• 2016 Sanitary Maintenance Distributor Choice Award Winner – HydroLink™ Battery Watering System
• 2015 Sanitary Maintenance Distributor Choice Award Winner – HydroLink™ Battery Watering System
• 2014 Intersolar India “Solar Projects” Award – Remote Telecom
• 2014 Genie “Outstanding Performance” Award
• 2013 Frost and Sullivan “Innovative Enterprise” Award
• 2012 Genie “Outstanding Performance” Award
• 2012 “Application Solar Project of the Year” Award – Solar Powered RuralStreet Lighting in Dubai, U.A.E.
• 2011 Golf Course Industry Magazine’s “Most Admired” Companies
• 2009 Southern California Edison Environmental Hero Award
• ISO 9001:2008 Certification for California and Georgia operations
• 2007 Best Overall Winner LLEAP Awards – Lift & Access Magazine
• Santa Fe Springs Exporter of the Year
• Los Angeles Business Journal President’s Award for Family-Owned Businesses

• Trojan Supplier Code of Conduct
• Anti-corruption Standards of Conduct

Since 1925

1960s

1952s

1980s

Rick Godber serves as chairman of the board for Trojan Battery Company. Godber joined Trojan in 1972 as warehouse manager where he began to develop his knowledge of the family business. Promoted to vice president of manufacturing in 1977, Godber acquired his expertise of battery manufacturing and expanded his knowledge of the industry. Godber was promoted to president and CEO in 1981, and held that role until 2013.

Key growth initiatives under Godber’s guidance has established Trojan Battery as the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries. These accomplishments include the expansion of manufacturing facilities from Trojan’s Ann. St. Calif. plant to Trojan’s current headquarters at Clark St. in Santa Fe Springs, Calif. He also oversaw the acquisition of Trojan’s Lithonia Ga. plant in 1988, and the opening of Trojan’s fourth production facility in Sandersville, Ga. In addition, Godber led the expansion strategy to create Trojan’s master distributor sales structure in North America.

Committed to the advancement of lead acid battery technology, Godber has participated as chairman on various Battery Council International (BCI) committees. He also has served as president of BCI from 1995 to 1997. Godber is a member of the World Presidents’ Organization, past chairman of the Orange County Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization, and a former board member and resident of Big Canyon Country Club.

Godber received his bachelor of science degree in finance from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Neil Thomas serves as president and chief executive officer for Trojan Battery Company. Thomas brings more than 25 years of broad global business experience to help solidify and expand Trojan’s strong leadership position in the deep-cycle, lead acid battery industry.

Thomas joined Trojan in 2018 following a successful career with Wayne Fueling Systems where he served as CEO, as well as in other executive management positions. During his tenure with Wayne Fueling Systems, Thomas was responsible for strategically repositioning Wayne as a technology company focused on retail fueling equipment and services. He has also held a series of marketing, planning and sales management roles in the petroleum and industrial equipment industries with industry-leading companies including Chevron Corp. and Dresser Inc. Earlier in his career, he was a strategic management consultant with Arthur D. Little in its Global Energy practice.

Thomas earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Wales and an MBA from Warwick Business School, both based in the United Kingdom.

As senior vice president and chief financial officer at Trojan Battery Company, Ed Dunlap is responsible for all aspects of Trojan Battery’s finance programs as well as lead the company’s finance, information technology and commodities strategies teams. He also will serve as a member of Trojan’s Executive Steering Committee.

Trojan’s global focus requires the ability to quickly establish Trojan in other parts of the world and to develop the structures and partnerships necessary to grow our business in every region. Dunlap plays a key role in helping to lead Trojan’s aggressive growth agenda both in the U.S., and more importantly internationally, as the company continues its expansion as a global energy solutions provider. His extensive background in international business, especially in developing markets, provides Trojan with valuable insight which supports the company’s market growth strategy.

Dunlap brings more than 30 years of experience to Trojan Battery, and has served in various finance and CFO roles for both private and publicly traded companies including BF Goodrich Tires, PepsiCo Inc., R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Gap Inc., Wild Oats Markets, Shaklee Co. and Exxel Outdoors.

Dunlap received an MBA from the University of Chicago and his bachelor’s degree from Reed College in Portland, Ore.

As senior vice president of operations, John Getty leads manufacturing operations for Trojan Battery Co. He is responsible for manufacturing operations, environmental health and services, as well as lean manufacturing initiatives for Trojan’s U.S.-based production facilities.

Getty brings more than 20 years of expertise in manufacturing excellence and will play a key role in Trojan’s market and product development expansion strategies. Prior to joining Trojan, Getty served as vice president of operations at Eaton Corp. managing its $1.6 billion Truck North America business. He was responsible for overseeing production at the company’s six plants which produce medium- and heavy-duty truck transmissions and clutches. During his tenure at Eaton, Getty also served as vice president and general manager for the Electrical Sensing and Controls Division of Eaton Aerospace.

Getty earned an MBA from Pepperdine University and a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Tom Cerovski serves as the senior vice president of global sales and business development for Trojan Battery Company. Cerovski brings more than 20 years of energy industry leadership experience in positions ranging from engineering, product management, sales, business development, and general business management. In his role, as well as managing the Company’s overall commercial organization, he also spearheads Trojan’s expansion into new geographic and end-use markets, especially with our latest products and energy storage solutions.

Prior to joining Trojan, Cerovski worked at Dover Fueling Solutions where he served as the vice president and general manager of the Dispenser Business Unit. Previously, he held executive leadership positions at Wayne Fueling Systems and General Electric.

Mr. Cerovski attended the United States Military Academy, Montana State University, Purdue University and The George Washington University and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and graduate degrees in both engineering and business administration.

Bryan Godber is senior vice president of corporate marketing and product management, and the fourth-generation of the Godber family to manage Trojan Battery Company. Godber is currently responsible for our corporate and strategic marketing functions, as well as product strategy and product management.

With more than 17 years of experience in the energy storage industry, Godber most recently served as Trojan’s senior vice president of global market development where he oversaw Trojan’s strategic growth markets and products.

Prior to this, he served as senior vice president of renewable energy and was responsible for launching and expanding the company’s presence into stationary markets.

Godber joined Trojan in 2001 and has held various roles throughout the business. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California where he earned his bachelor’s degree and MBA from the Marshall School of Business.

Yvonne Schroeder brings more than 20 years of legal experience to her role as Trojan Battery’s general counsel and secretary. Yvonne is responsible for managing all legal activities for the company and manages corporate compliance for Trojan Battery.

Yvonne brings a broad range of experience to her position including commercial transactions (national and international), corporate compliance, real estate, employment, intellectual property and litigation management. Prior to joining Trojan, she served as chief legal counsel for the HHI, a global manufacturer of home hardware products including the Baldwin, Kwikset, Stanley, and Pfister brands, and a division of Spectrum Brands, Inc. Yvonne also has served as general counsel for Mobilitie, LLC and Passco Companies, LLC, and has had lead in-house counsel roles both at Taco Bell and Fujitsu. As an entrepreneur, Yvonne provided legal services and business strategy advice for Miraloma Advisors counseling on foreign market entry, corporate financing, private equity and prospective operations. In addition, she has dedicated time to the Private-Public Partnership for Legal Reform in Afghanistan, a group comprising of law firms and the U.S. State Department dedicated to educating Afghan lawyers on the rule of law.

Yvonne earned her Juris doctor degree from American University, Washington College of Law, and a master’s degree in international law from Georgetown University both located in Washington, D.C. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Trinity College located in Washington, D.C.

Michael Everett serves as senior vice president of engineering at Trojan Battery Co. and oversees product development, research and development, process engineering, technical support and various other analytical responsibilities.

With more than 20 years of experience across various technology industries, Everett has held senior engineering positions with Maxwell Technologies, Inc., 3D Systems, Inc. and Industrial Tools, Inc.  Most recently, served as chief technical officer at Maxwell Technologies, Inc., and was responsible for the execution of the overall corporate research and technology strategy and product roadmap.

Everett earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in geology and zoology from the University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont.

Paul Claro serves as the vice president and general manager of Trojan Battery Sales, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Trojan Battery Company focused on battery sales and distribution in the southeastern U.S. He is responsible for all aspects of the business including 11 branches and distribution centers, as well as sales into the Caribbean region.

Claro possesses over 18 years of experience in industries ranging from product distribution, equipment manufacturing, industrial services and engineering. He has served as president, general manager, and vice president for several large multi-million dollar companies, including Argo Turboserve, Rexnord Industries, NUR Macroprinters, and Harsco Infrastructure, where he strategically built sales, streamlined operations and executed business development initiatives.

Claro is also a distinguished prior member of the U.S. Navy. He received dual bachelor’s degrees in Economics and Political Science from Drew University.

Distributors, building service contractors, and in-house service providers who attended ISSA / INTERCLEAN cast their ballots for the Best Customer Service Award, which was given to three companies with booths 300 square feet or less and three with booths greater than 400 square feet. Voters were asked to make their choices based on which company’s staff best met attendee needs, answered questions, or offered solutions when people visited their booths.

One of the largest tradeshows in the world, ISSA/INTERCLEAN North America features a wide range of resources related to the cleaning industry. ISSA and its tradeshow partner, Amsterdam RAI, produce ISSA / INTERCLEAN shows around the world, with an annual event each year in the United States, Amsterdam, etc.

Read the press release from ISSA’s website

Held annually, the Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Aerial Platforms (LLEAP) Awards aims to recognize products, accessories or design concepts that are considered innovative and/or have advanced the state of the lift and access industry.

“Trojan has been a supplier of the highest quality batteries for the aerial industry so far,” commented Lance Sullivan, the Fleet Product and Service Manager for Sunstate Equipment Company and one of this year’s LLEAP judges.”

“This new series of batteries sets them even more apart from their competitors.”

Read the entire article from Lift & Access Magazine Read Trojan Battery Press Release