The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) today announced its 2013-2014 Officers and Board of Directors, which was unveiled during the OPEI Annual Meeting in Williamsburg, Va. June 18-20, 2013.

Officers for the 2013-2014 year include: OPEI Chairman Todd Teske, Chairman, President & CEO, Briggs & Stratton Corp.;OPEI Vice Chair Paul Mullet, President, Excel Industries; and OPEI Secretary/Treasurer Lee Sowell, President - Outdoor Products, Techtronic Industries, N.A., Inc.

"OPEI is entering this new fiscal year stronger than ever, both organizationally and financially," said Kris Kiser, President and CEO of OPEI. "The OPEI Board reflects the impressive scope and breadth of our membership. Our membership is at a record high, representing small engine manufacturers with a range of power sources, utility vehicle manufacturers, and a myriad of small engine equipment manufacturers and suppliers serving a broad range of industries and uses."

"OPEI's long history and strong membership put us in a unique position to make sure we are bringing good quality high value products to the marketplace," said OPEI Chair, Todd Teske. "Our collective strength to influence legislation in order to protect our employees and consumers and to communicate accurate information about our industry will continue to be our focus into the future. For the over hundred million consumers who use our products, we want them to know we are working hard for them."

Continuing their service on the OPEI Board are: Immediate Past Chairman, Daniel Ariens, President & CEO, Ariens Company; Marc Dufour, President, Club Car; Peter Hampton, President, Active Exhaust Corporation; Jean Hlay, President and Chief Operating Officer, MTD Products Inc.; Steven Bly, Executive Vice President, Echo Inc; Ed Cohen, Vice President, Government & Industry Relations, Honda North America; Michael Hoffman, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, The Toro Company; Tim Merrett, Vice President, AT&T Global Platform Turf & Utility, Deere & Company; and Fred Whyte, President, Stihl Incorporated.

New to the board this year are Tom Cromwell, President, Kohler Engines, Kohler Company and John Cunningham, President, Consumer Products Group, Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.

About OPEI

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) is an international trade association representing 96 small engine, utility vehicle and outdoor power equipment manufacturers and suppliers of consumer and commercial outdoor power equipment such as lawnmowers, garden tractors, utility vehicles, trimmers, edgers, chain saws, snow throwers, tillers, leaf blowers and other related products. OPEI is a recognized Standards Development Organization for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and active internationally through the International Standards Organization (ISO) in the development of safety and performance standards. For more information, visit www.OPEI.org.