Peter Mueller, executive vice president of operations for STIHL, has been named Honorary Consul of Germany for Virginia. Mueller was recently appointed in a ceremony held at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C. German President Horst Kohler approved the nomination last year.
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“I’m very honored to be appointed to this position and look forward to serving the interests of Germany and its citizens in this area,” Mueller says.
As Consul, Mueller will work to foster international relations between the region and Germany, as well as represent the interests of German citizens in Accomack, Chesapeake, Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James, Lancaster Mathew, Middlesex, Newport News, Norfolk, Northampton, Northumberland, Southampton, Suffolk, Surry, Sussex, Virginia Beach and York.
“Peter was key to establishing the STIHL, Inc. operation in Virginia Beach back in 1974," says Fred Whyte, president of STIHL. "With over 32 years managing operational efforts between STIHL Inc. and our founding company in Germany, I’m confident Peter’s skills and personal experiences will prove beneficial in building the region’s relations with Germany, as well as representing the interests of local German citizens.”
Mueller began his career with STIHL in 1974 as manager of production. He became director of manufacturing in 1976, and in 1978 he was promoted to vice president of manufacturing and became a member of the Executive Council. Mueller was promoted to his current position in 1992.
Prior to joining STIHL, he worked as assistant to the chairman of the board of a major German corporation, where he held various management positions in the production and quality assurance areas. Mueller received his engineering degree in Munich, Germany. In 1974, he relocated to the U.S. where he initiated the U.S. manufacturing operation for STIHL.
Mueller currently serves on the board of directors for the Society of Manufacturing Engineers where he leads the Education Foundation Development Committee. He is also a member of the Society of Plastics Industry, the Society of Automotive Engineers, the Society of Plastics Engineers and the Virginia Manufacturing Association. He is active locally as a board member for the Hampton Roads Workforce Development System, as well as a member of the HRWD Youth Council.
He and his wife Brigit reside in Virginia Beach.
