Maxim Crane Works L.P., the world’s largest crane rental company, announced the retirement of Chief Executive Officer Bryan Carlisle. Carlisle has worked for Maxim and its predecessor companies for more than 45 years and will continue to serve as a member of the company’s board of directors. Chief Operating Officer Frank Bardonaro also has departed Maxim to pursue other opportunities.
Michael Kneeland, the Chairman of the Maxim Board and former President and CEO of United Rentals, will continue in his role. Maxim has formed an interim Office of the CEO to provide ongoing leadership and oversight of day-to-day operations while the Company conducts a search for a new CEO. The Office of the CEO comprises Sean Collopy, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; Don Goebel, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Tax Officer; and Larry Lis, Vice President of the Midwest Region.
“On behalf of the entire Board and Maxim organization, I want to thank Bryan for his many contributions over more than four decades with the Company and its predecessors,” said Kneeland. “Maxim has grown into the largest crane rental company in the world, and we believe we are well positioned for the future. We appreciate Bryan’s continued leadership and are grateful to benefit from his ongoing contributions as a member of our Board.”
Kneeland added, “The formation of the Office of the CEO will allow Sean, Don and Larry to continue to execute on the company’s strategic priorities and deliver superior service to customers during the CEO search. We are pleased to have executives of their caliber take on these added responsibilities, and we are confident that our customers and employees are in capable hands leading Maxim forward. The Board is already working actively to identify the best CEO for Maxim to enhance our market leadership. We look forward to appointing a strong leader who will leverage the Company’s broad footprint and multitude of capabilities to continue providing the most modern and capable equipment to meet the needs of our growing customer base.”
“Leading Maxim’s talented and best-in-class team for the past seven years has been the highlight of my career,” said Carlisle. “I am incredibly proud of Maxim’s employees, who work tirelessly every day to provide unparalleled products and services to our customers, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work alongside this team to transform Maxim into the national market leader it is today. After more than 45 years at Maxim and in the crane industry, this is the right time to transition to the next generation of leaders. Maxim’s future is bright and I look forward to working with the rest of the Board and following Maxim’s continued success as the Company executes on its long-term value creation plan.”
Sean Collopy
Collopy has 24 years of finance leadership experience and joined Maxim as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer in April 2021. He previously worked for GE Aviation for 16 years, including serving as CFO of Global Supply Chain, CFO of Military Systems, CFO of Global Engineering, and CFO of Mechanical Systems. Prior to GE Aviation, he served in finance and leadership roles at Delta Air Lines and Comair. He has a B.S.B.A. in accounting from Xavier University and is a graduate of GE’s Experienced Financial Leadership Program (EFLP).
Don Goebel
Goebel has 30 years of diverse legal, business, insurance, tax and financial experience across a range of industries, including the last 18 years at Maxim. He oversees the Company’s legal and tax departments as well as Maxim’s insurance and risk management function and provides administrative support for all operational and administrative personnel across the organization. Prior to becoming the Chief Legal Officer and Chief Tax Officer in 2014, he served as Vice President and General Counsel from 2005 through 2013, and Associate Legal and Tax Counsel from 2003 to 2005. Prior to joining Maxim in 2003, Mr. Goebel was a partner in a large, regional law firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and prior to his law firm tenure, he was a tax manager for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. He has a B.A. in economics and political science from the University of Pittsburgh, a J.D. from the Ohio Northern University Pettit College of Law and an LL.M. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
Larry Lis
Lis has nearly 30 years of sales and operations experience in the construction industry, including 23 years at Maxim. Prior to becoming Vice President of the Midwest Region in 2016, he served in various senior leadership roles, including as Vice President of the Northeast Region from 2012 to 2016, where he managed the regional, crane, and aerial lift platform divisions. Prior to joining Maxim in 1999, Mr. Lis worked for A.C. Dellovade, Inc. He attended the University of Akron.