Mazak Corp. expands leadership roles

Mazak Corp., Florence, Ky., made organizational changes aimed at empowering customers with rock-solid services and support.

Chuck Birkle, who will continue in his role as vice president of sales and marketing, will oversee the Midwest, Southwest, West and Mexico regions. Greg Papke will manage the North Central, Northeast and Southeast regions and play a greater role in the marketing of Kentucky-produced models. Terry Peer, previously sales manager for Southern Ohio, will replace Papke as general manager for the North Central region.

“Chuck, Terry and Greg are all homegrown talent who’ve spent most or all of their careers with Mazak,” said Dan Janka, president of Mazak Corporation. “They’ve grown along with the company, and they’re fully supportive of our concepts, ideas and dedication to our customers. We feel confident that with these changes, we have an even stronger team, one that can create more opportunities for our North American customers.”

As the vice president for sales and marketing, Birkle has been a key figure in Mazak’s efforts to educate manufacturers about how the company’s advanced machine tools and customer services can make an impact on their bottom lines. In addition to the new regions he will oversee, Birkle will focus on many of the most innovative 5-axis, Multi-Tasking and PALLETECH systems at Mazak Corporation.

A member of the 1990 summer trainee program at Mazak, Greg Papke returned to the company shortly after completing his bachelor’s degree at Indiana University. Prior to his current role, Greg worked in the company’s Kentucky factory in the machining and assembly areas, applications engineering and the product group and most recently as the North Central region general manager.

Peer first joined Mazak in 1996 as a part-time assembly worker while completing his undergraduate education at Northern Kentucky University. After earning his degree, he entered the company’s rotational training program prior to becoming a product specialist, account manager, distributor sales manager and direct sales manager in Southern Ohio. In his new role as general manager, he will oversee the North Central region including applications, service and sales.