Blastrac Global last week announced that Stephen Klugherz was named global vice president of strategic business development. Prior to this position, Klugherz was the Blastrac North American vice president of sales.

“In this position, I plan to expand Blastrac’s road and runway market and further develop its presence internationally,” said Klugherz.

In this capacity, Klugherz will oversee the concrete polishing market expansion and introduce shot blasting to the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration for improved skid resistance and extended asphalt life. Under Klugherz’s leadership, Blastrac plans to expand to South Africa and Brazil this summer, and he plans to also establish a Blastrac “Center of Excellence” for training in Europe and North America in the concrete polishing industry.

Klugherz has worked in various sales and leadership positions with Blastrac since selling his company, Vanguard Industrial, to Blastrac 10 years ago. During the past three years, he managed the transition from 42 Blastrac-owned distribution centers to placing products in strategic sales partnerships such as Home Depot, White Cap Construction Supply and national rental chains, in addition to establishing a specialized distribution network for the entire range of products.

Donna Gordon, Blastrac vice president of marketing and national accounts, will now oversee the entire North American sales organization.

Victor Mah recently joined Blastrac Global as the international technical director for the highway and airport division, which is a new sector within Blastrac.

Mah retired after 21 years as an airfield and facilities engineer with the Canadian Air Force. Prior to this, he worked for 10 years with Transport Canada. Since his retirement in 2003, Mah held executive positions with major international firms involved in the surface preparation and refurbishing business prior to joining Blastrac.

Mah, who lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, said he hopes to help Blastrac expand this new division to become a leader in the international highway and airport surface preparation industry.

The Blastrac brand provides surface preparation technologies and expertise in shot blasting, grinding, polishing, scarifying, scraping, milling and cutting. Blastrac equipment is designed for surface preparation of concrete, steel, brick, stone, asphalt and other substrates.

Blastrac Global last week named Stephen Klugerz global vice president of strategic business development.