From left: Marv Mathwig, Stihl product manager, accepting for John Keeler, Stihl national training manager; Audra Hanson, Mojack marketing director; Dan Shell, PET managing editor; Bill Bower of Briggs & Stratton; and Gary Lalla, Echo product manager. Not pictured is Powersports/Recreation category winner Husqvarna.

After months of suspense, the moment finally drew near when the long-awaited winners of the third annual Power Equipment Trade Dealers Choice Awards winners were announced near the end of the GIE+EXPO show in Louisville, Ky. on Saturday, October 25. Dealers attending GIE+EXPO voted on their favorite new products in five categories in the third annual Power Equipment Trade (PET) GIE+EXPO Dealers Choice Awards. Voting commenced on the show’s first two days, with the winners announced on Saturday, October 25.

As part of the awards, PET held drawings for two PulseTech battery chargers and a $100 cash award. Winners of the battery chargers are Steve Wilson of Madison Tool Rental in London, Oh., and Dennis Tedder of Tedder Outdoor Power in Camden, Ark. Winner of the $100 cash award is J.L. Rainwater of JR’s Small Engine in Collinsville, Okla.

Just got finished this past weekend wading through all 61 Power Equipment Trade/GIE+EXPO Dealers Choice Awards nominees, and developed a good list of finalists. Products nominated were weighted heavily toward the “Accessory/Attachment” and “Wheeled” product categories, though there is some really cool stuff in all five categories. Following are the 2008 PET GIE+EXPO Dealers Choice Awards finalists, seen for the first time outside of PET‘s fertile editorial office here in Montgomery, Ala.: