Member-2-Member Profiles

The S. Dale High Center for Family Business has a growing community of members who have rich life experiences and diverse interests.

Carol Buchen,
Director of Marketing and Treasurer
for CFB member, B.R. Kreider & Son, Inc., shines a spotlight on fellow members with her Member-2-Member (M2M) Profiles.

 

 

 

Carol’s Spring 2010 M2M — Rose Walmer

Meet Rose Walmer. Rose is a second-generation owner of Wengers of Myerstown, established in 1946 and members of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business since 1999. Rose is actively employed in a senior leadership capacity in her family business as the Chief Personnel Officer.

Tell us a little about Wenger’s of Myerstown and your products and services: We are involved with wholesale and retail sales of used farm and construction equipment and related parts, used motorcycle sales, and machining services for all types of engines. We are well known in our industry for employing knowledgeable sales people and for our user-friendly, interactive website.

Family members: My husband is Wally Walmer. He is employed by Wengers of Myerstown as the Machining Services Manager. Our children are Megan Walmer, who graduates from Elizabethtown College in 2010; Jake Walmer, a tractor parts salesman for Wengers, and Molly Walmer, the 2009-10 Pennsylvania FFA Association President.

Schools attended: ELCO High School, Elizabethtown College ’86

First paying job: Not surprising — I was an after-school receptionist for Wengers.

My parents always told me: It wasn’t so much anything they told me, but how they live their lives as examples for us to follow. Be faithful, be honest, be fair, be generous.

Something you may not know about me: I wanted to be a social worker when I grew up.

How I entered the family business: I worked in social work for a few years. I came to work for the family business part-time while raising our three children. My role has grown and changed over the years. In addition to being the Chief Personnel Officer, I also am president of the Wenger Foundation, Inc.

Name one challenge of being in a family business: We have a lot of family members working in our business. On a daily basis, I work with my husband, my four brothers, one sister, two sister-in-laws, two nephews, our son and about fifty other employees. The challenge is staying well connected and yet giving each person sufficient space to be successful in their areas of work.

One thing I have learned in life: Hopefully, I have learned to remember what is truly important and then to . . . let the rest go.

Most recent, good read: I enjoy John Maxwell from a business perspective and Max Lucado from a faith perspective.

Hobbies/special interests outside of work: I am a FOX News junkie and a Trace Adkins fan. I serve on several non-profit boards. I enjoy going with our children to their many varied activities.

My kind of food: Pasta and chocolate, but not necessarily together

My kind of music: Country

My kind of exercise: Long walks around our neighborhood and our farm

Others may be surprised to know: Through The Wenger Foundation, Inc., we have been able to raise in excess of $1 million for local faith-based charities.

 

Carol’s Winter 2009 M2M — John Gooding

Meet John Gooding – John is the chairman and second generation owner of GSM Roofing, a family-owned business in transition over next five years to sons Reed and William, the third generation to assume management decisions for the Ephrata, PA and Elkton, MD locations. He is also chairman of GSM Industrial working with Jim Towers, President, whose two sons, Michael and David, will eventually (5-7 years) take over that business with Reed and William.
Tell us about your company and its services/products: GSM Roofing is a full service, fully credentialed commercial & specialty roofing contractor working in mostly Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania.

Characterized by highly-skilled craftsmen, GSM Roofing is an acknowledged leader in the field for service work, re-roofing or new construction. Seventy-five percent of the work is re-roofing. The balance is new construction primarily working with the design/build contractors. GSM Roofing has a long history of excellence and professionalism sets them apart from other roofing contractors. GSM can show how the right roofing system and proper maintenance will help minimize the building’s expenses and help maximize business operations.

GSM Industrial is a metal fabrication and installation contractor located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, also serving the mid-Atlantic region. Two shifts in their well-equipped shop perform customer-specified fabrication of custom equipment, industrial ductwork, structural steel, access work, miscellaneous metals, piping, and more, which ships both locally and globally. GSM Industrial’s field division possesses a vast range of technical skills ranging from expert installation to rigging, millwright services and plant maintenance. They maintain an impressive arsenal of equipment to handle just about any shop or field requirement. The shop and field divisions are backed by a talented team of technical people focused on design, detailing, drafting and CNC equipment programming.

Family Members: Mary (wife) and three sons Russ, Reed and William; and seven grandchildren. Ages 3 ½ to 9

Schools Attended: Valley Forge Military Academy and Goldey Beacon College

First Paying Job: Pulling weeds and mowing grass for ten cents an hour.

My parents always told me: Work hard and treat people the way you want to be treated.

When growing up I wanted to be: Growing up, I always wanted to come back into the family business. I had two brothers and one sister who had no interest in working with the family.

How I entered the Family Business: I worked summers from high school through college. After returning from Vietnam in 1969, I started full time.

Name one challenge of being a member of a Family Business: Making sure my sons will be able to continue the family business during these uncertain times. Care and planning of my buyouts in ownership probably means considerable giving or long-term pay off allowing enough cash flow for the third generation to prosper.

Hobbies/Special interests outside of Work: Hunting, fishing and boating.

My kind of Food: Any type of seafood.

My kind of Exercise: Taking long walks with my wife.

Others may be surprised to know: At age 64 I became a licensed boat captain for the knowledge base to take my boat off the NJ coast and fish safely.

Carol’s Fall 2009 M2M — Sherri L. Gorman

Meet Sherri Gorman — Vice President of Kinsey’s Archery Products, a five-year member of the S. Dale High Center for Family Business. Headquartered in Mt. Joy, Kinsey’s Archery Products is in the third generation of ownership. Her grandfather started the business, her parents then stepped in, and she and her brother Rick Kinsey are running operations.

Tell us about your company and its services/products: We have two areas to our business: wholesale distribution of archery and related products and a retail store that sells hunting, archery, and fishing equipment.

Family Members: Blaine (husband); Children (Kelsey) and (Justin); in business–grandmother, mother, father, and brother

Schools Attended: Donegal High School, Elizabethtown College

First Paying Job: Life-guarding at Mount Joy Pool

My parents always told me: Hard work and dedication are the keys to success. Always appreciate your employees and always count your blessings.

How I entered the Family Business: Upon graduation from college, I started to work on the warehouse floor, then moved into customer service and eventually went into management.

Name one challenge of being a member of a Family Business: Family and business are always running side by side.

Hobbies/Special interests outside of Work: Coaching high school girls’ basketball at LMH; Watching and supporting kids at sporting events ( Kelsey- Messiah Soccer) (Justin – Manheim Central Football)

My kind of Food: Pasta

My kind of Exercise: Running and biking

One thing I have learned in Life: The true meaning of leadership is serving others!