Tanknology Inc. has announced that J. Richard Schnabel, the company’s Executive Vice President of Sales, will be retiring at the end of this month.
Schnabel is a 40-year petroleum industry veteran, with experience encompassing dispensers, point of sale (POS) systems, general petroleum equipment, construction services and environmental compliance services. He has worked in senior sales management at Tanknology for the past 20 years.
“It is hard to put into words how much we will miss Richard, both within Tanknology and in our industry,” said Allen Porter, Tanknology’s President and CEO. “He has had extraordinary impact on our company over the past 20 years. As an unfailing advocate or our customers, there is no doubt he has made us a better company.
“All of us, his co-workers at Tanknology, his loyal customers throughout the country and his colleagues in the broader petroleum industry, will miss working with Richard. He has earned our deep respect and our friendship, which will live on for many years to come.”
Schnabel’s first roles in the industry were with Tokheim Corp., where he spent 15 years in total. Beginning in 1987, he served as Eastern District, then Eastern Region Manager before becoming Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Tokheim’s Financial Card Systems Inc., and then President of Sunbelt Petroleum. Post-Tokheim, he then spent three years as President of Tennessee Petroleum Equipment Co., and five years directing sales at Omega Environmental.
Schnabel’s roles at Tanknology over the past 20 years evolved from running the company’s construction services subsidiary to ultimately directing sales efforts as Executive Vice President of Sales.
Commenting on his 40-year career in the petroleum equipment services industry, Schnabel said, “It has been such an exciting industry to be a part of for these past 40 years. The advances in technology and the development and evolution of regulatory requirements have made it an enjoyable, fast-paced business to be a part of. I’ve worked with so many great people over the years, many of whom remain close personal friends. I will miss this business and all the wonderful people I’ve had the good fortune to work with.”
While Schnabel will continue with the company for the foreseeable future as a part-time consultant, his last official day with Tanknology will be May 26. An avid and accomplished race car driver, currently with his 1974 Fiat 124 Spider, Schnabel will likely be found enjoying his retirement in vintage national races throughout the eastern United States.
