Toppen shifts role as AirBoss shuffles management

NEWMARKET, Ontario—AirBoss of America Corp. is making some significant management changes as it prepares to enter 2015.

Tim Toppen, who has served as president for the last year, will become deputy chairman, according to Gren Schoch, chairman and CEO of the firm.

Lisa Swartzman will be promoted to president, replacing Toppen, and have overall responsibility for the company's businesses in rubber compounding, engineered products, defense and automotive parts.

Robert Dodd will become president of AirBoss Rubber Compounding and remains an executive vice president of the company.

Schoch said Toppen has brought invaluable experience to the firm during the last year—a transformative period for the company—and his new role will allow him to focus on special initiatives and key business relationships to continue building AirBoss.

“We are grateful to Tim and all of our business leaders for the contribution they have made to our growth in 2014,” Schoch said. “We congratulate Tim, Lisa, and Bob on their new responsibilities and look forward to continued growth in the immediate future and beyond.

Swartzman has 20 years of experience in manufacturing, distribution and retail with some of Canada's largest companies as well as with mid-market organizations in both the U.S. and Canada. She joined AirBoss in 2014 and has been involved in all aspects of its management.

Dodd has been managing the rubber compounding operation since 2006 and is responsible for successfully implementing lean manufacturing, margins enhancement strategies and diversifying the firm's customer base into new industries, Schoch said.