BBI Spreaders Announces Retirement of Gerry Winters
/February 27, 2014 (CORNELIA, GA) BBI Spreaders, the industry leader in cost-in-use for dry application of fertilizer, lime, and organic material in farming operations, announces the retirement of Gerald “Gerry” Winters, the company’s territory sales manager for the eastern United States and Canada.
Winters joined BBI in 2009, coming out of retirement after a career in manufacturing and farm equipment sales. A lifelong resident of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Winters joined the United States Air Force at the age of 19, after spending his late teen years working on his family’s farm. After two tours of service during the Vietnam War, Winters returned to Fort Wayne and began a long career at Clark Manufacturing, a leading supplier of tool bars and wagons for the application of anhydrous ammonia. During his time at Clark, Winters rose from a warehouse position to national sales manager.
Winters retired from Clark in 2004. Kale Marketing, then BBI Spreaders’ dealer of record in Ohio, lured Winters out of retirement later that same year. After five years of service leading the Kale sales team, Winters joined BBI, taking over the eastern United States territory and spearheading subsequent efforts to develop the company’s business in Canada.
“It’s been a real honor to work with Gerry Winters,” stated Lee Kilpatrick, BBI’s director of sales and marketing. “This is a man whose sacrifices are the source of our freedoms, and in his sales career for multiple organizations, the man has never made an enemy. His defining qualities are character and calm demeanor—he has the ability to bring the best out of people, as he inspires confidence and trust like no one I’ve ever seen.”
“We’re announcing Gerry’s retirement with heavy hearts,” said company president Richard Hagler. “Gerry is one of those happy warriors, and he’s surely earned his rest. His contribution to the growth and success of BBI during the last five years is immeasurable, as it transcends the sales growth of the dealers in his territory. The amount of trust, loyalty, and confidence in our company that he has personally developed with hundreds of dealer salespeople and in-the-field customers is a legacy we will have the honor of enjoying for years to come. We thank him for his service and that legacy.”
About BBI Spreaders
BBI is a design, manufacturing and sales company serving the agricultural, poultry and construction industries. We maintain a commitment to providing a variety of granular material application solutions expressly created to improve the financial performance of all BBI customers.
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