NOTEBOOK:Reynolds lauds Vermeer security chief
PERRY BEEMAN Jan 15, 2019 | 9:36 pm
1 min read time
150 wordsBusiness Record Insider, Manufacturing, The Insider NotebookAt the beginning of her Condition of the State address today, Gov. Kim Reynolds paid tribute to Central College graduate and Army veteran Billy Fox, who as head of security at Vermeer was key in the company’s response to a July 19, 2018, tornado that destroyed parts of the plants.
“On July 19, a tornado ripped through Vermeer’s campus, completely destroying one factory and heavily damaging others. It was devastating. I saw it firsthand the next day. Metal was everywhere, cars were piled on top of each other, and brick walls were leveled,” Reynolds said.
“Yet there was not a single fatality. Not one. Thanks to Billy’s calm and experienced leadership, the 3,000 employees and visitors attending Vermeer’s customer appreciation day were safe. Even though an ‘all clear’ was issued by a paid weather service, Billy and his team kept everyone sheltered — and in doing so, saved their lives.”