Lanter and Sutherland Named 2025 PTDA Foundation Award Recipients

The PTDA Foundation is pleased to announce the 2025 recipients of its industry awards. Lauren Lanter, co-CEO, B & D Industrial, has been named the Wendy B. McDonald 2025 Woman of the Year, and Jonah Sutherland, business development manager, Nord Drivesystems, is the recipient of the Robert K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award. Both honorees received their awards at the PTDA 2025 Industry Summit on October 24 in San Antonio.

Lauren Lanter Honored with Wendy B. McDonald 2025 Woman of the Year Award
The Wendy B. McDonald Woman of the Year Award recognizes a woman who has made significant contributions to her company’s success while driving meaningful impact across the power transmission and motion control (PT/MC) industry throughout her career.

Lauren Lanter played a key role in guiding B & D Industrial through organizational changes in 2024, supervising a team that oversaw the divestiture of the company’s Scale Systems business and the acquisition of American Gear. She also led the onboarding of 50 employees and managed the integration of B & D’s ERP system into the business. “I believe clear communication and teamwork are key when navigating big changes,” Lanter says. “Our goal was to make the transitions as seamless as possible for our employees and customers.”

In addition, she conducted the hiring of a new corporate controller to strengthen the company’s finance and accounting operations.

Lanter is active in several industry and community organizations. She serves on the Board of Directors for both the Bearings Specialists Association and the Georgia Mining Association and is a member of the Macon, Ga. Chamber of Commerce. She is also involved with Rotary International, where she supports community service initiatives and local development projects.

“Lauren is a results-driven leader who combines strategic insight with genuine care for her team,” said Bill Moore, Industrial Profit Strategies, LLC, who nominated her for the award. “Her leadership through major transitions truly sets her apart.”

Jonah Sutherland Receives Robert K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award

The Robert K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award recognizes individuals who have shown strong leadership potential and made significant contributions to the PT/MC industry early in their careers.

Since joining Nord Drivesystems four and a half years ago, Jonah Sutherland has generated strong sales results and earning him a promotion to lead business development for the Maxxdrive industrial gear units, a product line focused on heavy-industrial applications.

In this role, he has been a key contributor to Nord’s ongoing evolution and success and has worked closely with colleagues at all levels—including teams at the global headquarters in Germany. Known for his ambition and willingness to take on new challenges, Jonah also volunteers to mentor new sales engineers, boosting their knowledge and preparing them for critical customer-facing roles.

“I’m proud to support new talent and share what I’ve learned to help others succeed,” says Sutherland.

Committed to his own growth, Sutherland is currently pursuing a Foundations of Management certificate through the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Business School.

“Jonah continually pushes our organization to evolve and grow,” said JT Wubbolding, Nord Drivesystems, who nominated Sutherland for the award. “His professionalism, initiative and drive set a strong example for others.

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