Shannon Soparlo, Adair Sales & Marketing, Swift Current, Saskatchewan Canada, has been nominated for election to the EMDA Board of Directors. The election will take place at the Association’s Corporate Annual Meeting via Zoom on October 28, 2020.
Soparlo and Robson were selected by the Nominations Committee chaired by Jennifer Edney, Edney Distributing Co., Inc., Lakeville, Minnesota, and committee members Wayne Barber, DFK Equipment Sales, St. Marys, Ontario Canada, and Christopher Rankin, Rankin Equipment Co., Yakima, Washington.
Shannon graduated from the University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Administration; Specialization in Marketing in 2003. “After I finished my degree I spent almost 3 years working for a small shortline ag equipment dealership in Swift Current. I knew the ag industry was where I wanted to set my career path and so I joined my Dad in February 2007 and I have never looked back.”
She has spent the last 13 1/2 years working for Adair Sales & Marketing Company Inc. as Vice President. Lead by her Dad, George, they have built the company from the ground up and will be 15 years in business June 6, 2021. The company represents quality agricultural and industrial equipment manufacturers in western Canada throughout the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Married 8 years to her husband Jayce, they have spent the last 11 years working together for Adair Sales & Marketing. Jayce is one of Adair’s Territory Managers. We have 6-year old twin daughters, Hunter and Hayden. “These days I find myself volunteering mostly for my children’s activities. The last few years I have been involved with our local gymnastics club. I enjoy cooking, travelling and spending time with my family and friends. Our girls keep us busy with their activities throughout the year but we like to spend our summers at the lake and taking the odd camping adventure.”
The EMDA Bylaws were amended in fall, 2010, to add an Associate Delegate to the Board of Directors. Associate Delegates to the Board serve a two-year term. Andy Robson has been nominated to replace Ryan Skibo, Pequea Machine Co., New Holland, Pennsylvania, who has served his final term as Associate Delegate.
Andy Robson is North American Sales Manager for Teagle Machinery, Ltd., Truro, Cornwall England, manufacturers of agricultural machinery including bale processing and feeding equipment, manure spreaders, swath conditioners, and concrete mixers.
Robson graduated from Bishop Burton College of Agriculture in 1978 in Agriculture Mechanics. “I commenced my agricultural career aged 15 in 1974 as an apprentice agricultural engineer working my way up to Service Manager of a Ford Tractor Dealership. In 1985 I joined Lely UK in Field Service before transitioning to Area Sales Manager in 1990. Always accepting a viable challenge, an opportunity arose to move 4,000 miles and start anew life in 1997. A move to the USA with the Lely group and the position of General Manager in the North Carolina location. I did it in six flat weeks from visiting to returning to start my new career. As the direction of business change for Lely so did I, firstly working as a product specialist for a small importer before moving on to the position of Vice President / General Manager for TYM Tractors. Since 2011 my focus is promoting, supporting, and expanding the North American Distributor network for Teagle Machinery Ltd as North American Sales Manager.”
Robson lives in Estero, Florida with his wife Marylou. They have three children: Julianne, Jill, and Jeff; and five grandchildren. He’s an avid Harley Davidson Motorcycle enthusiast, and enjoys riding, collecting, and restoration of old motorcycles oldest being a 1958 Triumph.
EMDA Board members are elected for a three-year term, and are eligible to serve two terms. The EMDA Nominations Committee also proposed the re-election to the Board of Mark Tibbitts, General Implement Distributors, Salt Lake City, Utah, to serve as 1st Vice President. Current Board members serving terms through 2021 include: Steve Prouty, McNeil Marketing, Albany, Oregon, who will serve as Treasurer; and Trey Price, Price Bros. Equipment, Wichita, Kansas, who will serve as 2nd Vice President. Board members serving terms through 2022 include: Kent Zimmerman, John Day Co., Omaha, Nebraska, who will serve as President and then Treasurer; and Bob Doran, Doran Distribution Services, Mount Horeb, Wisconsin, who will serve as Secretary and then 2nd Vice President.
Under the provisions of EMDA’s Bylaws, nominations for election to the Board are from the Nominations Committee or by any 10 or more member firms who prepare and file a written nomination signed by all nominators (and accompanied by the written consent of the nominee or nominees to serve if elected) with the EMDA Board of Directors or EMDA’s Executive Vice President at least 30 days prior to the Association’s Annual Meeting.
The EMDA Board of Directors meets during the Fall Convention and once during the Spring. The Board also participates in several conference calls over the course of the membership year. ###