BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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The experienced and accomplished members of AERA Board of Directors and management team have been the driving force behind the organization’s leadership for nearly a century. The AERA Board is made up of leaders from businesses both large and small, across every sector of the industry. Members of the Board provide local and global perspectives on matters of common interest to AERA members, and contribute their leadership and expertise to help guide the organization as it prepares to enter its second century.
Bobby Kammerer
Chairman A native of Duncan, Oklahoma, Bobby began his career back in 1967 with oil and gas services giant Halliburton. In 1969 he left the company for a stint in the US Army where he served in Vietnam and received the Combat Infantry Badge and Bronze Star. He returned to the US and his job at Halliburton in the early 1970’s and soon became an avid drag racer. The need for quality machine work on his and other dragsters led to his founding BK Engine Specialties, initially as a part time venture, and eventually as a fulltime business. Today BK Engine Specialties is the leading independent Onan & Kohler generator dealer in Oklahoma and provides high quality repairs to both engine and electrical components. Jay Miller First Vice Chairman Jay Miller is the president of Crankshaft Supply located in Minneapolis, MN. Crankshaft Supply has been repairing and machining crankshafts, cylinder heads, rods, and more for over 50 years. They are specialists in crankshafts and cylinder head repair. Tony Pontillo Second Vice Chairman Tony Pontillo is the owner of Don's Auto Parts and Machine Shop in Kenosha, WI. Don's Auto Parts is an automotive and diesel machine shop, also specializing in starter, alternator and driveshaft rebuilding. Tony has also served as board chairman for Gateway Technical College Diesel School, as well as an adjunct teacher for engine rebuilding. Steve Edmondson Treasurer Born and raised in Louisville Kentucky, Steve began his 32 year career in March of 1979 at Republic Diesel, a leading specialist in medium to large diesel engine machining and spray welding. As a 19 year old kid he began on the shop floor cleaning engines and components. After a few years of cleaning diesel cylinder blocks, heads and crankshafts, moved into the inspection area where he was taught how to check the integrity of cast iron cylinder blocks and heads and qualify them dimensionally. During his tenure at Republic Diesel he has inspected and repaired every major engine component on medium and large diesel engines. Dwayne J. Dugas Advisory Board Chairman Born and raised in New Iberia, Louisiana, Dwayne is the Owner and Manager of Dugas Engine Services. Established by his father in 1968, Dwayne worked with his father through high school developing a passion for engines and cars. While attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Dwayne took a job in the retail auto parts industry and later became part owner of a small chain of regional auto parts stores. After selling those stores, Dwayne served as general manager at PEP Boys and finally purchased Dugas Engine from his father in 1999. Dugas Engine performs service on automotive engines, outboard engines, small compact diesel engines on up to the mid-size diesel engines. Rick Simko AMC Chairman Rick Simko is the director of sales and marketing for Elgin Industries in Elgin, IL. Elgin is a manufacturer of internal engine parts, specializing in valve train. In addition to serving on the AERA Board, he was also chairman of the Engine Repower Council (ERC), a member of the AAIA show committee and a former member of the PERA executive board. Jim Rickoff AERA President Jim Rickoff is the sixth president of AERA. He has been involved in the engine building industry since graduating from Winona State University in 1982 and has been serving AERA in some capacity since 1992. Rob Borden Director Rob Border is the owner and manager of Alec's Automotive Machine Shop, a third-generation, family-run business in Vancouver, BC, Canada. He specializes in OE engine rebuilding, domestic and import performance. Gary Lewis Director A noted author and instructor, Gary’s career began at an early age repairing old cars, farm equipment, and eventually as an apprenticeship machining of aircraft engine parts. Later he went on to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the California State University, San Jose and landed a part time teaching assignment in machine tools at De Anza College in Cupertino, California. In 1969, Gary was hired full time and began building what would become the college’s nationally recognized Machine Tool and Automotive Technologies program. In his three decades as an instructor Gary has written the seminal textbook in the field, developed new machining techniques and technologies, and earned renown as a consultant in the development of similar programs at colleges and private industries around the nation. Bob Pakes Director Bob Pakes is the owner of Pakes’ Engine & Machine Inc. in Janesville, WI where they specialize in machining and repairing gas and diesel engine components of all sizes, including heavy-duty. Mike Powell Jr. Director Mike Powell Jr. is the vice president of Bell Auto Parts in Northport, AL. Bell Auto Parts specializes in engine rebuilding, parts, sales and service, as well as Mitsubishi heavy sales and service. Mike is a graduate of the University of Alabama, a former commodore of the Tuscaloosa Sailing Club and is currently training to be a pilot. Kevin Roberts Director Kevin’s Machine & Engineering, Crawfordville, FL Corey Schlegelmilch Director Corey Schlegelmilch is the owner of Donrich Machine & Driveline, Inc. in Exeter NE where they specialize in engine rebuilding of any make or model, as well as driveshaft repair. |
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