Bell Canoe Works has filled its Sales Manager vacancy. Dennis Davidson joined the Princeton, MN canoe company on February 1. Davidson assumes the role vacated by Craig Johnson who was with the company for six years.

“We obviously wanted to select a candidate who had a background in sales and
marketing, but we also wanted to hire someone who’s a paddler,” summarized
John Fleck, VP of Sales and Marketing, “Dennis fulfills and surpasses all
the criteria we laid out in our selection process.”

Davidson is an ACA Open Canoe Instructor and an avid whitewater boater. He is also President of the Minnesota Canoe Association. He has been active with paddling education and conservation efforts in Minnesota and on the
national level for 8 years. Davidson’s past professional experience includes Event Coordinator for Friends of the Mississippi River and International Sales Manager for Fraser Papers.

Dennis Davidson will officially take the reins March 1, following rigorous ‘hands-on’ training in the lamination and trim shops of the Bell plant. He’ll also spend time with Johnson, looking over his shoulder and tagging along
to local dealers for introductions and staff clinics. “However, we don’t want him to pick up too many of Johnson’s bad habits!” joked Ted Bell.

Davidson joins Bell Canoe at the start of an exciting year. The company will debut its 2005 line for consumers at both the Canoecopia and Carl & John’s Paddlin’ shows in Madison, WI in early March. Bell also began distribution in the UK this Winter with Richard Bennett at Outdoor Active LTD. Outdoor Active is the largest supplier of canoes and accessories and one of the largest canoe and kayak retail outlets in the UK. Bell will also begin distribution in Japan this Spring. The company is exploring further markets in Europe, Asia, and Australia.