Haviland Makes New Appointments to Support Business Growth

Recent business growth has prompted Haviland Products Co. to make several new appointments.

Rob Pawson has been promoted to national sales manager of surface finishing and anodizing. Pawson has been with Haviland for 25 years, most recently serving as regional sales manager. In his new position, he will build sales plans for growth and will manage 10 sales agents. He will also maintain Haviland’s partnership with Reliant Aluminum Products and will be responsible for aluminum anodizing business in the Midwest and south.

Dan Church will report to Pawson in a new role as technical manager. Church has worked in technical sales at Haviland for 15 years and now is responsible for enhancing the technical services offered by Haviland team members and distributors. He also will help direct product development and international business, and will work with OEM and Tier 1s to meet their needs.

Jim Knape has been promoted to national sales manager of commodities and contract manufacturing. He had been a technical sales account manager for 12 years. In his new position, Knape will oversee the growth and profitability of new markets. Eight sales representatives and coordinators will report to him.

Ryan Braunschneider has been with the company for five years and will transition into technical sales, with responsibility for acquiring new accounts, building/managing current accounts, and being a resource for technical questions and analytical processes related to surface finishing and anodizing products.

Rich Held will transition from laboratory manager to technical sales, responsible for accounts in western Michigan and northern Indiana. He joined Haviland in 2014 as an R&D chemist.

Laura Jakel was named account manager and will serve as part of the company’s industrial chemical outside sales team. She has been with Haviland for seven years, working as both customer service representative and inside sales representative.