Heartland Technology Solutions Names Ex-IBM Exec As President

Heartland Technology Solutions named a longtime IBM leader with more than three decades of IT experience as its new president.

The Harlan, Iowa-based solution provider named Bob Gentzler to the post, tasking him with overseeing HTS' business processes and growth in seven regional locations across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

Gentzler praised HTS' support of the SMB and education community, and said the company is well-positioned to continue growing in both traditional managed services and leading-edge cloud solutions.

[RELATED: Heartland Technology Solutions Sold To WesTel Systems]

"It's a real privilege to join the leadership team of HTS, which has such a rich 30-year history, exceptional character and deep roots in the heartland," Gentzler said in a statement.

HTS veteran Connie Arentson, who has been president of the company since July 2009, will remain with the company as vice president of service and operations. She has been with the company since 1995, working initially in dispatching, field engineering and professional services.

Artenson said that she looks forward to working with Gentzler to grow the company.

"I am very excited Bob Gentzler is joining the HTS team," Artenson said in a statement. "He has a vast amount of knowledge."

HTS CEO Robert Gannon declined to comment for this story, while Gentzler and Artenson didn't immediately return requests for comment.

Gentzler spent 24 non-consecutive years at IBM, starting as a sales rep in 1984 and rising up the ranks to become senior state executive in Nebraska from January 2010 to June 2013.

In the latter role, Gentzler was responsible for employee engagement, community involvement, government relations and facilities in Nebraska, as well as services sales strategy and sales team enablement across Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota.

Gentzler also worked at Omaha, Neb.-based reseller MSI Systems Integrators from 1997 to 2002, spending the first three years as vice president of sales, operations and key clients and the second three years as company president.

MSI was acquired in November 2010 by San Antonio-based Sirius Computer Solutions, creating a $1 billion company that now ranks No. 28 on the CRN Solution Provider 500.

PUBLISHED FEB. 13, 2015