NEW EXECUTIVES - At the Helm

That's why Kocher, who was promoted from executive vice president in May, has expanded MPI's sales force and added a sales development group with an eye on regional sales management.

"General managers have additional decision-making capabilities in order to better service our customers without bureaucratic red tape," Kocher notes. "Each plant, for the most part, has the ability to make decisions to get customers what they want, when they want it and how they want it."