Gerhard Fischer (left) and Wes Combs (right)
Gerhard Fischer and Wes Combs retired on March 31. Gerhard was the managing director of Händle, the flagship of our German operations. Wes ran Steele’s warehouse and after sales service operation in Statesville, NC.
Both men chose a career path you don’t often see these days. They started as entry-level employees and stayed with their companies, rising through the ranks to management. Gerhard joined Händle in 1982 as a plant electrician, holding various positions in engineering and manufacturing before assuming responsibilities as managing director in 2009.
Wes joined Steele in 1987. Like Gerhard, he started as a plant electrician and held various positions in sales and commissioning before taking control of the warehouse in 2000. Nobody knew our machines, sub-assemblies and parts the way Wes did. Dealing with the installed base on a daily basis for 35 years gave him a perspective on customer service that was uniquely valuable.
Gerhard and Wes remained loyal, during good times and bad, as they looked for new opportunities and responsibilities. Ordinarily, losing two key professionals like this would be a body blow — fortunately, Gerhard and Wes trained and developed their replacements. They both made sure we’re well-positioned for growth and as they did throughout their careers, left things better than they found them.
Now it’s time to say goodbye and thanks to Gerhard and Wes. They showed us how much good people matter, setting an example we can profit by for many years to come. And they would agree that they both benefited from their long-term commitment to their employers.
If you want to join a company where you can enjoy a meaningful career, check out our careers page. We’re always looking for folks like Wes and Gerhard to stick around and help take us to the next level.