Mountain Hardwear Announces U.S. Field Sales Team Transition

Mountain Hardwear, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company, announced the transition from an agency sales model to an in-house selling organization in the Northeast and Midwest United States and the addition of three new members to the sales team.

Mountain Hardwear and Montrail will transition its sales structure from an agency sales model with the Northeast and Midwest-based sales agencies of Stoner-Andrews, Inc., Kevin Brew Sales and Pemba Serves, Inc. to a dedicated, in-house selling organization. The transition to a direct sales team model will enable Mountain Hardwear and Montrail to provide dedicated sales and service support in the Northeast and Midwest regions.

“Stoner-Andrews, Inc., Kevin Brew Sales and Pemba Serves, Inc., have been integral to the growth and development of Mountain Hardwear and Montrail, and we greatly appreciate all of the hard work they have put in over the years,” said Topher Gaylord, president of Mountain Hardwear & Montrail.

Dedicated sales representatives will be hired in the Northeast and Midwest regions, and as part of the initial teams two Regional Specialty Sales Managers and an Eastern Regional Sales Manager have been appointed.

Jim Lupinski has been named Northeast Regional Specialty Sales Manager – Mountain Hardwear and Montrail. He will oversee all sales in a newly created territory encompassing Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He has held progressiveroles in sales in the Northeast over the past 10 years, most recently serving as a Key Account Sales Representative for the Columbia brand. Lupinski will be based in Leominster, MA, and will report to Mike Welch, Eastern Regional Sales Manager for Mountain Hardwear and Jason Hill, National Sales Manager for Montrail.

Jon Hanson has been named Midwest Regional Specialty Sales Manager – Mountain Hardwear and Montrail. Hanson will oversee all sales the Midwest territory – North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. Jon joins the sales organization from Columbia Sportswear, where he served as aSpecialty and Key Account Sales Representative for nearly a decade. He will be based in Clayton, MO, and will report to Welch for Mountain Hardwear and Hill for Montrail.

Mike Welch has been named Eastern Regional Sales Manager – Mountain Hardwear. He will be leading the sales initiatives throughout the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Ohio Valley territories. Welch has a wealth of sales and marketing experience including leadership roles with Trak Sports, EF Education and Mammut SportsGroup, where he most recently served as North American Sales & Marketing Director. He will be based in Stowe, VT, and will report directly to Jason McGibbon, National Sales Manager – Mountain Hardwear.

“The extensive sales experience and strong relationships Jim, Jon and Mike bring to their roles, combined with the move to a dedicated, in-house selling organization in the Northeast andMidwest, will allow Mountain Hardwear and Montrail to deliver the highest level of service and support to our retailers,” noted Gaylord.

Lupinski, Hanson and Welch started their new positions Monday, Oct. 31, 2011. Stoner-Andrews, Inc., Kevin BrewSales and Pemba Serves, Inc., will be supporting the transition with the in-house team and customers through Dec. 1, 2011.