Wacker’s Christifulli, Rick to Retire; Successors in Place

March 16, 2007
Dave Christifulli, Wacker Corp.’s vice president of sales and product support, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31. Christifulli, who has worked with Wacker for 32 years and has led the sales organization as vice president since 1986, has been one of the key architects of the company’s dramatic international growth.

Dave Christifulli, Wacker Corp.’s vice president of sales and product support, has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31. Christifulli, who has worked with Wacker for 32 years and has led the sales organization as vice president since 1986, has been one of the key architects of the company’s dramatic international growth.

“Under his direction, Dave has developed an outstanding multi-faceted and high value-added field sales force organization,” said Wacker president and CEO Christopher Barnard. “Dave’s sales skills, judgment and vision were instrumental in propelling Wacker Corp. to an industry leader in the light construction market.”

Christifulli not only contributed to Wacker through his efforts within the company, but has been widely recognized as a leader and expert in the industry. His views on the light construction and rental industries has been frequently requested by industry associations such as Associated Equipment Manufacturers, Associated Equipment Distributors and the American Rental Association.

Christifulli has been a frequent contributor to industry publications. He has written for and been interviewed by RER on at least an annual basis for the past 15 years.

The transition of Christifulli’s retirement begins May 1 when he assumes the role of vice president special projects, assisting Barnard in planning and implementing key projects for Wacker.

During the transition period, Christifulli will continue to lead the sales department along with newly appointed vice president of sales and product support Johannes Schulze-Vohren. Schulze-Vohren joined Wacker in 1994 in international sales. Since 1998, he has been promoted to management positions in information technology, business systems and logistics, most recently serving as vice president of logistics.

In his new position, Schulze-Vohren will oversee the domestic sales organization as well as marketing communications, technical publications, sales engineering and product support.

Also retiring in 2007 is veteran national sales manager Harold Rick, who has held a variety of sales positions for Wacker for 22 years. Rick was appointed national sales manager in 1994, and worked with Christifulli to develop Wacker’s highly regarded field sales organization. Effective Jan. 1, Rick was assigned to Equipro, Wacker’s wholly owned service business, where he has worked with Equipro management’s to implements its growth plans. Rick will officially retire July 1.

Replacing Rick as national sales manager is Todd Christifulli. The son of Dave Christifulli joined Wacker in 1992 and has had a successful career in the Wacker field sales organization as a metro jobsite specialist, district manager, and most recently field manager for the Mid-Atlantic region. As national sales manager, Christifulli will oversee Wacker’s field sales organization.

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Wacker is celebrating its 50th year in the United States.