For Immediate Release

March 15, 2005

Scott Alexander and John Bittner Join Manitowoc Crane CARE Management

Scott J. Alexander and John C. Bittner have joined the management team at Manitowoc Crane CARE Americas as general manager and director of marketing respectively. The new appointments reflect the continuing growth at Manitowoc Crane CARE and further development in its core activities of parts, service, training, and technical documentation.

Scott Alexander is an accomplished executive manager and brings over 20 years of success in domestic and international OEM and aftermarket businesses to Crane CARE. He reports directly to Larry Weyers, executive vice president of Manitowoc Crane CARE, and will be responsible for providing strategic planning, direction, and management of the Crane CARE Americas team. In this capacity, he will also work closely with the executive teams within each region to ensure continued growth and alignment with business strategies and operational objectives. 

Reporting directly to Scott Alexander will be Rick Cline, director part sales; Keith Crider , director – customer service Shady Grove; John Lanning, director – customer service Manitowoc; John Bittner, director – marketing; John Kiel, manager – supply chain; John Alexander, manager technical publications; Jere Woolcock, manager technical training; and Sharoyn Ringer, administrative assistant.

Scott Alexander most recently served as vice president and general manager for P&H MinePro Service’s North American Group where he was responsible for its mining OEM and aftermarket business. Prior to this role, he served as vice president – product management and business development; vice president and general manager – international group; and director drill products for P&H Mining Equipment. Before joining P&H, he held the position of general manager – China Operations for the Bucyrus Erie Company. 

He earned his Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Administration & Marketing from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and also attended executive management development training at Duke University and the University of Chicago.  Alexander, his wife Susan and their two children, will be relocating to the Manitowoc area in the near future.

John Bittner has joined the Manitowoc Crane Group in the newly created position of director of marketing for Crane CARE Americas. In this position Bittner will lead the strategic planning, direction, and execution of Crane CARE Americas marketing. He will be responsible for providing leadership and guidance for the organization, and for ensuring that strategies and objectives for the Americas are attained. 

Bittner brings a broad experience in product marketing and aftermarket support that he gained during his previous tenure with Grove, a career that spanned more than 28 years. During this period he served in increasingly responsible positions such as parts marketing manager, director parts operations, director market support and training, and director of marketing for crane sales.

He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Lebanon Valley College and has participated in numerous sales and product-related training programs throughout his career. His experience and knowledge of the lifting equipment industry and Manitowoc Crane Group’s distributors and end users make him uniquely qualified to direct the marketing function for Crane CARE Americas. He will be located at Shady Grove.