New chair for IPAF's North America Regional Council

Ebbe Christensen

The North America Regional Council (NARC) of the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) has selected Ebbe Christensen of ReachMaster to succeed Teresa Kee of United Rentals as Chair of the Council at its most recent meeting in Florida, USA.

The NARC met on March 7 2018 ahead of the IPAF Summit & IAPAs in Miami, where the appointment of the new chair was confirmed. The meeting also introduced new council members Jeff Stachowaik of Sunbelt Rentals, Forrest Hester of Tutus and Matthew Eckstine of Haulotte, and the council extended its appreciation to Teresa Kee for her leadership and energy in supporting IPAF’s goals during her term.   

Tony Groat, IPAF’s North America General Manager who convenes the IPAF NARC, said: “The North America Regional Council is very active and engages rigorously with the issues affecting powered access in Canada and the USA. The council has gone from strength-to-strength under the leadership of Teresa Kee, playing a key hand in advising on new standards and delivering advice on safety, technical and training matters for IPAF’s growing membership across the region.

“Teresa’s unstinting energy and enthusiasm has been invaluable throughout this period, and we are grateful she is staying on as a member of the council to give the wisdom of her experience and to participate in the numerous working groups as the council continues to pursue its aims and objectives.

“We are also very pleased to welcome Ebbe as our new chair; he is a long-time supporter of IPAF and a fierce advocate of safety and training best practice; he will undoubtedly continue to be a force for good and an agent of change in the North American powered access industry as he takes up his new role.”

Ebbe Christensen added: “I’d firstly like to personally thank Teresa Kee for her excellent stewardship during her time as chair, and I look forward to continuing to work with her on this council and in its various working groups. We also hope to be able to count on her input and ideas as we plan the next meeting and annual IPAF North America members’ event in Houston, TX, in October.

“I am very excited by the opportunities posed by new industry standards being published and work that the council has committed to. It is a privilege to be on this council and I want to ask for my fellow council members’ continued commitment to develop and implement the goals and initiatives we have created together.”  

For more details about IPAF’s country and regional councils please visit www.ipaf.org or to find out more information about upcoming IPAF meetings and events near you please see www.ipaf.org/events.

Other news you might be interested in

  • The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) announces the launch of its Global Safety Campaign for 2024, titled "CRUSHING CAN KILL!" The third Global Safety Campaign released during IPAF Head of Safety and Technical Brian Parker’s tenure aims to raise awareness and reduce entrapment and crushing incidents involving Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs), which have resulted in numerous fatalities and injuries over the past decade.

  • The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) proudly announces the release of its Annual Report for the year 2023, encapsulating a year of remarkable achievements and substantial growth across various sectors of the powered access industry. This comprehensive report provides insights into IPAF's activities, key initiatives, and statistical highlights, showcasing its unwavering commitment to safety, innovation, and industry excellence.

  • On International Women's Day 2024, the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) proudly announces the inclusion of three exceptional representatives on both the prestigious Women in Trade Associations Outstanding Member Contribution list and the Women in Trade Associations Powerlist 2024. Karin Godenhielm, IPAF's President and Managing Director of Dinolift, and Julie Houston Smyth, IPAF Board member and Director of LOLEX Ltd, were both recognised on the 2024 WiTA Outstanding Member Contribution list. Jo Power, Head of Membership and Communications, received acknowledgement on the 2024 WiTA Powerlist for her outstanding contributions.