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January 27, 2003
(Seattle, Washington) – OT L.L.C. the maker of TWISTEP® a line of instant, multi-use steps for SUVs
and Pickup Trucks has announced the appointment of Ron Ahlegian as CEO of the
company.
Ahlegian brings over 20 years of entrepreneurial expertise and
consumer product and sales experience to OT. Most recently Ahlegian served on
the executive team of Optiva Corporation, building the Sonicare® sonic toothbrush into a national brand, Optiva into one of the
fastest growing private companies in the U.S. and paving the way for the
company’s acquisition by Philips. Prior to Optiva, Ahlegian led the growth in
professional sales for start up Thermoscan®, the ear
thermometer firm that was purchased by Braun/Gillette. Ahlegian’s background
also includes management experience at Dental Research Corp./Interplak®, maker of the first advanced power toothbrush, later acquired by
Bausch & Lomb Corporation. Ahlegian currently sits on the board of Advanced
Monitors Corporation, a medical technology company based in San
Diego.
“Ron has a significant track record in developing start-ups into
fast growing and profitable industry leaders” said Dan Knodle, president of OT
L.L.C. and the co-inventor of TWISTEP®.
“With the projected growth for TWISTEP®
this year, the expansion into new market segments, and the unveiling of
additional innovative new products, we’re eager to tap Ron’s considerable
experience and strong leadership to grow the company.”
Founded by
entrepreneurs Dan Knodle and Gary Bang, OT L.L.C. is a privately-held product
development company based in Seattle that specializes in the design, manufacture
and marketing of pet care, outdoor and auto-related products. The company’s
flagship product, TWISTEP®, is an
instant, multi-use step that provides better access to SUVs and Pickup Trucks.
For more information on OT and its product line, visit the company Web site at
www.TWISTEP.com.
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Jane
Mueller
Phone: 206.284.6830 Ext. 104
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Seattle Company OT L.L.C. Announces the Launch of Two New
TWISTEP® Models
Instant, Multi-Use Step for SUVs is now available for Class II hitch
- 1¼” receivers
July 31,
2002 (Seattle, Wash.) – OT L.L.C., a development company that specializes in the
innovative design and production of pet care, outdoor and auto-related products,
announced today the launch of two new models for the company’s flagship product
-- TWISTEP®, an instant, multi-use step
designed to provide better access to SUVs. These new models, (#415 and #425)
designed especially for Class II hitches – 1¼” receivers are now available at
retail, in catalogues and via Internet sites.
OT also announced today the
launch of two new TWISTEP® accessories.
A new locking bolt is now available as a theft deterrent device (Models #180 and
#181). For consumers who own Ford Explorers but do not have a hitch receiver,
TWISTEP® is introducing the Ford
Explorer Adapter (Model #150); a product designed to specifically carry the
TWISTEP®.
TWISTEP®, with its patent pending design, is an
instant, multi-use step that attaches to the hitch receiver of a Sports Utility
Vehicle (SUV) and stores under the bumper when not in use. TWISTEP® offers a sturdy platform to help people load
items on to their SUV rooftop, provides pets with a stair step for lower stress
access into a SUV, and serves as a seat at the back of the vehicle to don boots,
waders, roller blades or other sport gear. The original models, for Class III
hitches – 2” receivers (Model #410 and Model #420) hold 500 pounds and were
launched nationally in April 2002.
“We’re very happy to offer these new Class
II models so more SUV owners and their pets can enjoy the benefits of a
TWISTEP®,” stated Jane Mueller, VP of
sales & marketing for OT. Mueller continued, “With SUVs becoming more
popular, and with more SUVs coming from the factory with hitch receivers already
installed, it’s a great growth opportunity for OT.”
Like their Class III
predecessors, the new Class II models have a 20” x 16” steel platform with a
corrosion-resistant coating and a non-slip surface. The new Class II hitch
models hold up to 300 pounds. The entire unit weighs 18 pounds and TWISTEP® carries a 5-year warranty.
TWISTEP® was designed specifically for single hand
operation, allowing people to hold sport gear or a leash, while they deploy the
step. A “push in” of the safety latch, a “push down” and a “twist” of the
handgrip, swivels TWISTEP® into a choice
of four positions, making it convenient to reach cargo carriers or load canoes
or kayaks onto a SUV rooftop.
Dan Knodle, co-founder and president of OT
L.L.C., originally designed TWISTEP® to
help Orion, his German Shepherd suffering from joint problems, get into the back
cargo area of his Chevy Tahoe. “When my business partner Gary Bang and I
invented TWISTEP®, we knew there were
more dog owners out there who struggled with the same type of problem” Knodle
stated. “When we started showing people the product, we realized that
TWISTEP® solved a number of SUV access
problems; not only for dog owners but for outdoor enthusiasts and SUV owners who
needed a way to reach the rooftop of their SUVs or who needed a place to sit
when dealing with sport gear.”
When not in use, TWISTEP® pivots to store under the bumper, with
minimal effect on ground clearance. TWISTEP® is easy to install and attaches with a hitch
pin that, when removed, permits quick removal of the step, allowing users access
to their vehicle hitch for other purposes. The product has been designed with a
safety latch to ensure safe use and storage.
All four TWISTEP® models are available through retail, catalog
and Internet distribution, at a suggested MSRP of $179.95. Additional
information on TWISTEP® is available at
www.TWISTEP.com or by contacting TWISTEP® at 206.284.6830.
About OT
L.L.C.
OT L.L.C. is a privately held product development company that
specializes in the design and production of pet care, outdoor and auto-related
products including innovative step systems and accessories for Sport Utility
Vehicles (SUVs). Founded in 2000 by entrepreneurs Dan Knodle and Gary Bang, OT’s
products are designed to have a positive impact on the health and well being of
people and their pets. The company’s flagship product -- TWISTEP®, with it’s patent pending design, is an
instant multi-use step that provides better access to SUVs. OT’s products are
available at pet and outdoor retail stores, through catalogues and via Internet
sites. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, OT has production facilities in
Asia. For more information visit the company’s Website at www.TWISTEP.com or
contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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Jane
Mueller
Phone: 206.284.6830 Ext. 104
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Seattle Company OT L.L.C. Announces the National Launch of
TWISTEP®
Multi-Use Step Provides Better Access to
SUVs
Launch
Is in Time for Summer Driving Season
April 29, 2002 (Seattle, Wash.) – OT L.L.C., a development company
that specializes in the innovative design and production of pet care, outdoor
and auto-related products, announced today the national launch of the company’s
flagship product -- TWISTEP®, a
multi-use step designed to provide better access to SUVs. The product will be at
retail in May, prior to the Memorial Day holiday and the start of the summer
driving season.
TWISTEP® is an
instant, multi-use step that attaches to the hitch receiver of a Sports Utility
Vehicle (SUV) and stores under the bumper when not in use. TWISTEP® provides pets with a stair step for lower
stress access into a SUV, offers a sturdy platform to help people load items on
to their SUV rooftop, and serves as a seat at the back of the vehicle to don
boots, waders, roller blades or other sport gear.
Dan Knodle, co-founder of
OT LLC, originally designed TWISTEP® to
help Orion, his German Shepherd suffering from joint problems, get into the back
cargo area of his Chevy Tahoe. As Knodle and co-founder, Gary Bang, refined
their product idea, they quickly realized other dog owners with SUVs were
challenged by the same problem; was there an easier, less stressful way to get
pets into the back of a SUV?
According to Dr. Stuart Spencer, DVM of
Greenlake Veterinary Hospital in Seattle, “TWISTEP® is one of the most innovative and effective
pet products I’ve seen developed in years. In my tenure as a companion animal
veterinarian, I’ve seen numerous large and mid-sized dogs for back sprains,
arthritis and worst of all, spinal damage from slipped discs. All of these
problems can be aggravated or even caused by simple everyday activities like
jumping in and out of the back of SUVs or trucks. I am extremely excited about
the development of TWISTEP®… if all of
my clients with big dogs used this step, I’d see less dogs with arthritis
flare-ups and certainly less dogs with acute slipped discs. This is a product I
would use for my own yellow Lab!”
TWISTEP® is designed specifically for single hand
operation, allowing people to hold a leash or other sport gear, while they
deploy the step. A “push in” of the safety latch, a “push down” and a “twist” of
the hand grip, swivels TWISTEP® into a
choice of four 90-degree positions, making it convenient to reach cargo carriers
or load canoes or kayaks onto a SUV rooftop.
Installed on a Class III hitch –
2” receiver, TWISTEP® supports up to 500
pounds. It’s patent pending design consists of a welded 20” x 16” steel platform
with an anti-corrosive coating and a non-slip surface designed especially for
pets and people, and a column assembly that “twists” easily to deploy the step,
thereby giving the product it’s name. The entire unit weighs 18 pounds and
carries a 5-year warranty. When the TWISTEP® is not in use, it pivots to store under the
bumper, with minimal effect on ground clearance. TWISTEP® is easy to install and attaches with a hitch
pin that, when removed, permits quick removal of the step, allowing users access
to their vehicle hitch for other purposes. The product has been designed with a
safety latch to ensure safe use and storage.
TWISTEP® is currently available in two models – the
TWISTEP® 410 and the TWISTEP® 420. These two models combined are designed
to fit over 95% of the medium and large SUVs carrying factory installed or
aftermarket Class III hitches. The company expects to launch additional
TWISTEP® models for Class II hitch
vehicles later this year.
At a suggested MSRP of $179.99, TWISTEP® is now available through both catalog and
retail distribution. Additional product and sales information on TWISTEP® is available at www.TWISTEP.com or by contacting TWISTEP® at 206.284.6830.
About OT L.L.C.
OT
L.L.C. is a privately held product development company that specializes in the
design and production of pet care, outdoor and auto-related products including
innovative step systems and accessories for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
Founded in 2000 by entrepreneurs Gary Bang and Dan Knodle, OT’s products are
designed to have a positive impact on the health and well being of people and
their pets. The company has applied for a patent on the engineering design of
its flagship product -- TWISTEP®, an
instant multi-use step that provides better access to SUVs. The company’s
products are available in pet supply retail stores, as well as a number of pet
supply catalogs. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, OT has production
facilities located in Asia. For more information on OT and its product line,
visit the company’s Website at www.TWISTEP.com or contact
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
.com.
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