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Tag: power equipment

Lynchburg transformer manufacturer to add 149 jobs

Industrial power equipment manufacturer Delta Star Inc. will invest $30.2 million to expand its manufacturing operation and headquarters in Lynchburg, creating an estimated 149 jobs, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced Wednesday.

The company will add 80,000 square feet of mobile power transformer manufacturing space to its 300,000-square-foot facility located at 3550 Mayflower Drive and will consolidate its headquarters and office functions in an adjacent 14,000-square-foot corporate building.

“Delta Star has been a valuable and reliable employer in the City of Lynchburg for more than 60 years,” Youngkin said in a statement. “Manufacturing is a major economic driver across the commonwealth, and we are proud that this industry leader’s products are not only ‘Made in America’, they are also ‘Made in Virginia.’”

Founded in 1908, Delta Star established its Lynchburg facility in 1962 and later moved its corporate headquarters to the plant. The manufacturer has more than 915 employees, of whom approximately 460 work in the Lynchburg facility. Virginia competed with California and Pennsylvania for the project.

“The Commonwealth of Virginia offers a unique set of advantages such as transportation access, business-friendly attitude at both state and local levels, [and] exceptionally well-executed and supported workforce development and recruitment programs,” Delta Star CEO Jason Greene said in a statement. “Lastly, the significant economic development and growth of the Lynchburg region through numerous programs, projects and investments have made a lasting impact.”

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership worked with Lynchburg and the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance to secure the project. Youngkin approved an $850,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Lynchburg with the project. Delta Star is eligible to receive state benefits from the Virginia Enterprise Zone Program, administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. Delta Star will also use the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, a discretionary incentive program offered by VEDP and the Virginia Community College System that provides free customizable workforce recruiting and training services for eligible businesses locating or expanding in Virginia.

Stihl hires HR exec from HII

Virginia Beach-based Stihl Inc. has named Melody Doleman as its new vice president of human resources, effective Sept. 6.

She will be responsible for overall strategic management of human resources for the chainsaw and outdoor power equipment manufacturer. Stihl employs more than 3,000 workers in the United States and supplies the majority of Stihl products for the U.S. market, as well as components and products for 80 markets around the world.

Stihl Inc. is the largest subsidiary of the global Stihl Group.

Doleman joins Stihl after serving as vice president of human resources for a division of Newport News-based Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. Before joining HII, she was vice president of human resources/operations at B&B Manufacturing Inc.

“We are pleased to welcome Melody to Stihl,” Terry Horan, president and CEO of Stihl Inc., said in a statement. “At the heart of our success as a company is our people, the real people manufacturing, distributing, marketing and selling Stihl equipment. Melody has a keen understanding of the human resource role in developing an employee-oriented company culture that emphasizes employee development and retention, and organizational quality and continuous improvement. She brings to Stihl more than 25 years of experience as a leader and mentor that will greatly benefit our employees here in Virginia Beach, as well as our branches across the country.”

Doleman earned a bachelor of arts in mass communication and media studies from the University of South Carolina.

“Stihl is known for innovation, leadership, and a commitment to their people,” Doleman said in a statement. “I look forward to bringing my passion for building highly engaged and empowered teams to the organization and working together to grow this world-class organization’s tradition of excellence.”