. Shannan will
also continue to be responsible for the company’s Environmental, Social and Governance
(ESG) efforts.
In her current capacity as Vice President, Business Transformation, Shannan leads
strategic initiatives and Continuous Improvement efforts using the Douglas Dynamics
Management System (DDMS). She joined the company in 2016 as Director of
Operational Excellence, providing leadership in the development and implementation of
DDMS enterprise wide. Prior to joining the company, Shannan spent 13-years at Harley Davidson Motor Company in a variety of roles focused on change management, process
improvement, HR, continuous improvement, organizational development, and training.
Sarah Lauber, Executive Vice President, and CFO explained, “This promotion represents
a natural progression in Shannan’s career, combining her expertise in strategic
management with her passion for continuous improvement, with a focus on human
resources. We have no doubt her dynamic leadership will prove immeasurably important
to the growth and success of the organization in the years ahead.”
Mr. Janik concluded, “These appointments reflect our commitment to strengthening our
leadership and culture. Promoting from within ensures that our team is aligned and ready
to lead us into the future. Both Shannan and Mark bring a wealth of experience and a
unique perspective that will be invaluable as we continue to optimize our operations. I
look forward to working closely with them both in the quarters ahead as we shape the
future of Douglas Dynamics.”
For more information, visit
douglasdynamics.com.
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