Behlen Manufacturing Co., headquartered in Columbus, Neb., recently announced that Tom Boal has accepted the role of company president.

“I am honored and grateful to be given the opportunity to become the president of Behlen, a position I will not take for granted,” Boal said in a news release. “My goal in leading Behlen is to build on the foundation and strategic direction to continue our great relationships resulting in helping customers grow, so we can grow.”

Boal began his career with Behlen in June 2018, when he served as president of the Behlen Building Systems division. He was elected to the Behlen board of directors in August.

According to the news release, Boal has proven to be a strategic and innovative leader who energizes his team. He has demonstrated the ability to create a vision and drive change through forward-thinking solutions, streamlining processes, improving quality and strengthening customer service.

In making this decision, Chairman Emeritus TR Raimondo noted, “Tom is a key member of our leadership team and success, and we are confident in selecting him as president of Behlen. Behlen culture is built on the foundation put in place through our Global Values and Basic Beliefs, which is important to our Partners in Progress [employees]. Tom supports maintaining this culture at Behlen.”

Boal earned his MBA from the Jack Welch Management Institute at Strayer University, graduating with honors as a Welch scholar. He has a bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering from Iowa State University.

Boal is slated to become chairman of the Metal Building Manufacturers Association board for 2022. He is a member of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, and the National Society of Professional Engineers.

In addition, a team of TR Raimondo and Lyle Burbach, senior vice president, now serve as Office of the CEO, while Tony Raimondo Jr., CEO of Hilton International Industries, serves as chairman of the board.

Behlen is a metal manufacturer with diverse business units, including Behlen Country, which manufactures livestock equipment; Behlen Building Systems; Trident Building Systems; Behlen International and Diversified Products; Behlen Technology and Manufacturing; Hilton International Industries; and BMC Transportation.

According to behlenmfg.com, the company was founded in 1936 by Walter D. Behlen in his Columbus garage. The company’s first products were steel toe caps for work shoes and clamps for wooden egg crates.

In 1950, Behlen broadened the company’s product line, offering grain bins and dryers, along with self-framing building systems known as S-Span. Behlen was sold to Wickes Corp. in 1969.

In 1982, TR Raimondo joined the company as general manager. After a major change in the grain industry in 1984, Raimondo led a management buyout and returned the company to local ownership that is still in place today.

Behlen Manufacturing Co. contributed to this article.