IRVINE, Calif., – September 15, 2004 – Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. (TMHU), the leading lift truck supplier in the United States, today announced several key management changes. The following position changes have been made: Payman Shabbak promoted to strategic planning manager; Troy Kaiser appointed distribution services manager; Mike Cockrell appointed northeast territory manager; Jerry Clark hired as a national account manager; Bruce Marti promoted to customer support and service (CSS) and parts marketing manager; Luis Chaves appointed sales and product training manager; Elizabeth Agnew hired as a national account manager; and David Humphry promoted to national account/fleet sales support manager.

“Congratulations to these managers on their new positions,” said Dr. Shankar Basu, president and CEO of TMHU. “At TMHU we pride ourselves on our dedicated staff, whose performance has contributed to Toyota becoming the number one selling lift truck in the U.S.”

As manager of the strategic planning department, Payman Shabbak oversees long-term and short-term planning, economic forecasting, and strategic initiatives and communication with the Industrial Truck Association (ITA). Shabbak also is a member of the ITA statistic subcommittee. Before joining TMHU, Shabbak was a product manager for the Los Angeles Center of Commerce. Shabbak earned an engineering degree from Sharif University in Tehran, Iran and a master’s degree from University of California, Los Angeles. Payman and his wife Samira live in Carlsbad, Calif.

Troy Kaiser, who has been with Toyota for more than 13 years, has been appointed distribution services manager. In his new position, Kaiser oversees the distribution and sales administration department. During his tenure at Toyota Kaiser held various positions including territory parts and service manager, and in 1995 was named Territory Parts and Service Manager of the Year. Kaiser graduated from Pittsburg State University in Kansas where he studied automotive technology, concentrating in heavy equipment and agriculture. He resides in Seymour, Ind.

Michael Cockrell has been appointed territory manager of the Northeast region of the country. Cockrell oversees all sales activities for Toyota’s Northeast dealers. Previously, Michael spent 20 years with Mitsui Machinery Distribution in Bridgeport, N.J. and two years with L.I.F.T., Inc., the Toyota dealer headquartered in Lancaster Pa. He studied information systems at Winder University in West Chester, Pa., and business administration at Gloucester County College in Sewell, N.J. Cockrell and his wife Kathy have two sons, Michael Jr. and Gregory Steven, and live in Mullica Hill, N.J.

Jerry Clark has been hired as a national account manager for TMHU. His previous experience includes work for Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklifts America, GB Sales & Service Inc. and Crown Equipment Corp. Clark earned a Bachelor of Science degree from E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at Ohio University in Athens. He has a son, Jeremy, and resides in Mason, Ohio.

Bruce Marti has been appointed CSS and parts marketing manager. Throughout his 14 years with Toyota, Bruce has worked as CSS marketing administrator and territory parts and service manager, and has twice won the coveted Territory Parts and Service Manager of the Year award. In his new position, Marti is responsible for parts marketing, online customer service and support representative (CSSR) training, dealer aftermarket consultations and administration of CSSR excellence and leadership awards. He graduated from University of Wisconsin in River Falls, where he majored in business management and minored in economics. Bruce and his wife Alyssa live in Corona, Calif.

As the new sales and product training manager, Luis Chaves is responsible for managing TMHU’s sales and product training, developing sales and product training materials and programs, and competitive analysis and comparisons. He has been with Toyota for more than 14 years. Chaves graduated from University of Southern California and earned his MBA from University of Redlands in Calif. He lives in Torrance, Calif. with his wife Kelly and children, Andrew and Marisa.

Elizabeth Agnew has been hired as a national account manager to oversee customers in her territory that have more than 500 lift trucks in their fleets. Previously, Agnew was a territory sales representative for Colonial Lift Truck Company, a Toyota dealer located in King of Prussia, Pa. Agnew graduated from Pennsylvania State University and currently lives in Chester Springs, Pa.

David Humphry has been promoted to the position of national account/fleet sales support manager. Humphry has been with Toyota for 24 years in various capacities. His background extends from territory management and marketing research analysis to sales and business planning administration. His bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing was earned at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. Humphry currently resides in Torrance, Calif. with his wife Cheryl and children Nicole and Dawson.

TMHU is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and offers a full line of high-quality lift trucks sold under the Toyota brand. Built on a reputation for excellence, Toyota is known for its quality, reliability and durability. Most of the Toyota lift trucks sold in the United States are manufactured in Columbus, Ind.

Toyota's commitment to excellence in customer service extends nationwide. Seventy-one authorized Toyota Industrial Equipment dealers with a total of 185 dealership locations throughout the United States offer comprehensive customer service support, including one-stop shopping for both new and Certified Used lift trucks, parts, service and financing. For more information on TMHU, please visit www.toyotaforklift.com or call 1-800-226-0009.