Retirement for some guys means golf or touring the country in an RV. To Bill Marohn it continues to mean an incredible role as a visionary leader who brings a broad expanse of experience to the board room — in this case, the board room of Hanson Logistics in St. Joseph.
Marohn, who long ago retired from Whirlpool Corporation, has been made Chairman of the Board at Hanson Logistics, replacing the man whose name is on the door. Merlin Hanson, who had served as Chairman ever since he purchased the company nearly 30 years ago, becomes Chairman Emeritus and hands over the reins to Marohn who, himself, has been on the Hanson Logistics board for 14 years, the last two of which he was tabbed as Lead Director.
Merlin Hanson had held the Chairmanship all the way back to 1989, and while he was in command the St. Joseph-based company has grown to nine facilities and nearly 300 teammates.
Marohn brings a diverse background in boardsmanship to this role, having served on the Whirlpool Corporation Board of Directors for 6 years, the Rubbermaid Board of Directors for 5 years and the Newell /Rubbermaid Board of Directors for 12 years including serving as Chairman there, as well. Marohn also brings a wealth of community leadership experience as the Chair of the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation, and former Chair at Cornerstone Alliance among many other roles.
Merlin Hanson says “I am pleased to have Bill Marohn assume the board leadership of Hanson Logistics. I have known Bill for nearly 40 years. We share many of the same values and he is committed to the long-term success of Hanson Logistics.”
Merlin Hanson, who founded several companies that bear his name, previously owned Weldun International located in Bridgman. Under his leadership there, Weldun prospered from a tool and die shop of 3 people to a 3-division corporation of more than 500 people and achieved a national reputation in the areas of high technology equipment and factory-of-the-future automated assembly systems.
Bosch Corporation acquired Weldun International from Mr. Hanson, but he retained the former Weldun Mold Division, which is now located on Hollywood Road in St. Joseph, and operates as Hanson Mold.
News of Marohn’s elevation to the Chairman’s role follows news from last Friday that Ken Whah had been appointed Executive Vice President effective immediately.
Whah recently joined the company as the Chief Operating Officer and will continue those responsibilities in addition to his new role as EVP. Whah will add business development and engineering to his scope of accountability.
Jim Reits, the Interim President & CEO at Hanson Logistics says, “Ken has brought a unique skill set to Hanson Logistics as a member of our growing leadership team,” adding, “We are confident that his additional responsibilities will be well received by our teammates and clients alike.”
Prior to joining Hanson Logistics, Whah served as Director of North American Logistics Operations at Whirlpool Corporation where he oversaw 1,000 logistics associates and a network of 23 factory and regional distribution centers. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago, Booth School of Business, a Masters in Engineering from Purdue University, and a Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
