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on Friday, June 4, 2021
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We’re pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Dufner as Director of Customer Solutions. As the Director of Customer Solutions, Dan will partner with our True North Team and lead the organization’s Aftermarket and Technology growth. Truly redefining our capabilities around technology adoption and ability to provide complete customer solutions across parts, service, and integrated solutions. Our focus on customer solutions as a company defines our viability as we move forward each day.
Dan has humble beginnings as a “farm boy” from Buxton, ND. He has a keen understanding of rural America, passion in agriculture and understanding of the needs as an organization and how we apply commonsense to our business model. Dan has a strong educational background and holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of North Dakota and an MBA from the University of Northern Iowa. His passions that began in his childhood include: antique John Deere tractors, vintage automobiles and tractor pulling (more than a passion). He also enjoys sharing these hobbies with his wife and four children.
Here is a snapshot on Dan’s Deere & Co. career path: Dan worked for Deere & Co. for 26 years. He began at John Deere in Waterloo supporting multiple tractor development programs, holding positions in product verification and validation (PV&V), manufacturing engineering, product engineering, product planning, and program management. In 2007, Dan moved to Tianjin, China, where he became Director of Engineering, leading the development of tractors and combines for Deere’s China market. He returned to the United States in 2010 as Manager of Product Development for harvesting products in Asia and led engine integration for worldwide combines. In 2012, he became Global Director, Hay & Forage Platform Engineering, where he led significant new product development in balers, mowers, and forage harvesters. Dan returned to Waterloo in 2016 as Global Manager, Large Tractor Engineering. In this position, he was integral in developing the Next Generation of 7R, 8R and 9R Tractors. In 2019, Dan became General Manager of John Deere Electronic Solutions, leading teams in Fargo, Mexico, and India to deliver components and software for Deere and OEM products.
John Oncken, CEO/Owner of True North Equipment, says, “As we look to the future and focus on Smart Growth, Innovation, Accelerated Capabilities and the pursuit of higher levels of Customer Satisfaction, this new director role is well positioned to continue our journey around Capability = Viability. I am truly excited to bring Dan Dufner into the True North Equipment family. Dan brings great energy, great vision and business experience to True North Equipment and he demonstrates a “Humble and Commonsense” leadership approach each day and this makes him highly qualified for this important Director role”.
Welcome to True North Equipment, Dan!
