Karmak Strengthens Board Leadership with New Independent Directors

Pictured left to right: Joe Pereles, Chairman of the Board; Richard Walden; Jim Allen, President/CEO and Board Member of Karmak.

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(Carlinville, IL – February 2, 2026) — Karmak, a leading provider of dealer and business management systems for the commercial transportation industry, today announced updates to its Board of Directors following the retirement of longtime board member Richard Walden. The company also welcomed Kevin Hanson and Christopher Silvetti as new independent directors.

Following the Board meeting on January 30, 2026, Walden retired after nearly four decades of service to Karmak. He joined the Board in 1987, providing steady leadership and trusted guidance through periods of growth, industry change, and organizational evolution.

“Rich has served as a board member since 1987, an extraordinary length of service by any measure,” said Jim Allen, President and CEO of Karmak.“His guidance, consistency, and commitment helped shape Karmak over decades. We are deeply grateful for his service and wish him the very best in his well-earned retirement.”

Walden is a sole practitioner in Carlinville, Illinois, and has served as an author, editor, and lecturer for the Illinois Tax Schools sponsored by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension Service. Prior to private practice, he served as a revenue agent with the Internal Revenue Service. He has also held leadership roles at CNB Bank Shares, Inc. and CNB Bank and Trust, N.A., and served on several community and healthcare-focused boards in the Carlinville area.

In conjunction with Walden’s retirement, Karmak welcomed two new independent directors, both joining the Board in 2026.

Kevin Hanson, co-founder of Ansvar Capital, brings extensive experience in private equity, valuation, and financial advisory services for lower-middle-market and privately held companies. His background includes senior leadership roles at Franklin Hill Capital, Business Transition Advisors, Marshall and Stevens, Marshall and Stevens Capital, and Valuation Research Corporation. Hanson began his career as a Research Associate at Baird and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Carroll University.

Christopher Silvetti is a member of Prairie Capital Advisors, where he advises middle-market companies on employee stock ownership plans, corporate valuation, and investment banking advisory services. His experience includes ESOP implementations, leveraged recapitalizations, management buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, and fairness opinions. Silvetti holds an MBA in Finance from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Ferris State University. He is an active member of several professional valuation and ESOP organizations.

“These appointments reflect the continued evolution of our Board as Karmak advances into its next phase of growth,” Allen added. “Kevin and Christopher bring strong financial, strategic, and governance expertise that complements our long-term vision and supports the momentum we are building across the organization.”

Current Karmak Board of Directors

·        Joe Pereles, Chairman of the Board

·        Jim Allen, Board Member

·        Al Ferguson, Independent Director

·        Kevin Hanson, Independent Director

·        Christopher Silvetti, Independent Director

·        Kayla Adams, ESOP Trustee

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Karmak to Sponsor ATD Emerging Leaders Reception
Karmak also announced its sponsorship of the ATD Emerging Leaders Reception, taking place February 4, 2026, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. during the ATD Show in Las Vegas. The reception brings together emerging leaders from across the commercial truck dealer community to connect, share insights, and build relationships.

As a long-standing industry partner and a 100 percent employee-owned company, Karmak is proud to support leadership development and professional connection within the commercial transportation industry. Members of the Karmak team will be on site throughout ATD Show week.