GRANDVIEW, Mo. — Peterson Manufacturing Co. of Grandview, Mo., has announced new hires and personnel changes within the company, including corporate vice presidents and executive positions within Peterson’s OEM Sales and Maxi-Seal divisions.
Steve Hickerson was named as the new vice president-finance — only the third individual to hold that office in Peterson’s 64-year history. A 1987 graduate of the University of Kansas, Hickerson earned his CPA while employed by Ernst & Young in Kansas City. He went on to serve as controller for a subsidiary of Didde Corp. in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., before joining Peterson as controller in 1993. Hickerson assumes the duties of outgoing CFO and vice president-finance, Nick Auer, who announced his retirement after 26 years with the company. Auer, who joined Peterson from Arthur Andersen & Co. in 1983, will continue to serve the company in a consulting role as an independent contractor.
Brian McMahon was promoted to corporate vice president-human resources. Prior to his promotion, McMahon served as Peterson’s director of corporate human resources. In his new role he will have corporate-wide responsibilities for Human Resources, including all 12 subsidiary companies within the Peterson Corporate Group. McMahon joined Peterson in March of 2008 following a long career with Harley-Davidson Motor Co. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., McMahon graduated from Waynesburg University where he earned a bachelor of science in business administration. His career spans service in both the automotive and aviation industries.
Allyn Leake joins the company as manager heavy duty sales. Leake comes to Peterson with some 24 years’ experience in vehicular safety lighting and is widely known throughout the industry. He will manage sales of the Peterson line to a national list of heavy-duty truck and trailer manufacturers. A native of New York, Leake earned a degree in mechanical technology from Jamestown Community College before accepting a sales position with a leading company in the safety lighting field. He remained with the same company, ultimately advancing to OEM sales manager, until his departure for Peterson.
Ryan Eichhorn moves up as manager OEM sales. Since joining Peterson in 2007, Eichhorn has served as a field sales supervisor in the Heavy Duty Division. In his new position as manager OEM sales, Eichhorn will manage the small/medium duty trailer and truck body markets. Eichhorn is a 2006 graduate of Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo., with a bachelor of science degree in finance and management.
Kevin Cornelius comes to Peterson’s Maxi-Seal Harness Systems Division as engineering manager. His responsibilities include supervising project engineers, designers and drafters, and coordinating engineering activities with all Maxi-Seal departments and suppliers. Prior to joining Maxi-Seal, Cornelius was employed by a major safety lighting manufacturer after earning a degree in plastics & polymers engineering from Penn College in Williamsport, Pa., in 2001.
