Carson, Calif. — Roger Euliss, Multiquip Inc. president, last month announced his intention to retire from the Carson, Calif.-based company at the end of 2008.

“After almost 28 years, it is time for others to take the helm,” said Euliss in a meeting last week with the MQ management team. “We have an excellent team in place, so the continued growth and success of the company are assured. I feel very proud and confident of the company and the team that I have been a part of for so many years. It is now time for me to spend more time at my North Carolina home and with my wife and family, all located in the eastern half of the country.”

After Euliss' retirement, Mike Howlett will become president of the MQ General Construction Equipment Group, reporting to Tom Yasuda, chairman and CEO. The balance of the core management organization will remain largely unchanged with Mike Ferguson, vice president MQ GCE sales; Poonam Kapila, director of marketing; and Torsten Erbel, director of product management reporting to Howlett.

Euliss was already a well-known and popular figure in the equipment industry and among rental customers around the world when Multiquip founder Irv Levine retired five years ago. While some people in the industry viewed the charismatic and visionary Levine as almost irreplaceable, Euliss has been widely credited as doing an excellent job, as an administrator, as a strategic leader and as the face of the company.

Multiquip insiders told RER the announcement of Euliss' departure was met with great emotion on the part of many employees, as Euliss has impressed many with his work ethic and his ability to articulate the essence of the company. He was highly regarded within the company and among customers and the distributor network.

Howlett, not as well-known among customers, is viewed by Multiquip insiders as an outstanding, systems-oriented executive capable of leading Multiquip in its next phase of growth.

Multiquip is an international manufacturer and distributor of light- and medium-sized equipment lines for construction professionals. Its product line includes rammers, rollers, plate compactors and other compaction equipment; portable lighting; concrete and masonry pumping, cutting, placing and finishing equipment; dewatering pumps; generators; and welders. Specialty divisions include Stow Construction Equipment, Sanders Saws and MQ Power.