Board Of Directors

Winbco's Board of Directors are a key factor in our continued success.

They bring financial leadership, manufacturing and engineering expertise, operational oversight, and many other functions that are critical in attaining the quality of service, construction, and client support that makes Winbco a consistent industry leader in process tank manufacturing.

CEO & President

Kermit Knott

CEO and President

Kermit joined the company in 1983 upon graduation with a Associate of Arts in Applied Sciences from Indian Hills Community College. Kermit began his career at WINBCO focused on engineering design, purchasing, and project cost estimates. Over time, Kermit headed up Quality Assurance, then moved into Sales before coming Operations Manager. In that role, Kermit was responsible for all aspects of shop and field construction, including logistics, coordination, and direction. Kermit is responsible for contract negotiations with the National Transient Division of Boilermakers for field contracts. Kermit is involved with WINBCO customers from inquiries to field visits, reinforcing the Company’s commitment to its customers. Aside from WINBCO responsibilities, Kermit is involved with the National Association of Construction Boilermaker Employers (NACBE), Board of Ottumwa Country Club, and serves as Regional President and sits on the National I-Club Board of Directors for the Southeast I-Club for the University of Iowa and having raised in excess of $500,000 for the University.

Kermit joined the WINBCO Board in September 2008.

Treasurer

John A. Travlos

Treasurer & Managing Director

John joined the company in 1960 with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering from the College of Engineering, New York University. His previous employers include Pess Aircraft, North American Aviation and Sperry Gyrospace Company. John served as CEO of WINBCO Tank Company (and predecessors) from 1973 to September 2008, when he assumed the position of Chairman. John was instrumental in transitioning the company to bringing stainless steel innovations to the agricultural processing industry, where the company has focused its operations since the late 1960s. In the 1970s and 1980s, John executed several acquisitions and divestitures for sister company, Cincinnati Boss and, in 2000, John recapitalized WINBCO into an ESOP structure. Aside from WINBCO responsibilities, John has served on the Small Business Committee for the Federal Reserve, on the Board of Directors for Wells Fargo Iowa, on the I-Club Board for the University of Iowa, as Head of the Ottumwa School Board, and as Commissioner of the Ottumwa Municipal Airport.

Chairman

Doug Gross

Chairman

Douglas E. Gross is a member of Brown Winick. Doug has served on the firm's Management Committee as Managing Member. Doug has extensive expertise in the corporate and government relations areas of law. He has provided business and legal assistance to numerous organizations to assist them in achieving their goals. Doug has experience with the initial organization of agricultural operations, legislative, and governmental agency representation, including regulatory matters and economic development opportunities. Prior to entering the practice of law, Doug served as Chief of Staff to Governor Terry Branstad, Director of Business and Finance at the Iowa State Board of Regents, Administrative Assistant to Governor Robert D. Ray, Director of Fuels Division of the Iowa Energy Policy Council. Doug was the 2002 Republican nominee for Governor of Iowa. Doug received his B.A., summa cum laude, from Iowa Wesleyan College in 1977 and his J.D., with honors, from Drake University in 1985. Doug was a Lydia C. Roberts fellow at Columbia University's School of International Affairs. Since 2005, Doug has been selected as a leader in Iowa for inclusion in Chambers USA® in the area of corporate/M&A.

Management

Winbco's Management & Operations Staff

Donald Prox

Administrative Manager/Chief Financial Officer

Donald Prox joined WINBCO in October 2012 as the company's Chief Financial Officer. He is a graduate from William Penn University with a double major with a B.A. in Accounting and Business Management. Don brings 30 years’ experience in Business and Financial Management with him from Public Accounting, Construction, and Heavy Manufacturing. Don is Treasurer of the Humble Heroes Foundation. He is an member of National Association of Boiler Makers Employers (NACBE) and Growth Energy. Don served a four year tour of duty in the United States Air Force.

Guillermo Figueroa

Resident President of Mexico's Operations

Guillermo Figueroa is a graduate of Naples, FL High School, as well as a graduate of Universidad Anáhuac in México City with a degree in law. His professional accomplishments include several positions in the Congress of Mexico as well as business endeavors in Equity and Management of commercial properties in Mexico. His primary function is the company’s liaison in Mexico as well as other Latin American countries. He brings extensive experience in international law to guide Winbco with correct counsel in the business ventures of developing sugar cane and sorghum into ethanol for the recently mandated blending in gasoline. In as much as he is involved in the trucking industry in Mexico he provides excellent guidance in the transportation requirements of the ventures. Guillermo also participated along with Gov. Branstad in the Company ISO 9002 accreditation ceremony.

Mark Cavanuagh

Aviation Manager

Mark has been with the Company since 1979 and has been responsible for the acquisition, management, maintenance and flight responsibilities for (11) different aircraft thru his (38) year tenure. He is responsible for the FAR 135 flight operations in addition to managing the three pilot staff as senior chief pilot along with the physical maintenance of our two hangars and fuel farm to support the aviation activities. His flight credentials include an ATP rating to augment his 17,000 hour flight time.

Mark Milder

Controller

Mark joined the company in 1991 upon graduation from the University of Iowa with a Bachelor of Business Administration, majoring in Accounting. Mark works closely with the CFO in all financial reporting and is responsible for day-to-day management of the accounting system, bill paying, invoicing, and payroll. Aside from WINBCO responsibilities, Mark is active in the community.

Bill Ragen

Operations Manager/Assistant GM

Bill joined the company in 1993 after working in the Engineering Department of General Filter company for two years and having completed an internship in the Engineering Department of John Deere & Company for one year. While working, Bill earned his Associate of Arts in Drafting Technology from Indian Hills Community College. Initially, Bill focused on engineering design and quality assurance. Bill is now responsible for overseeing all aspects of the technical services department, shop and field operations, and coordinating schedules with clients and subcontractors. In addition, Bill currently holds construction licenses in Florida, California, and Wisconsin, he also serves as the RMI for WINBCO in Oregon.

Todd Sackman

Field Operation Manager

Todd has 10 years construction experience with Winbco as well as extensive military exposure. While in the military Todd served two combat tours in Iraq, and Afghanistan and many humanitarian missions in the United States. Todd’s formal education consists of degrees from Indian Hills Community College as well as Grantham University. His forte, besides various auto cad and working experience, is assisting customers with new construction methods and repair requirements. Todd is responsible for Superintendents and field crews in all our projects, along with synergizing with our Mobile Crane Services division for field equipment and requirements.

Nick Chambers

Quality Control and Safety Manager

Nick joined the company in 1992 from a position as Quality Assurance Specialist for General Physics Corporation, at the DOE’s Savannah River Site. Nick has also held senior quality control and inspector positions at Fluor Daniel, Federal Paperboard, Pullman Power, and Georgia Power Vogtle Nuclear Electric Generation Station. Nick is responsible for ensuring a strict protocol for safety and best practices for a safe operating environment.Nick is a member of the American Welding Society and the American Society for Quality.

Mike Terrell

Facilities Manager

Mike joined company in 1976, became shop superintendent in 1980. In 1986, he was promoted to Assistant Shop Production Manager and became Shop Production Manager in 1994. In 2008, Mike became Facilities Manager. His duties include: processing work orders, purchasing shop and field tools, estimating job costs, purchasing materials, shipping, receiving and expediting.

Scott Perry

Customer Relations

Scott Perry joined Winbco Tank in 2013. Scott is a graduate of Ottumwa High School and went to Kirkwood Community College. He started his Industrial Career for a large window manufacturer and a Heavy Equipment manufacturer doing inventory expediting and tracking. Scotty maintains WINBCO’s perpetual inventory system and receiving. In his spare time Scott enjoys his family and fishing.

Sean Cavanuagh

Engineering / Aviaton

Sean Cavanaugh joined the company in 2003. Sean graduated from Indian Hills Community College in 2008 with an Associate of Applied Science in Aviation Maintenance Technology. Alongside his AMT studies, he completed training to acquire a Commercial Pilot License, along with his ATP rating in the summer of 2008. Sean is currently enrolled at the University of North Dakota, finishing a degree in mechanical engineering, with a focus on aerospace. He spends the majority of his time working in the engineering department at Winbco, splitting his time between estimating and flight duties as necessary.

Shawn Drummond

Customer Relations

Shawn joined WINBCO in 2016. Shawn graduated from Indian hills community college in 2007 with a certificate in Welding Technology. Shawn worked in the field with Winbco for two years as a boilermaker before taking a position with John Deere Ottumwa Works for eight years as a welder, then moved into a roll as a material coordinator. Shawn earned a degree from William Penn University in 2015 with a BA in business management while still maintaining fulltime employment. Shawn served nine years with the Iowa Army National Guard,and had one tour of duty in Iraq as a team leader with B Co. 224th Engineers.

Jerry Palmer

Customer Relations

Jerry joined Winbco in 2016 with over 30 years of experience in the construction and repair of flat bottom tanks. He has extensive knowledge of API 650, 653 and the construction of specialized vessels, bins and silo’s. Jerry is a graduate of the University of Nebraska with a degree in Construction Management. During his career he has held a number of positions including Contract Administration, Construction/Project Management and Sales. This broad base of experience allows Jerry to look at projects from a number of different aspects to provide safe economic solutions to unique problems. Throughout his career he has been involved with the successful completion of projects in the petrochemical, pulp and paper, agricultural and mining sectors. Jerry enjoys the outdoors and woodworking.

Jake Allen

Inventory Manager

Jake Allen has worked in multiple facets of Winbco over the years. Jake has worked as a boilermaker in the field, as well as in the shop as a welder. As Inventory Manager his responsibilities include maintaining Winbco's inventory system and receiving. He graduated from Ottumwa High School in 1995. Jake has been married for (9) years and is a father of (4) children who take up a majority of his free time.

Roger Herteen

Purchasing Manager

Roger joined the company in 1997 after working (10) years in the communications industry. Roger earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communications from Northeast Missouri State University. His duties include purchasing, shipping, receiving and expediting as well as estimating job costs. In his spare time Roger assists in running his dad’s family farm.

Tyler Hoch

CAD Designer

Tyler joined WINBCO in 2018. Tyler graduated from Iowa State University in 2018 with his bachelors in Industrial Technology. Before joining WINBCO, Tyler did an Internship with Pella Corporation as a department manager. Tyler spends his day working within our engineering department. In his free time, Tyler enjoys hunting, fishing, and working on his El Camino.

Board Of Directors