Racine, Wisconsin --Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. is announcing the promotions of several staff members and the addition of one new staff member.
"As our electronics business continues to grow, it is critical that we remain focused on innovation in key strategic market segments," said Jeff Davison, senior business director - Humminbird, Geonav and LakeMaster. "We are putting people with great experience and talents in positions that will help us achieve our marketing goals for all our brands."
Joining the Humminbird® team as brand manager is Jeff Kolodzinski. Kolodzinski, who will assume his role on the staff starting November 1, has been the vice president of marketing for Frabill the past four years. Prior to joining Frabill, he also held several sales and retail marketing positions with Gander Mountain®. An avid angler and outdoorsman, he brings extensive consumer insight that will help him direct the Humminbird brand going forward. His primary focus will include marketing strategy, advertising, promotion and public relations.
Dale Logue, who had been serving as brand manager for Humminbird, now assumes that position for the LakeMaster® brand. With extensive experience in engineering and marketing, Logue will work closely with LakeMaster founder Mike Wood - who is now an employee of Johnson Outdoors, which acquired the brand in July of this year. Wood and Logue will be developing short and long term plans to expand LakeMaster products into new markets. Logue's responsibilities also include marketing strategy, advertising, promotions and public relations.
Geonav national sales manager Dan Ritchie has been promoted to sales and marketing director for the brand. Ritchie has proven to be a strong leader since joining the company in 2010, establishing a sales organization and developing a U.S. dealer and distributor network in a very short period of time. In this new role, he will be responsible for developing the overall strategic direction for Geonav®. He will also oversee long term product development plans and execute sales, marketing, advertising, promotions and public relations tactics.
John Luther is being promoted from product manager to senior product manager and will be responsible for the Geonav product initiatives going forward. Since joining the company in 2007, Luther has contributed to the Humminbird brand. More recently, he has been instrumental in launching Geonav products into the "blue water" market and continues to assist in developing a radar strategy for both brands.
Being promoted from marketing specialist to senior marketing specialist is Nicole Pritchard. Pritchard, who has been providing graphic design and website support for the Humminbird and Geonav brands, will now also support the LakeMaster brand. She will also be providing international distributors and catalog customers in the United States with graphic design and digital assets support.
ABOUT JOHNSON OUTDOORS MARINE ELECTRONICS, INC.
Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson Outdoors Inc. (JOUT: Nasdaq), consists of the Minn Kota®, Humminbird®, Geonav® and Cannon® brands. Minn Kota® is the world's leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as offers a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers, trim tabs and marine accessories. Humminbird® is a leading innovator and manufacturer of fishfinders, fishfinder/GPS combo units, ice flashers and digital depth gauges. Geonav® develops and manufactures state-of-the-art integrated navigation systems and autopilots for blue-water fishing and cruising yachts. Cannon® is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.
Visit Johnson Outdoors at http://www.johnsonoutdoors.com
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Note: For assistance for interviews or any editorial needs for any of the brands mentioned, please contact Steve Roth at 402.437.6418 or steveroth@swansonrussell.com.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT
Certain matters discussed in this press release are "forward-looking statements," intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements other than statements of historical fact are considered forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate,'' "believe,'' "could,'' "expect,'' "intend,'' "may,'' "planned,'' "potential,'' "should,'' "will,'' "would'' or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those currently anticipated. Factors that could affect actual results or outcomes include changes in discretionary consumer spending patterns; the Company's success in implementing its strategic plan, including its focus on innovation; actions of and disputes with third parties, including companies that compete with the Company; the Company's success in managing working capital and its on-going cost-structure reduction efforts; the Company's success in meeting financial covenants and potential risk associated with the cost of obtaining any waiver or amendment that lenders would be willing to provide; risk of future write-downs of goodwill or other intangible assets; ability of the Company's customers to meet payment obligations; movements in foreign currencies, interest rates and commodity costs; the Company's success in implementing targeted sales growth initiatives; the success of suppliers and customers; the ability of the Company to deploy its capital successfully; adverse weather conditions; and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included herein are only made as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.
