Winegard Expands Team for Future Tech

Winegard Company has announced the addition of personnel to drive its future endeavors in IoT (Internet of Things) and 5G technology. Since 1953, Winegard has been in the connectivity industry and this investment will continue to provide its customers with the next generation of internet and WiFi products.

“We were pioneers in 1953 with the invention of the multi-channel TV antenna and we have never stopped innovating,” said Grant Whipple, president and COO, Winegard. “We have strategically shifted the company over the last five years to focus on future technology such as WiFi and 5G technology in all we design and build.”

Once thought of as an antenna manufacturer, Winegard designs and engineers products that enhance the connection between communications systems and people. For example, Winegard technology provides two-way data encryption, allows emergency rescue professionals to assess issues faster, military personnel to transmit information critical to their mission, helps families save money through cord cutting, enables better traffic direction in smart cities, and lets RV enthusiasts access work and stay entertained from the road or their campground.  

To continue its innovation in high-performance connectivity, Winegard is adding several personnel to its team:

Lance Beck joins as Director of Product Development for the Internet of Things (IoT) division. Winegard will be a force in the area of making “things” communicate with each other – RVs, cars, homes, and much more. Lance brings a proven track record of success from the industrial monitoring and smart home connectivity markets. He also brings extensive application experience with various control system inputs including remote app control and AI Voice Recognition. 

Marvin Metzler joins as the Senior Director of Business Development for the Mobile division. He will lead the team housed in the Elkhart, Ind. Innovation Center. Marvin has an extensive background in the RV, automotive, power sports and marine industries, and is well versed in product development (he holds six patents) and distribution. As former president and CEO of Mito Corporation, he is well-versed in creating strategies for growing companies.

Victoria Keltner joins Winegard headquarters with a unique set of skills and talents. She is an industrial designer who breathes life into the concepts and visions of leadership and engineers. Because OEMs care about form factor and consumers value aesthetics, as well as functionality, Victoria designs products that are pleasing to the eye, and do not have compromised  performance.

Trevor Cushman joins as Product Manager for the Mobile Satellite division. As Winegard’s former Manager of Tech Services Trevor has worked through the trenches to learn the company’s products inside and out. He puts the customer first and is an engineering resource for research and development of product improvements and new concepts based on consumer feedback.

Jeremy Rohdy joins as Engineering Team Lead for the Mobile division. Jeremy has an extensive background in complex electrical and mechanical engineering systems, and manufacturing production, which makes him a valuable team leader for the mobile product division. His knowledge of Winegard’s products combined with his experience at HillPhoneix, Celestica and Motorola greatly increase the company’s speed to market in product development. 

James Witty joins as New Business Development Director for the RV OEM division. A veteran of the RV industry, James has held positions at The RV Factory and Nexus RV. These experiences give him a strong foundation in understanding what to look for and listen to when working with our manufacturing customers. In a few short months, James has expanded Winegard’s footprint among key manufacturers.

Shelby DeWulf joins the Winegard team as the Director of Corporate Marketing to advance the company as a leader in connectivity. Her background in the technology and manufacturing industries gives her a strong understanding of IoT, WiFi and cellular technologies and how consumers can benefit from high-performance connectivity.

In addition to hiring new talent, the company also promoted knowledgeable personnel to propel business toward designing even more products to keep Americans connected anywhere.

Chris Panelli brings extensive RV manufacturer knowledge to Winegard because of his experience working for Keystone, Nexus and Forest River. He works directly with OEMs to help develop RVs with attractive options.

Brad Martin brings expertise in injection molding and metal tooling from his work for Martin Mold. He will work with Winegard’s tooling team and engineers to design products that perform even better, with less materials and will help deliver products to market faster.

Scott Martin joins the Winegard team following the strategic acquisition of his well-established injection mold and metal tooling company, Martin Mold. The acquisition will help Winegard drastically reduce lead times and costs.

Eric Husen brings experience as an embedded software engineer that will greatly expand Winegard’s connectivity product family for even better performance and quality.

Kyle Werner brings his experience in satellite TV and connectivity projects to the mechanical engineering team.

Steven Zonker brings his reputation from working many years in the RV industry as the national sales manager at The RV Factory.