BRANDON, S.D., March 14, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spartan ERV (Emergency Response Vehicles), a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR), announced today the addition of Diego Salazar as its Director of Latin American Sales. Mr. Salazar comes to Spartan ERV with nearly 20 years of international business experience, with a career that boasts time in Brazil, England, Chile and the United States. The hiring marks the latest in a series of investments to accelerate the development of the sales pipeline in South America.
Spartan ERV Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bill Doebler said, "Diego Salazar comes to Spartan ERV with a wealth of international business experience. He has first-hand knowledge of the fire/rescue industry, having risen to the rank of Station Chief of the Santiago, Chile Fire Department. In addition to his work with multiple fire departments, Diego has an understanding of Spartan ERV, having assisted in several business development activities for the past year. We are excited to welcome Diego as a full-time associate, and we look forward to taking the next step in the development of our defined global strategy."
Mr. Salazar joins Spartan ERV after several years with Roche Pharmaceuticals, one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, as Market Access Director for Roche Chile LTDA. While with Roche Chile, Mr. Salazar was responsible for building and determining the resources and strategies of the new areas of access, health economics, communications and corporate affairs.
Since March 2012, Mr. Salazar has supported business development activities in the Latin American market for Spartan ERV. He has focused on tender participation coordination in addition to dealer identification and development.
Prior to his work with Roche Chile, Mr. Salazar spent time with both the United Nations and Ministry of Transport in Chile. With the U.N., Mr. Salazar was Chief of Staff for the resident representative, coordinating amongst other things international technical cooperation projects. With the Ministry of Transport as a Senior Advisor to the Minister, Mr. Salazar was responsible for developing and implementing strategic marketing plans for all 13 agencies of the Ministry.
Mr. Salazar has been active in his local fire departments since 1990, having served on the Montgomery County, MD Fire Department as well as the Santiago, Chile Fire Department, where he rose to the rank of Station Chief.
A 2002 Master of Business Administration graduate from "Pontificia Universidad Catolica" in Chile, Mr. Salazar is fluent in three languages – English, Portuguese and Spanish – and holds a permanent resident visa in Brazil. Mr. Salazar obtained his Bachelor of International Relations degree in 1995 from American University in Washington, D.C.
Santiago, Chile will be the primary office location for Mr. Salazar.
Spartan Motors' business strategy is embodied in The Spartan DRIVE Plan. It is a five-point plan that is represented by the acronym D.R.I.V.E.
D.R.I.V.E.
- Diversified Growth
- Redefining Technology and Innovation, Develop Exciting Products Value
- Integration of the Enterprise to Achieve Operational Improvement
- Vibrant Culture
- Extend Our Core Markets
Building on this plan, DRIVE encourages heightened focus, teamwork and a common approach. It will align associate efforts and emphasize the importance of both collaboration and integration across business units. This strategy will enable diversification and limit exposure to industry cyclicality.
About Spartan ERV
Spartan ERV™ is a leading manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles. A business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:SPAR), Spartan ERV™ is committed to quality, performance and innovation. Drawing on more than 130 years of excellence in fire truck manufacturing, Spartan ERV™ manufactures a full line of pumpers, tankers, rescues, aerials, quick-attack/urban interface vehicles and other emergency-rescue vehicles from its facilities in Florida, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. For more information, visit www.spartanerv.com.
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, government services, defense, and delivery and service markets. The Company's brand names – Spartan™, Spartan Chassis™, Spartan ER™, Spartan ERV™ and Utilimaster® - are known for quality, performance, service and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 1,800 associates at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Indiana, Florida and Texas. Spartan reported sales of $471 million in 2012 and is focused on becoming a global leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of specialty vehicles and chassis. Visit Spartan Motors at www.spartanmotors.com.
This release contains several forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning our business, strategic position, financial strength, future plans, objectives, and the performance of our products. These statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "potential," "future," "may," "will," "should," and similar expressions regarding future expectations. These forward-looking statements involve various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, and likelihood. Therefore, actual performance and results may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to these differences include operational and other complications that may arise affecting the implementation of our plans and business objectives; continued pressures caused by economic conditions and the pace and extent of the economic recovery; challenges that may arise in connection with the integration of new businesses or assets we acquire or the disposition of assets; issues unique to government contracting, such as competitive bidding processes, qualification requirements, and delays or changes in funding; disruptions within our dealer network; changes in our relationships with major customers, suppliers, or other business partners, including Isuzu; changes in the demand or supply of products within our markets or raw materials needed to manufacture those products; and changes in laws and regulations affecting our business. Other factors that could affect outcomes are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov or our website. All forward-looking statements in this release are qualified by this paragraph. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.