Godwin Pumps hired Randy Benefield as branch manager for the Atlanta office. Joining Benefield are Jeff Gledhill and Charlie McTier, who will work as sales engineers. Nora Linley joins the team as administrative assistant.

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Chuck Hoge resigned as president of Bobcat. Jim Sharp was named as the new president of the company. Hoge had been president and CEO of Bobcat since 1998. Earlier, he worked for Clark Equipment, Bobcat's former owner, dating back to 1978.

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Wayne Hill was appointed executive vice president and CFO of Toromont Industries. Mr. Hill joined the company in 1985 as vice president finance and CFO. He has been a director of the company since 1988.

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Norwalk, Conn.-based SmartEquip announced the appointment of Peter Haikio as the executive vice president of business development. Haikio brings more than 16 years of manufacturing experience in North America, Europe, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

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Bruce White was promoted to vice-president, design engineering, for Link-Belt Construction Equipment. White replaces Dan Quinn, who is retiring after 37 years of service.

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Ford Power Products, Dearborn, Mich., promoted Brian Kopf to strategic planning supervisor. Kopf is responsible for several key areas in the strategic and business planning processes and reports to the business planning director. The company also named Bob Mendlesky special projects manager. He will be responsible for coordinating the development of new business opportunities via product development projects.

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Richard Kolbe was named vice president of information technology at Briggs & Stratton, Milwaukee. Kolbe will work closely to align the direction of the information technology group with the business growth strategies of selective acquisitions and international expansion. He will support the needs of both internal and external customers, and integrate systems and processes throughout the supply chain.

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Ware Systems, a subsidiary of Putzmeister America, relocated its offices from San Pedro, Calif., to the main Putzmeister America facility in Sturtevant, Wis. Dennis Ackermann joined the company to oversee the newly based Ware Systems operation, which develops and markets software, training and confidential management consulting services.