Leadership Team

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.

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.