Peter Zeras, long-time Milton CAT vice president, has died.

“Even during his long battle with cancer, Peter maintained an important, active presence in the day-to-day operations and actually one of his first steps after his diagnoses was to orchestrate a seamless management transition,” said Milton CAT President and CEO Chris Milton.

Mr. Zeras joined the company in 1966 as a machine sales representative; he became the company’s used equipment manager in the early 1970s, general sales manager in the late 1970s, and ultimately led the Milton CAT sales organization as vice president of machine sales.

“If you look at the number of employees, the number of machines delivered and the sales volume at the time Peter joined us, and compare those to this year’s numbers, you get an indication of the influence his vision had on our company,” said Milton, who credited Mr. Zeras’ leadership as instrumental in guiding Milton CAT to become one of Caterpillar’s top producing dealers in North America for the past 13 years, and in 2004, Caterpillar’s number two dealer in the world.

Calling Mr. Zeras one of the most influential visionaries for Milton CAT, for Caterpillar, Inc. and for the industry as a whole, Chris Milton said, “We mourn the loss of a true friend as well as an outstanding leader.”

Mr. Zeras’ knowledge and strategic approach to business earned him the respect of Caterpillar’s senior management team and he was asked to serve on several Caterpillar advisory boards. He also was actively involved in industry and civic associations — a member, director and past president of the New Hampshire Good Roads Association; a member of the Town of Northfield, NH’s Budget Committee, Highway Commission and Board of Selectmen. He also served on the New Hampshire Governor’s Advisory Board for Highways and Energy.

Mr. Zeras was a graduate of Concord High School, attended the University of New Hampshire and served in the United States Army and the New Hampshire National Guard.

He is survived by his wife, Heidi (Shaka) Zeras; sons, Christopher Zeras of Maitland, FL, and Peter Todd Zeras; a sister, Victoria Bouchard of Concord, NH; and one granddaughter, Lily Zeras of Maitland, FL. CEG

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