The Chamberlain Group Inc. announces key promotions and new personnel in the sales and marketing areas to further its leadership role in providing innovative, high-quality garage door openers, commercial door operators, access control products and gate operators for professional markets.
Professional Lines Marketing
Mark Lawinger hired as marketing manager, LiftMaster Residential Products - Lawinger has accepted the position of marketing manager for LiftMaster residential products. Lawinger will direct marketing activities for LiftMaster residential product lines and joins Chamberlain from Sundyne Corporation where he most recently served as manager of business development and strategy. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Bradley University and his master’s degree in business administration from Benedictine University.
SANDY OFLOY ACCEPTS NEW ROLE OF MARKETING SERVICES MANAGER, PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS - Sandy Ofloy has accepted the newly created position of marketing services manager. Ofloy will be responsible for developing Chamberlain Professional Products marketplace activities and coordinating multiple marketing programs. In addition, she will lead the dealer service group and will evaluate and oversee the development of value-driven service programs. Previously, Ofloy was the e-business manager and was responsible for Chamberlain’s dealer extranet, and Chamberlain websites.
CYNTHIA DROBITSCH HIRED AS TRADE SHOW MARKETING COORDINATOR-Cynthia Drobitsch has accepted the position of marketing coordinator where she has the responsibility of coordinating all Chamberlain trade show events. She will be responsible for recommending trade show venues to showcase Chamberlain brands and for managing show logistics and internal coordination. Drobitsch brings trade show experience through previous positions at MetroExhibit and the Fritkin-Jones Design Group. She received her bachelor’s degree in telecommunications from Ball State University and is currently working on completing her portfolio needed to become a Certified Trade Show Marketer through Northern Illinois University.
Professional Lines Sales
JIM BOWERS PROMOTED TO MANAGER OF SALES OPERATIONS, PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS-Jim Bowers has been promoted to manager of sales operations for Chamberlain Professional Products and will be responsible for developing new sales programs for dealers, distributors, and national accounts. Bowers began his career with Chamberlain in 1992 and was previously the Senior National Accounts Manager.
J. VAN DE LINDE PROMOTED TO SENIOR NATIONAL ACCOUNTS MANAGER, PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS - J. Van de Linde has been promoted to senior national accounts manager and will now be responsible for managing all of Chamberlain’s OEM business. Van de Linde began his career with Chamberlain as an inside sales coordinator in 1993 and was promoted to field sales representative in 1994 covering the Southeast US region and Puerto Rico. In 2000, Van de Linde accepted a promotion to national accounts sales manager with sales responsibility for many of Chamberlain’s OEM customers.
ANTHONY DUDA JOINS CHAMBERLAIN AS NATIONAL ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE, PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS - Anthony Duda will fill the role of national account representative vacated with the promotion of J Van de Linde to senior national accounts manager. Duda comes to Chamberlain with a background in sales, marketing and training from NEC, Sony, Hitachi and Pioneer. Duda will support the activities of Chamberlain’s OEM customers.
GEORGE LEWIS HIRED AS TRAINING MANAGER, PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS - George Lewis has joined The Chamberlain Group as training manager for professional products. In his new position, George will be responsible for training the inside and outside sales force to become more effective consultants in assisting dealers with Chamberlain products and services. Lewis has extensive experience in the field of employee training working most recently at TZA as a training consultant where he trained managers for such companies as Yankee Candle and Nestle. Prior to that, he was a CDW Sales Learning Advisor and spent 14 years training managers for store grand openings for Circuit City. George received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Norwich University.
Marketing Communications
SALLY ANDERSON RECEIVES EXPANDED ROLE OF VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS & CUSTOMER CARE - Sally Anderson, vice president of marketing communications, has taken on the additional responsibility of directing Chamberlain’s customer care department. Anderson has 28 years of service with Chamberlain and, in her new role, will continue to lead the marketing communications team while enhancing the customer care group’s service-based model. She will work to further the integration of Chamberlain’s services into customer program enhancements including expanding Internet and extranet capabilities to augment Chamberlain’s online capabilities and services.
PAT ROONEY JOINS CHAMBERLAIN AS DIRECTOR OF MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS - Pat Rooney has joined Chamberlain as director of marketing communications. Pat comes to Chamberlain with a background in marketing and communications with experience developing and executing strategic, results-oriented programs at a variety of companies including OfficeMax Corporation, DDB Worldwide, Ace Hardware Corporation, Marketing Support, Inc. and Dontech/SBC. His most recent assignment was with USA TODAY as their regional marketing director. In his new role, Pat will be responsible for strategy and programs that will support Chamberlain’s business plans and customer-centered communications. Rooney’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts degree in advertising with a minor in marketing from Marquette University. He will receive his MBA from Benedictine University in August 2007.
PAUL ACCARDO JOINS CHAMBERLAIN AS ADVERTISING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER - Paul Accardo has joined Chamberlain as advertising and public relations manager. In his new role, Accardo will be responsible for managing advertising and public relations programs and activities for all of Chamberlain’s North and South American brands. In addition, Accardo will also act as a resource for dealers to help them maximize their advertising program effectiveness. Accardo joins Chamberlain from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals where he was director of marketing and membership. Prior to that, he served for six years with garage door manufacturer Raynor Worldwide as advertising and communications manager. Accardo holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration in marketing from the University of Iowa.
CHARLENE LEONARD MOVES TO MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS - Charlene Leonard has assumed the role of marketing communications manager, Chamberlain Professional Products, and will be responsible for all marketing communication touch points within the professional products segments. She will continue to develop programs and improved methods to efficiently communicate product and brand messages while providing support to the marketing and sales teams to enhance overall customer service and provide dealers with the tools necessary to grow their businesses. Leonard was previously the advertising and public relations manager.
LARRY WONDOLOWSKI NAMED WEB DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - Chamberlain has recently promoted Larry Wondolowski to web development manager. In this position, he will act as the organizational lead for integrating web-based activities and initiatives. He will also assist in key marketing programs to help drive web traffic, generate leads, and further the awareness of Chamberlain products and brands. Wondolowski has been with Chamberlain for 6 years and previously served as a training developer for Cognitive Arts. He holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the Keller School of Management.
BROOKE DEETS HIRED AS WEB DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR - Brooke Deets has joined The Chamberlain Group as web development coordinator. In her new position, she will be in charge with maintaining all Chamberlain web sites. Deets has worked as a website content writer for Microsoft as well as a managing editor for a health and nutrition trade publishing company. She received a BA in English from Western Washington University.
Customer Care
SUSAN SHEPLEY PROMOTED TO MANAGER OF CUSTOMER CARE - Susan Shepley has accepted a promotion to the newly created position of manager of customer care. With 19 years of experience working in customer service for Chamberlain, Shepley will now oversee the 28-person department and ensure that the industry’s highest customer service standards held by Chamberlain are maintained and enhanced.