Power Transmission/Motion Control

Applied Industrial Technologies Exec Leads PTDA Board in 2026

See the association's roster of directors and Manufacturer Council members for 2026.

January 9, 2026

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The Power Transmission Distributors Association has new directional leadership in 2026, led by an executive from one of the market’s most prominent distributors.

Jeffiers

Jim Jeffiers — Vice President of Central States & US Energy Subsidiaries Vice President at Applied Industrial Technologies and a 32-year company veteran — takes the reins for Chicago-based PTDA as its new President. A 32-year Applied veteran, Jeffiers has been an active association volunteer for many years, including six years serving on the PTDA board.

“PTDA sits at the intersection of strategy, relationships and execution for our industry,” Jeffiers said in a news release. “Guided by our new strategic plan, we’ll concentrate our efforts on strengthening the connections between distributors and manufacturers while ensuring PTDAcontinues to deliver insight, education and experiences that help our members lead with confidence.”

Jeffiers is joined on the 2026 PTDA Board of Directors by:

  • Immediate Past President Bill Shepard, vice president, BDI (Cleveland, OH)
  • First Vice President Tom Holtry, division vice president, conveyance solutions, Motion (Birmingham, AL)
  • Second Vice President Craig Pirie, president, Daemar, Inc. (Oakville, Ontario)
  • Treasurer Brian Nowak, president & CEO, Kurz Industrial Solutions (Neenah, WI)
  • Manufacturer Council Chair, Chris Gumas, director customer experience, Ruland Manufacturing (Marlborough, MA)
  • Manufacturer Council Vice Chair, Maxine Gomez, sales manager, Belden Universal (Hillside, IL)
  • PTDA Foundation President, Mike McLain, vice president, Allied Bearing & Supply Inc. (New Orleans, LA)
  • EPTDA President Henrik Walter, CEO, Nomo Group (Taby, Sweden)
PTDA 2026 Board of Directors (left to right): Craig Bobbie, PTM Industries Inc.; Maxine Gomez, Belden Universal; Jos Sueters, NTN Bearing Corp. of Canada; Chris Gumas, Ruland Manufacturing; Craig Pirie, Daemar, Inc.; Tom Holtry, Motion; Jim Jeffiers, Applied Industrial Technologies; Joe Savage, Bearing Service, Inc.; Brian Nowak, Kurz Industrial Solutions; Mike Pulley, Bartlett Bearing Co., Inc.; Henrik Walter, Nomo Group; Nate Kinsey, Apex Industrial Automation; Anthony Smith, TBC, Inc. Texas Bearing Company; Bill Shepard, BDI.

Directors:

  • Craig Bobbie, president, PTM Industries Inc. (Calgary, Alberta)
  • Nate Kinsey, account manager, Apex Industrial Automation (Romeoville, IL)
  • Mike Pulley, vice president sales & operations, Bartlett Bearing Co., Inc. (Philadelphia, PA)
  • Joe Savage, president, Bearing Service, Inc. (Livonia, MI)
  • Anthony Smith, president, TBC, Inc. Texas Bearing Company (Amarillo, TX)
  • Jos Sueters, director of strategic partnerships industrial aftermarket, NTN Bearing Corp. of Canada Ltd. (Mississauga, Ontario)

Chris Gumas, Director of Customer Experience at Ruland Manufacturing, will serve as chair of PTDA’s 2026 Manufacturer Council. Gumas has been an active PTDA volunteer and previously served as Manufacturer Council vice chair.

“The Manufacturer Council exists to make sure the manufacturer’s perspective is clearly understood and meaningfully integrated into the work of the association,” Gumas said. “Our industry is at a real inflection point, with technology accelerating change across how we operate and collaborate. PTDA has always been grounded in strong relationships, and I look forward to working closely with Jim, fellow volunteers and PTDA staff to strengthen those connections and help position our members for long-term success.”

Serving alongside Gumas on the Manufacturer Council are:

  • Immediate Past Chair Sara Zimmerman, vice president, customer experience and product, Sumitomo Machinery Corp. of America (Chesapeake, VA)
  • Vice Chair Maxine Gomez, sales manager, Belden Universal (Hillside, IL) 
PTDA 2026 Manufacturer Council (left to right): Joe Kahn, SKF America; Chris Keyser, ABB Motors & Mechanical Inc.; Sara Zimmerman, Sumitomo Machinery Corp. of America; Kristian Campbell, Dayco Incorporated; Ellie Girard, LUBRIPLATE® Lubricants Company; David Zoesch, Schaeffler; Maxine Gomez, Belden Universal; Michael Moonan, Solve Industrial Motion Group; Chris Gumas, Ruland Manufacturing.

Council Members:

  • Kristian Campbell, industrial marketing product manager NA, Dayco Incorporated (Birmingham, MI)
  • Ellie Girard, regional manager, LUBRIPLATE® Lubricants Company (Newark, NJ)
  • Joe Kahn, director strategic accounts, SKF North America (Waukegan, IL)
  • Chris Keyser, vice president global channel sales, ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc. (Fort Smith, AR)
  • Michael Moonan, senior vice president sales, Solve Industrial Motion Group (Charlotte, NC)
  • David Zoesch, director national accounts, Schaeffler (Fort Mill, SC)

PTDA represents power transmission/motion control distribution firms that generate more than $30 billion in sales and span over 2,700 locations. PTDA members also include manufacturers that supply the PT/MC industry.

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