STIHL Inc. Names Stephen Ballenger Vice President of Operations

Words: Lindsy ShrewberrySTIHL Inc. is pleased to welcome Stephen Ballenger as the new vice president of operations in the U.S. Ballenger will be responsible for all production operations at the more than one million square foot corporate headquarters in Virginia Beach, VA where the company produces more than 275 models of handheld outdoor power equipment. His role will include directing manufacturing, engineering, materials and procurement, logistics, buildings, maintenance and quality assurance activities.

Ballenger brings more than 30 years of engineering and manufacturing expertise and leadership experience to STIHL, most recently serving as president of Light Vehicles USA for Metalsa in Elizabethtown, Ky. Previous leadership experience includes positions at Carl Zeiss, Hella and a 15-year career with Bosch North America.

“Stephen has the depth of knowledge and experience to lead our manufacturing operations here in Virginia Beach. His extensive background running large scale, modern manufacturing facilities in the U.S. make him a natural fit for STIHL,” said Bjoern Fischer, president of STIHL Inc. “We welcome him to STIHL Inc. and are confident he will continue to drive our business forward.”

“STIHL Inc. has an exceptional reputation for high quality, cutting edge technology and product performance, but it’s the people behind the products that really drew me to the company,” said Ballenger. “The passion and commitment of STIHL employees is clearly evident. I look forward to being a part of the team and continuing the tradition of excellence.”

Ballenger has a Master of Science in industrial management and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Clemson University.
Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Technical Talks
Read More
Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Dawn Rogers
Industry News
Read More
What Mason Contractors Don't Know Is Costing Them Money
July 2026

Most mason contractors can tell you exactly what a job should cost before it starts. Bid labor hours, material takeoffs, and crew rates per square foot. The numbers are on paper, and they look right. What most can't tell you is whether those numbers held

Erin Koets
Build Smart
MAP Partner
Read More
Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe

Erica Oliveraz
MAP Partner
Read More