WINBCO Management
Kermit Knott, 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 and then became 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 both the shop and field contracts. Kermit is involved with WINBCO customers from inquiries to field visits to reinforce 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 for the Southeast I-Club Board for the University of Iowa and has raised in excess of $300,000 for the University.
Darcy Travlos, Consultant
Darcy served as a consultant to the Company from July 2006, and has been fully engaged since September 2007. Darcy is responsible for all financial reporting, establishing financial systems, managing company portfolio and establishing commercial banking, investment banking and insurance relationships. Prior to WINBCO, Darcy spent the previous 23 years as an investment banker and research analyst for firms including Morgan Stanley, Chase Manhattan Bank, Kidder Peabody, SoundView Technology Group, CreditSights and Second Curve Capital. Darcy graduated from Brown University with a BA in Economics and from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, with an MBA in Finance. Aside from WINBCO responsibilities, Darcy is an active volunteer for Brown University and Coleytown Elementary and Middle schools, has passed Series 7, 24, 63, 84, 85, and 87 licenses, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Philadelphia Venture Group.
Don Halferty, Chief Operating Officer
Don Joined Winbco in March of 2010 and is responsible for sales/estimating, shop operations and field operations. Don holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Iowa State University. Don started his career with Gillette and then Newell / Rubbermaid working on integration, operations and systems, and transitioned to construction products as Vice President of Operations for Economy Forms, with responsibility for all global manufacturing and distribution activities. As General Manager for Graham Manufacturing, Don led the company to top three market share position among US architecturally specified wood door manufacturers. Aside from WINBCO, Don is active in the community and with architectural preservation.
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 Darcy in all financial reporting and is responsible for day-to-day management of the accounting system, bill paying, invoicing and payroll and state tax returns. Aside from WINBCO responsibilities, Mark is active in the community.
Kimberly Hovstadius, Marketing Director
With over eighteen years of experience, Kimberly brings broad experience and achievement in clinical trials, marketing and sales in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. She has demonstrated success in new product development from concept to introduction. As a Senior Marketing Director, she developed and executed integrated marketing campaigns designed to meet the business objectives for an array of companies, including Pfizer, McNeil Consumer and Specialty Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Genentech, Roche Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Bristol-Myers Squibb. As a Sales Consultant for AstraZeneca, Kimberly was responsible for promotion and sales of their cardiovascular, respiratory and neuroscience drug portfolio. Additionally, she also spent a number of years working in the biotechnology sector with American Integrated Biologics and Biopure Biopharmaceuticals, the first company to develop oxygen therapeutics, conducting pre-clinical trials and IND submissions. Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Connecticut, a certification in FDA Regulatory and Compliance Issues in Clinical Research from Boston University, and has completed graduate courses towards a Masters in Public Health from Harvard University.
Bill Ragen, Operations Manager
Bill joined the company in 1993 after working in the Engineering Department of General Filter company for two years and 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, and serves as the RMI for WINBCO in Oregon. Bill reports directly to Kermit.
Terry Christy, Field Production Manager
Terry joined the company in 1973. In 1975, he took a leave of absence to serve in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (Seabees). Returning to the Company in 1977, he began work in the Company’s crane division until 1989 when he became a field superintendent. Terry has OSHA certification to train 10 and 30 hours safety in OSHA 1926 Construction Standards and is certified by Crane Institute of America as a crane inspector and has CCO Crane Operator Certification. Aside from WINBCO responsibilities, Terry enjoys NASCAR.
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 had 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 that quality requirements of customers, federal, state and local agencies are met. Nick is also responsible for ensuring a strict protocol for safety and best practices for a safe operating environment. Currently, WINBCO leads the industry in safety metrics. Nick graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree from Brewton Parker College and has completed continuing education courses from Applied Quality Systems, Ohio Training Institute, and the American Petroleum Institute. 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.
Rick Vose, IT Manager
Rick joined the company in 1991 after working in the Product Engineering department at the John Deere Ottumwa Works, and earning an Associate of Arts degree in Drafting Technology and Computer Aided Design. Rick’s current duties at WINBCO include IT where he installs, maintains and upgrades the IT system, which includes the network server, Exchange e-mail server and all workstations and printers. He also estimates project and preparing tank cost quotations based on customer specifications and supervises the inventory audit process. During his employment, he has at been involved in Drafting, Payroll, Accounts Payable and Safety as well as others. Aside from WINBCO responsibilities, Rick is involved sports, Boy Scouts, and is on the Board of Administration and as Delegate to the Regional Conference for his church.