Don Shanklin has joined the rapidly growing Beckhoff USA team as Great Lakes District Sales Manager. Based in the Cleveland area, Shanklin will work to boost market share gains and increase sales from wide-ranging manufacturers and machine builder OEMs throughout Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and northern Kentucky. He will focus on strategic Beckhoff accounts and oversee the established local sales and applications engineering group’s development efforts. He reports to Midwest Region Manager Jake Schieffer.

A long-time automation industry professional, Shanklin has held key sales and application engineering positions, including successful runs at Caterpillar, Rexel Automation and Crescent Electric Supply Company. He spent 17 years at Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc., starting as Developmental Sales Engineer and eventually earning the title of Senior Director of Sales. Most recently, Shanklin served as Vice President of Sales for HTE Automation in St. Louis.

“Don has everything you look for in a sales and applications leader. He is an exciting addition, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Beckhoff USA team,” Schieffer says. “He is excited to join a world-class automation supplier that consistently innovates with leading-edge automation, motion control and mechatronic solutions. Don is in a great position to leverage his deep experience in sales process, team building and new customer development to help us grow.”

Shanklin earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Vermont.

About Beckhoff Automation

Beckhoff Automation is a provider of advanced and open automation solutions based upon proven technologies for customers to implement high performance control systems faster and at a lower overall cost than traditional PLC and motion control systems. Beckhoff’s “New Automation Technology” product range includes PC-based control, Industrial PCs, automation controllers, operator interfaces, I/O, servo drives and motors. With representation in more than 60 countries, Beckhoff is well-positioned to provide global sales and service to its customers. Beckhoff sales and service are handled directly, with no intermediaries involved for exceptional customer service and consultation