---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001171520-24-000014"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SOTK"
cik: "0000806172"
company_name: "SONO TEK CORP"
filed_at: "2024-01-05T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-07T03:41:12.021316+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.55
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# Sono-Tek appoints R. Stephen Harshbarger as CEO; Coccio becomes Executive Chairman

## Summary
- Dr. Christopher Coccio transitioned from CEO to Executive Chairman effective Dec 31, 2023; remains Chairman.
- R. Stephen Harshbarger appointed CEO; retains President role, previously COO since Aug 2020.
- Harshbarger has 30+ years at Sono-Tek; built distribution in 40+ countries, contributed to >400% revenue growth.
- FY2024 executive salaries: Harshbarger $265K, Coccio $160K, Bagley $185K; bonus based on $18.47M revenue and $1.12M operating income.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001171520-24-000014
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SOTK
- cik: 0000806172
- company_name: SONO TEK CORP
- filed_at: 2024-01-05T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.55
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.55
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/806172/000117152024000014/0001171520-24-000014-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/806172/000117152024000014/eps11084.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171520-24-000014
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171520-24-000014.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001171520-24-000014.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.