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Our Team

Howdy! Meet our crew of experienced professionals, adept at finding the right solution for your needs, no matter the application.

Approtec Ran-Le Team

Five states, four regional offices, seven sales rep with a combined 200 years of in-house expertise – we got you covered.

 

 

 

 

Our Goal

Approtec Ran-Le offers solutions to material handling needs. For close to 50 years, we have been specializing in magnetics, vibratory feeders and metal detection applications, along with dedusting, size reduction, container loading and unloading, pneumatic conveying, and environmental pollution control with cyclone and filtration systems. Approtec Ran-Le has over 200 years of combined in-house experience working with customers to provide engineered and technical solutions. We pride ourselves in working with you, in your plants, to develop successful long term relationships.

Supported by North American based manufacturing, our principals provide systems, components and replacement parts, and state-of-the-art test facilities.

Providing Solutions

Our success is based on understanding our customers’ needs. That’s it. We make it our business to be involved from concept to completion and provide the best solutions available. With in-house engineering capabilities, we strive to make it easy for our customers to do business with Approtec Ran-Le.


 

The Crew

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Tony Kniffen
Houston

Tony, a sales rep for Approtec Ran-Le since 2005 and co-owner of Approtec Ran-Le since May 2010, is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Tony began working in the material handling industry in design and manufacturing of pneumatic conveying equipment. He continued his interest in pneumatic conveying working in Sales for the largest pneumatic conveying company in the world. With a strong background in the polyolefin’s industry, his expertise also includes mechanical conveying, separation, and much more.  The only thing Tony enjoys more than spending time with his family, is working.

Based out of the Houston office, Tony combines industry knowledge and  experience to solve your processing problems.

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Brian Vandenberg
Houston

Brian, a sales rep for Approtec Ran-Le since 2005 and co-owner of Approtec Ran-Le since May 2010, has over 20 years of material handling experience in plastic, chemical, food, cement, and many other industries. He worked for material handling manufacturers in component and project engineering after earning his degree in Aerospace Engineering from Texas A&M. Brian became Regional Sales Manager for a material handling/extrusion manufacturer shortly after moving into Sales. Besides getting up on a silo, there is nothing Brian enjoys more than hunting, jogging, and AutoCAD.

Providing excellent customer service and technical expertise, Brian continues to represent Approtec in Houston and surrounding areas.

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Jim Treske
Dallas

Jim has over 40 years of industry experience since earning his Marketing Degree from UW Wisconsin. He has held technical sales positions related to dry and liquid bulk handling and magnetic separation. Since joining Approtec Ran-Le in 1991, he has gained expertise in the carbon black, plastics, cement, food, gypsum, and pollution control industries. The only thing that Jim adores more than music is his beautiful wife Jane.

Based in our Dallas-Fort Worth office, Jim supports our Northern Texas and Oklahoma customers.

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Scott Treske
Dallas

Scott has been part of the Approtec Ran-Le Team since 2007 and has gathered significant experience in Bulk Solids Handling and Processing over a wide variety of applications and industries. He has schooling in both Mechanical Engineering and Marketing, ultimately graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington. A gentleman adventurer with 4 perfect kiddos, Scott has been blessed with a very patient wife.

Covering the Eastern half of Oklahoma, Northeastern portion of Texas, and all of Arkansas, Scott provides proven recommendations, no matter the application.

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Josh Graves
San Antonio

Josh joined the Approtec Ran-Le team in 2012. He’s since worked his way up from Inside Sales Manager to Outside Territory Manager for San Antonio and western Louisiana. Based out of our Houston office, Josh provides technical expertise to our clients in plastics, cement, food, gypsum, and pollution control industries. A weapons and coffee connoisseur, Josh enjoys working on new & challenging applications, and whittling wooden spoons.

With a track record of delivering timely solutions, Josh combines wit and charm to ensure that our customers always receive exceptional service.

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David Kennedy
Baton Rouge

David has over 35 years of industry experience working in the material handing business, both a representative and inside sales positions. David has specialized in selling bulk containers, discharging system, filling system, and mixers for major manufacturing principals during his career. David has joined us from Wilson Dry Solids where he has worked for the past 9 years covering Louisiana and Mississippi territories. His customer base includes industries in wood, plastics, food, gypsum, and chemical industries. David is a Yankee baseball devotee who enjoys working out, golf, and a good Cajun meal with his wife, Jan.

Based in our Baton Rouge office, David supports our Louisiana and Mississippi customers.

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Todd Wilson
Houston

Todd joined the Approtec Team in 2017 after 27 years’ experience with Wilson Dry Solids as a solids process and sales engineer. He is degreed in Marketing and Industrial Engineering from Texas State University and is a specialist in continuous and batch weigh feeding, bulk bag handling, dust collection, pneumatic and mechanical conveying. When he’s not playing around with bulk solids, he’s usually fishing, hunting, golfing, gardening or building guitars and fine furniture in his “saw shop”.

Todd is based out of the Houston office to provide solutions for your solids handling and process challenges.

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Rhett Hunt
Houston

Rhett joined Approtec Ran-Le team in 2015 and has since worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Besides managing IT & Operations, he provides technical sales assistance for level switches and measurement systems. Juggling Inside sales, network administration, and rebooting devices until they start working again – he does it all and makes it look easy. When not hard at work, Rhett can be found playing around with his Pi-hole.

Located at our Houston office, Rhett is just a phone call away whenever you need any assistance.

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Adi Sinha
Houston

Adi joined the Approtec team in 2016. Working out of the Houston office, she manages digital marketing, database development, and SharePoint administration. Apart from developing and maintaining this website, she is also responsible for sending out weekly TPS reports. While not hard at work, Adi likes to ponder the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

With decades of experience in being awesome, Adi provides pretty brochures, witticisms, and keen insight.

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Joshua "CJ" Harrison
Houston

An all-star multitasker, CJ is the latest addition to the Approtec team. From wrangling admin chaos to mastering the art of shipping, CJ does it all with a smile.  Currently pursuing a B.Sc. in Science & Dentistry, CJ is passionate about Calculus, baseball, and music. A skilled viola player in the concert orchestra, he earned a remarkable top 5 ranking in the state. Off-duty, CJ jams to tunes, both making and breaking them, while perfecting his golf swing and flexing those exercise muscles.

CJ brings a whole lot of awesome to the team and we are excited to have him on board!

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Amy Moore-Lenert

Amy joined Ran-Le Associates in 1990 as an office assistant and was promoted to Office Manager in 1992. With almost 30 years of office & bookkeeping experience, Amy has been an invaluable member of the Approtec Ran-Le team since 2005. Working remotely from Kansas City, Amy handles all AR/AP and payroll for Approtec. When not helping the sales team with tracking orders, Amy can be found reading, traveling, or spending time with her 13 grandchildren.

For any questions related to commissions or payroll, Amy is your gal.

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Christine Whittier

Chris joined the team in 2023 and the crew is delighted to have her on board! She brings over 35 years of experience working as an inside sales administrator and purchasing agent for both rep offices & manufacturers in the bulk material handling industry. As inside sales, she supports all Approtec regional offices. Outside of work, Chris is passionate about geology and can be found at geological sites, rock shows, or chasing eclipses.

Contact Chris if you require sales assistance, or would like to trade stories about rock collections with the most sedimental value.

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Baxter
Chief Security Officer

Baxter joined the Approtec team in 2018 as Patrol Officer, and has since worked his way up to Chief Security Officer. Working out of the Houston office, he has specialized in ‘leave it’ and ‘rollover.’ When not hard at work, Officer Baxter enjoys getting pets and butt scratches. He is passionate about tugging, chasing squirrels, and hunting with his dad.

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Kai
Surveillance officer

Kai joined the Approtec team in 2020 and currently serves as the Surveillance Officer at the Houston office. With expertise in scent tracking and barking the alarm, we are excited to have this young up & pupper join the team. While not patrolling at the office, Officer Kai loves dock diving, chasing squirrels, and canine wrestling.