BRANDON, S.D., Feb. 21, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently launched in 2014, Spartan ERV (Emergency Response Vehicles), a business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR ), debuted its "Forged by Fire" marketing campaign to celebrate the firefighter and the many untold stories from the front line. Known throughout the industry for its commitment to firefighters, Spartan ERV is honoring those individuals that have influenced their communities.
"The Forged by Fire campaign celebrates the firefighter by sharing their many stories of heroism, bravery, dedication and tradition. Collecting the many stories and providing a platform to share them is a role we are honored to play," said Russell Chick, Spartan Motors, Corporate Director of Marketing. "This campaign and our digital platforms will enable new connections and productive conversations within the firefighting community. It is a marketer's dream. It is rare that we have the opportunity to develop a campaign which is all about our customers and the many admirable and moving stories they have. Spartan ERV continues to have a robust product story to tell. That will be achieved through a separate campaign running concurrently."
Over the next year, Spartan ERV will accept nominations for individuals who have been Forged by Fire. Spartan ERV and its dealer network are connecting with firefighters and industry personnel to encourage them to participate by submitting their stories. The company looks to honor those that have been Forged by Fire and let the stories be told – real people transformed through tradition, generation, sacrifice, bravery and performance.
Whether you are a doctor by day who was called into battle on 9/11, or a teacher who received an 8 p.m. alarm to find a student's family in trouble, there are individuals with stories yet to be told and Spartan ERV wants to hear your perspective on the experiences that have forged you into a first responder. In addition to recognizing these individuals, Spartan ERV will also be awarding $5,000 to two individuals who receive the most votes online during the course of the campaign.
As the campaign was developed, the Spartan marketing team was reminded of the remarkable humility found in the fabric of the firefighter. Many of the firefighters interviewed were apprehensive to talk about their stories. The Forged by Fire campaign addresses this by offering two options to submit a Forged by Fire story. They can submit directly on the campaign landing page, or nominate a friend or coworker by visiting http://www.SpartanERV.com/ForgedbyFire . Select nominees may have their story featured in the company's next print advertisement. The first round of public voting is slated to begin online in March.
About Spartan ERV
Spartan ERV™ is a leading manufacturer of custom fire trucks and other rescue vehicles. A business unit of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR ), Spartan ERV™ is committed to quality, performance and innovation. Drawing on more than 130 years of excellence in fire truck manufacturing, Spartan ERV™ manufactures a full line of pumpers, tankers, rescues, aerials, quick-attack/urban interface vehicles and other emergency-rescue vehicles from its facilities in Florida, Pennsylvania and South Dakota. For more information, visit www.spartanerv.com .
About Spartan Motors
Spartan Motors, Inc. designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle (RV), emergency response, government services, defense, and delivery and service markets. The Company's brand names – Spartan™, Spartan Chassis™, Spartan ER™, Spartan ERV™ and Utilimaster® - are known for quality, performance, service and first-to-market innovation. The Company employs approximately 1,700 associates at facilities in Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Indiana, and Florida. Spartan reported sales of $470 million in 2013 and is focused on becoming a global leader in the design, engineering and manufacture of specialty vehicles and chassis. Visit Spartan Motors at www.spartanmotors.com .
This release contains several forward-looking statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning our business, strategic position, financial strength, future plans, objectives, and the performance of our products. These statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "potential," "future," "may," "will," "should," and similar expressions regarding future expectations. These forward-looking statements involve various known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict with regard to timing, extent, and likelihood. Therefore, actual performance and results may materially differ from what may be expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to these differences include operational and other complications that may arise affecting the implementation of our plans and business objectives; continued pressures caused by economic conditions and the pace and extent of the economic recovery; challenges that may arise in connection with the integration of new businesses or assets we acquire or the disposition of assets; issues unique to government contracting, such as competitive bidding processes, qualification requirements, and delays or changes in funding; disruptions within our dealer network; changes in our relationships with major customers, suppliers, or other business partners, including Isuzu; changes in the demand or supply of products within our markets or raw materials needed to manufacture those products; and changes in laws and regulations affecting our business. Other factors that could affect outcomes are set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which are available at www.sec.gov or our website. All forward-looking statements in this release are qualified by this paragraph. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements in this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Russell T. Chick Corporate Director of Marketing Spartan Motors, Inc. 517.997.3852
