MANA is pleased to announce the election of two exceptionally well-qualified MANA representative members to MANA’s Board of Directors. Each will serve a two-year term that starts May 1, 2015. Biographies for John Beaver and Danny Collis follow below. Please join us in congratulating them.
If you are a representative member and are interested in serving on MANA’s Board of Directors, please email Susan Strouse at sstrouse@manaonline.org to request the necessary forms.
New Directors on MANA Board
John Beaver
John earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Long Island University, and, at age 26 in 1984, founded Optimum Metro Sales, Inc. which joined MANA in 1990. John brings 30 years’ experience as a representative firm owner including 24 years’ experience as a MANA member to MANA’s Board.
Today, GSA www.gsatech.com is a 27-person firm offering territory coverage from Maine to Virginia. The firm, a member of MANA, NEMRA, and ERA, covers several markets that include Electrical, Military, Aerospace, and Factory Automation. It’s this unique board market approach that has enabled GSA to grow continuously. This expertise in diverse markets came from successfully blending the purchase of six representative companies, now known as GSA.
John currently serves on MANA’s Strategic Planning Committee as well as the Rep Council for ABB Low Voltage products and Vynckier Enclosure Systems. He also has served on rep councils for Weidmuller and Crydom.
For the past 3 years, John has been President of the Local Metro NY/NJ ERA Chapter. In early 2014, he was elected the chapter’s Chairman.
John was featured in the following Agency Sales magazine article: http://gsatech.com/John%20Beaver%20Mana%20Article.pdf
Danny Collis
Danny Collis, CPMR, MTC101 (MAFSI Technology Certification) is the president and owner of Collis Group, Inc. http://www.collisgroupinc.com, a manufacturers’ rep firm in Richmond Hill, Ontario with eight employees servicing Ontario.
He was elected to serve as the 2012 president of the Manufacturers’ Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry (MAFSI) and the chairman of the board of directors and executive committee. As such, the president’s responsibilities specifically focus on MAFSI’s policies, overall direction, governance oversight and procedures as defined by the association’s strategic plan and annual operating plans. In addition, Collis represents the membership through attendance at official association meetings at the national level.
MAFSI provides a number of services for its members including training and education, business management, sales and marketing and technology, industry policy development including ethical standards development, liaison with other industry groups, biennial conferences, personal networking opportunities, and communication through their bi-monthly e-newsletter, MAFSI Matters.
Mr. Collis started working in foodservice sales in 1989 with a Garland Commercial Ranges in Toronto. Further experiences with a design build company and also a manufacturers’ representative organization. Collis Group Inc. was formed in 1996 as a manufacturers’ representative focusing on equipment sales. Currently Collis Group is the representative of thirteen lines covering the province of Ontario. Collis Group focuses on bringing quality products to many segments of the market from chain accounts to food service consultants and also fosters close relationships with food service dealers.