From sales and marketing to bringing innovative products to market, Mike Pettigrew has helped shape VMAC’s journey for over a quarter-century.
At VMAC, our success has always been about more than innovative mobile air compressors. It’s about the dedicated people who have helped build the company, strengthen customer relationships, and bring new ideas to life. This year, we are celebrating a remarkable milestone for one of those people: Mike Pettigrew, VMAC’s Marketing Manager, who is celebrating 26 years with the company!
Since joining VMAC in late 2000, Mike has held several positions across sales, engineering, and marketing, gaining firsthand experience with VMAC’s products, customers, dealers, and the industries they serve. Over the past quarter-century, Mike has helped introduce numerous product innovations to market, supported VMAC’s growing sales and dealer network, and played an important role in communicating the company’s evolution into a recognized global leader in mobile compressed air.
Jomo Green, VP of Sales & Marketing for VMAC shared how important Mike has been to VMAC’s growth and innovation. “Twenty-six years is an incredible milestone, and Mike’s contributions over that time have been significant. Having worked across both sales and marketing, he brings a valuable understanding of our products, our customers, and the industry. His experience has helped strengthen VMAC’s market presence and support our growth over the years. We’re fortunate to have that level of knowledge and dedication on our team.”
26 Years of Growth, Experience, and Dedication
When Mike joined VMAC in late 2000, the company was beginning a period of significant growth. Since then, VMAC has expanded its product lines, developed new technologies, entered additional markets, and established relationships with customers and dealers around the world.
Throughout his career, Mike has brought valuable experience from his various roles, developing an understanding of what customers need and how VMAC’s products can help them work more efficiently. His experience has also given him a unique perspective on the company’s history, having witnessed firsthand the evolution of the mobile compressed air industry and the many innovations that have helped shape it.
Over the years, Mike has contributed to many important milestones in VMAC’s growth. In 2010, he became the self-proclaimed “PREDAGURU,” focusing on the growth of the PREDATAIR hydraulic air compressor product line. He was also part of VMAC’s evolution as a brand, including the 2018 rebrand to “AIR INNOVATED”. In 2019, VMAC was named one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies by Deloitte and earned Great Place to Work certification from Great Place to Work Canada. Further milestones included the 2022 Export Plan of the Year Award recognition through World Trade Centre Vancouver and Mike’s completion of a Marketing Strategy Certificate from Cornell University in 2023. In 2024, another significant brand milestone was celebrated when VMAC announced the registered trademark for UNDERHOOD®.
Today, as Marketing Manager, he continues to support VMAC’s communications, brand development, product marketing, and industry relationships.
Helping Bring VMAC Innovations to Market
Over the past 26 years, Mike has been involved in the development and market introduction of numerous VMAC product innovations, working alongside sales, engineering, product development, and other teams to help bring new technologies to customers.
Mike has helped introduce generations of VMAC products and communicate their benefits to customers. His experience stretches back to the introduction of UNDERHOOD®150 air compressor systems in 2002 and hydraulic air compressors, originally named “PREDATAIR,” in 2005.
As VMAC’s product range grew, Mike helped customers understand the capabilities and applications of each new offering. Key introductions included Multifunction Power Systems, formerly “RAPTAIR-MF,” in 2013; UNDERHOOD40 for commercial vans, formerly “UNDERHOOD-Lite,” in 2014; G30 gas powered air compressors, formerly “RAPTAIR-G30,” in 2015; and Direct-Transmission Mounted PTO driven systems in 2016. He continued supporting new vehicle applications and launching the new and improved VMAC G30 powered by Honda in 2017, followed by the release of the new, more powerful UNDERHOOD40 for trucks and vans in 2018.
Mike’s leadership has also helped VMAC reach new markets and respond to changing customer needs. In 2018, he helped introduce the G30 to equipment rental customers. More recently, he has helped communicate VMAC’s investment in multifunction power systems, electric air compressor development, and the G90 with FlexDrive AMS.
These examples highlight an important part of Mike’s career: connecting the work happening behind the scenes at VMAC with the practical needs of the people who use its products every day.
Building Relationships Across the Industry
As marketing has evolved, Mike has also helped guide VMAC through changes in digital communications, content development, media relations, and customer education.
A 2020 Service Truck Magazine feature highlighted Mike’s leadership of VMAC’s marketing department and its broad range of responsibilities, from brand strategy and trade shows to digital marketing, website development, market research, and media relations. Today, these efforts continue through VMAC’s educational resources, product communications, product webinars, dealer support initiatives, and annual State of the Mobile Compressed Air Industry Report.
A Career and Community That Have Grown Together
For Mike, 26 years at VMAC also represents an important personal journey. Mike reflected on returning to his hometown in late 2000 to raise his family and watching both the community and VMAC grow over the years. “I’ve lived in Nanaimo and worked at VMAC since moving back to my hometown in late 2000 to raise my children,” Mike shared.
He went on to reflect on how much Nanaimo had changed during that time and the opportunities the community continues to offer families. It’s a fitting reflection for a milestone that spans not only an impressive professional career but also many meaningful changes in life, family, and community.
“Looking back, what stands out most isn’t any single product launch. It’s the people,” Mike added. “I’ve had the chance to work alongside great coworkers in all departments and to build relationships with customers and dealers who count on our products every day. Watching VMAC grow from right here in Nanaimo into a global leader in mobile compressed air has been a privilege, and I’m excited about the innovations still to come.”
Throughout those years, VMAC has remained rooted in Nanaimo, building on its local engineering and manufacturing expertise while expanding into markets around the world.
Celebrating the People Behind 40 Years of Innovation
Mike’s 26-year anniversary is especially meaningful as VMAC celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. During his time with the company, Mike has witnessed countless changes, from new product innovations and expanded manufacturing capabilities to the evolution of VMAC’s sales and marketing activities.
Yet through all those changes, the company’s commitment to its customers, its coworkers, and continuous innovation has remained central to its success. “As VMAC celebrates 40 years of innovation, it’s especially meaningful to recognize someone who has been part of the company for 26 of those years,” Green said. “Mike has seen our business evolve through many important milestones and has helped bring our innovations to market along the way. “That depth of experience, combined with his commitment to VMAC, is something worth celebrating.”
Here’s to 26 Years, Mike!
Milestones like these are an opportunity to recognize the people whose dedication has helped make VMAC what it is today. From supporting sales and dealer relationships to introducing innovative products and helping share VMAC’s story, Mike has made lasting contributions throughout his 26-year career.
Congratulations, Mike, on 26 years with VMAC! Thank you for your dedication, your knowledge, and the important role you’ve played in VMAC’s journey. Here’s to 26 years of contributions, great relationships, and many more innovations ahead!
