HITACHI’S SAM SHELTON RETIRES AFTER 27 YEARS WITH COMPANY

After 27 years with Kawasaki Loaders and now Hitachi Construction Machinery America, communications manager Sam Shelton is officially retired effective Aug. 1.

Anyone who is familiar with her overall work, her talents in company photography and writing, her meeting and event coordination, and on and on, knows that her career was based on excellence and perfection in every task she undertook — anything less wasn’t acceptable to her.

Shelton was not only a strong advocate marketer for the Kawasaki/Hitachi brand, she also immersed herself in the study of the industry. She championed and heavily participated in the functions of many of the organizations that guide the heavy equipment industry and ones that continue to make a change within the equipment industry. Shelton’s participation on the AEM MarComm Council, and her stint as the MarComm Council Chairman, was just part of her overall passion for being involved in the industry.

Recently, the staff at Hitachi Construction Americas held a luncheon at the company’s North American headquarters in Newnan, Ga., where more than 100 coworkers, friends, local vendors and others turned out to say goodbye, laude her achievements and wish her the best of luck.

Company CEO Al Quinn praised Shelton for her passion and persistence, but mostly for how she truly supported the changes within the organization over the years and was “always looking to take care of the dealers’ needs and to keep those needs at the forefront of her agenda.”

“She’s been a great asset to the company,” said Quinn.

Vice President Simon Wilson said that Shelton was instrumental in providing him with background information and insight on the company when he joined several years ago.

“It makes me proud that I was a part of her career. She’s probably the most multi-tasked person in this room.”

Gary Bell

Hitachi Construction Machinery America

see SHELTON page 72

Hitachi Construction Machinery Americas CEO Al Quinn (C) and Vice President Simon Wilson (R) presented Shelton with a numbered print of a watercolor piece that she had commissioned by artist Gary Wright commemorating the expansion of HCMA into the excavator and mining equipment markets. The print was signed by all employees. The original framed piece hangs in Hitachi’s headquarters.