Leadership and Vision

Leadership

BendPak's leaders are dedicated to the unified vision of the company. In other words, they work together—five days a week or more—to ensure the company's ideals and processes are being upheld and executed to the highest degree. Often the first persons in the complex to arrive and the last to leave, BendPak’s executive managers truly lead by example. Each has a unique background and extensive experience within the company. By leading with the best, BendPak will always be the best.

Z-220712_BendPak_278 EDITED 2.jpg

Left to right: Rudy Diaz, Jeff Kritzer, Don Henthorn, Jim Fornear, Javier Arias

Led by Jeff Kritzer, President and CEO, our executive team thrives through innovation and expansion. Whether that means coordinating a new marketing strategy to reach new audiences, physically expanding our grounds to expedite shipping and receiving or engineering new products to bring to market, positive direction needs to start at the top. Their infectious enthusiasm of our leaders trickles down to the rest of the staff.

In Memoriam: Don Henthorn (1938 – 2024)

Don Henthorn started BendPak in 1965 with a single milling machine and an outsized vision: build equipment mechanics can trust with their lives. Six decades later, every lift that leaves our factories still carries his signature insistence on safety, durability, and no‑nonsense engineering.

Don passed away peacefully on March 28, 2024, at home with his wife, Ginger, by his side. His influence lives on in the culture he shaped—straight talk, relentless improvement, and respect for the people who use our products every day.

We honor Don by doing what he taught us: keep raising the bar. That means smarter designs, tougher lifts, and customer support that picks up on the first ring.

A Word From Our Founder

Jeff Kritzer

President / CEO

Jeff is a multi-talented force in the office. He’s been here for over 35 years and knows the industry inside and out. Equally dexterous as an inventor, marketer and mechanic, Jeff drives the creative end around here without ego. On November 4, 2019, Jeff was elected chairman of the Board of Directors at the Automotive Lift Institute.

Rudy Diaz

Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Rudy heads our IT department and keeps all our servers and systems updated and secure. He’s the guardian of many schematics and patented trade secrets. Under his watch, we’re kept safe from the growing cyber threats that plague other companies around the world.

Javier Arias

Vice President of Operations

Javier has been integral to BendPak for over 35 years, and he heads operations at our home base facilities in Santa Paula. This is no easy feat, as there’s always a hundred-and-one things happening at once. He sets up the procedures for which inbound and outbound materials are accounted for and properly handled until delivery.

Jim Fornear

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Jim Fornear will oversee the company’s financial operations and corporate development, helping to guide BendPak through its next stage of growth. Jim has over 30 years’ experience in positions ranging from internal auditor, to controller, to CFO in both public and private companies.