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MASABA Management
Jerad Higman, President |
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Jerad graduated from the University of Nebraska
in 1995 with a degree in mechanical engineering. During his
university days he was fortunate enough to have played on one
of the really good Nebraska football teams where he even managed
to receive "All Academic Big 8" honors.
Upon graduation Jerad worked for several companies such as Stryker
Instruments and Andersen Consulting - all the while acquiring
the many different business and engineering skills he would eventually
put to use leading the troops here at MASABA.
Jerad has been instrumental in evolving MASABA to be not only
a leader in the Mining Equipment Industry, but has also set
a unique culture of employees dedicated to serving our customers
through continuous improvements in the design & manufacturing
of our wide array of products. This extraordinary culture
also makes MASABA one of the best places to work in the industry.
In Jerad’s free time he can be found spending time with his wife Peg, daughter Ava and most recent baby girl Morgan. |
Heath Johnson, VP, Marketing & Operations |
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Heath joined MASABA in October
2006 and manages Marketing & Operations. He graduated
from the University of South Dakota in 1994 with a degree in
Business Administration. Additionally, he attended the
Executive Education Program at the College of William & Mary,
specializing in Strategic Planning & Retail Management.
Prior to joining MASABA, he held the position of VP of Marketing
for RadioShack Corporation in Fort Worth, TX. Heath’s
role at RadioShack included managing Product Marketing for
new & existing product categories, Event Planning, Channel
Marketing as well as all forms of Media Strategy and Implementation.
Prior to RadioShack, Heath served as Director of Marketing & Product
Planning at Gateway Computers. Throughout over 10 years
at Gateway, he served in a variety of management roles, including
Product Development, Product Planning/Merchandising within
the Desktop Computer division, and Global Product Planning & Marketing.
He and his wife Amy live in Vermillion with their two children
Katie & Kyle. All four of them enjoy sports, sports,
and more sports. On Sunday afternoons, all four of them
can be found watching the Packers. |
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Jim Peterson, VP, Sales & Business Development |

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Jim Peterson joined MASABA in September 2008. He graduated from Marquette University with a BS in Business and holds a MBA from Mississippi State University.
Since 2002, he has owned and operated his own consulting firm with MASABA being one of his clients and also owns another small business.
From 1996 until 2001, he was President of Canica-Jaques Manufacturing company, the leading manufacturer of vertical shaft impact crushing solutions for the aggregate and mining industries. Prior to joining Canica-Jaques, he worked in senior management for a sawmill manufacturer, in the paper industry and for a mechanical contractor.
Jim and his family will be relocating to the South Dakota area. He and his family are big pro football fans. |
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Dave Olson, Inside Sales |
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Dave joined the MASABA team in
October of 2002. He has a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics
from the University of South Dakota. Dave is considered by
those in the know to be a “jack-of-all-trades” having
been a teacher, salesman, trucking logistics manager and now
back to sales. Dave’s knowledge of the conveyor,
crushing and screening market is superb making him an excellent
resource for our customers.
In his spare time, he can be found spending time with his wife
Angela. Dave is also an avid golfer and Minnesota Viking
fan. |
Gordy Johnson, Inside Sales |
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Gordy joined MASABA in October 2006, Gordy’s duties include project costing, sales quotes, and material management.
Prior to joining MASABA, Gordy worked at Amerikit Technology Solutions for 5 years, as the Warehouse/Production Manger. Prior to Amerikit he worked as a Program Manager for Gateway Computers for 8 years.
He and his wife Heather live in Akron, Iowa with their three children Tyler, Ashley, and Samantha. They spend a lot of their free time attending their kids school and sporting events. Gordy has also coached youth or high school baseball in Akron for the past 12 years. They are all big Minnesota Twins fans. |
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Scott Jacobs, Inside Sales |
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Scott joined the MASABA team in January of 2008. Scott’s primary focus is MASABA’s agricultural products: Sand Wagons, Corn Conveyors, and Grain Loaders.
Scott graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa. Before he started at MASABA, he worked as an Account Executive with Gateway Computers for 12 years managing several different territories across the US.
In his free time, Scott enjoys playing baseball for the Akron Rebels, coaching his son’s baseball and basketball teams, as well as spending time with his family. He has a wife Carissa, a son Nicholas, and a daughter Josie. |
Chad Brown, Inside Sales |
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Chad joined MASABA in June of 2006.
Chad’s duties include Equipment & Parts Sales, Trucking
Permits and Logistics, and Owner’s Manuals.
Chad graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from South
Dakota State University in 2003. Before he started at MASABA,
Chad worked at his family’s business in Akron.
In his free time, Chad enjoys snowmobiling, fishing, playing
baseball for the Akron Rebels, spending time with his wife
Melanie and son Thomas. Chad is also a die hard Vikings fan. |
Dean Rosenboom, Parts Sales |
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Dean graduated from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE with a Bachelors Degree in Industrial Technology.
Dean's responsibilities at MASABA include parts sales for the newly acquired Kolman product line. Dean worked for The Conveyor Company in Sibley, IA for over 11 years where he specialized in parts sales. While at Kolman, Dean was also very active in other areas of the business where he became fluent in the entire Kolman product line.
In Dean's spare time he enjoys spending time with his three children, Tyson, Halle, & Dawson. He also enjoys riding snowmobile in the winter and being on the golf course or on a dirt bike in the summer. |
Mic Ruhland, Quality Control & Service Manager |
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Mic joined the MASABA team in November
of 2005. Mic wears several hats within MASABA including
Equipment & Parts Sales, Quality Control, as well as Field
Support. Mic also joins our customers out in the field
for many initial equipment start ups.
Prior to joining MASABA, Mic was a loan officer at People’s
Bank in Akron, Iowa for approximately three years. Before
that Mic worked in the Agriculture industry where he worked
for Premier Swine in Hawarden, Iowa where he worked in Sales & Delivery.
In Mic’s spare time you can find him at a high school
sporting event or cruising on his Goldwing. Mic also
enjoys spending time with his three sons: Chad, his wife Angela
and their son Raiden; Gene, his wife Christina, their Daughter
Kendra and son Riley; as well as Trent who is currently attending
Morningside College where he studies Elementary Education and
plays football. |
Don Renken, Purchasing Manager |
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Don was raised in Akron, Iowa.
He attended Western Iowa Technical College and earned his degree
in Accounting. Don has worked over the years in Accounting,
Engineering, Operations, and Sales, including time with Sioux
Tools, and Winnebago Industries.
Don’s Accounting, and background in manufacturing, is
a huge benefit for MASABA’s. He and his wife Linda live
on an acreage near Wakonda, SD. They have four grown sons.
Don and his wife enjoy camping, Nascar, and naturally, time
with their grandchildren. |
Joyce Toben, Office Manager |
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Joyce, also know as the “Director
of First Impressions,” is focused on keeping the office
and staff at MASABA running smoothly. Joyce has over 15 years
experience in office administration.
In her free time, Joyce enjoys spending time with her husband
Russ and their two children Krystal and Tommy |
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