Western Star names Larochelle as vice-president of manufacturing

KELOWNA, B.C. (March 8, 2000) — Western Star Trucks, amid the most significant production expansion in its history, named Wayne Larochelle as vice-president of manufacturing and operations. Larochelle has been with Western Star Trucks since early 1987 and has held a variety of management positions.

The companyÕs North American production more than doubled with the opening of a 330,000-square-foot plant located in North Charleston, S.C., late last year. Western Star Trucks’ current 230,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, in Kelowna, B.C., will be replaced by a new world-class complex which is scheduled to begin operation in early 2001.

The truck manufacturer also appointed Mark Gobessi, P. Eng., as vice-president of engineering. Gobessi joined Western Star Trucks in 1994 as the engineering projects manager. Since then, he has held the positions of cab systems engineer, chief engineer, and most recently, director of engineering.