SAS Forks adds industry veteran as president

Luxemburg, Wisconsin-based SAS Forks has named Bruce Bacon, co-founder of hydraulic attachments manufacturer Genesis, as its new president.

According to a notice to customers, Bacon will report to Tenamec Inc. CEO Bill Van Sant. SAS Forks is one of three brands of Tenamec, along with Builtrite and Lemco.

“Bruce joins the SAS Forks organization after serving for over three decades as a successful leader in companies that serve key market niches that are also served by SAS Forks, including scrap processing, auto recycling and salvage, among others," Van Sant says.

Bacon held sales and marketing roles of increasing responsibility while he was with Minnesota-based attachments maker LaBounty from 1990-1997, working closely with founder Roy LaBounty, who he considered to be “a valued mentor and coach.”

Bacon then co-founded Genesis in 1998. That firm designs and makes excavator-mounted shears and grapples and other hydraulic attachments for the scrap and demolition markets. “During Bruce’s leadership at Genesis from 1998 through 2009, the company’s annual revenues grew to $66.5 million,” Van Sant says, adding Genesis continues to be a market leader.

In 2009, Bacon also co-founded wheeled material handler products maker Exodus Machines, which eventually reached an alliance with global equipment maker Caterpillar Inc.

“One of Bruce’s valued success factors throughout his career is the personable and dedicated manner in which he is engaged, develops, mentors and supports each employee of the organizations he leads,” Van Sant says. “I was associated with Bruce when he led Genesis, and his employee-oriented practices were apparent from the first day of our association.”

Van Sant says Bacon’s “customer-first” philosophy is closely aligned with the priority goal that each of SAS Forks’ employee supports.