Finding a new territory manager to complement the Dixie Chopper team is often a tall order.
And that’s exactly the direction Dixie Director of Sales and Marketing Matt Land has gone with the hiring of 35-year-old Bruce VerMeulen for the Northern Indiana/Michigan territory slot. You can’t miss VerMeulen, who stands 6 feet, 7 inches tall.
VerMeulen also looms big in Dixie Chopper’s plans, Land said.
“I look for people who have dealership experience,” Land said. “For me, it is important that my territory managers understand the needs of the dealer. Part of the responsibility of the TM is to work with the dealer to help make good business decisions.”
VerMeulen, a native of Kalamazoo, Mich., has been around power equipment since he was a kid mowing lawns in his neighborhood.
Later he started his career at Wolverine Lawn and Garden in Kalamazoo, doing set-up, pick-up and delivery and walk behind repairs at one of their stores. He later worked in the company’s shop and parts department before doing more equipment sales once Heslingas Lawn and Power bought the business.
When Heslingas opened a second store, VerMeulen managed the Vicksburg location for two years, selling Dixie Choppers (of course), John Deere, Toro, Ferris, Husqvarna and Shindaiwa products.
Hired by Husqvarna in 1997 as a territory manager, he covered all of Indiana for 4-1/2 years. In 2001, he went to work for Bryan Equipment Sales (a Stihl Distributor), covering northern Indiana as a territory manager the past seven years.
“I have enjoyed working in the industry for 15 years, meeting lots of great dealers,” VerMeulen said. “I look forward to meeting all of my new dealers at Dixie Chopper.”
Land eagerly welcomes him to the Dixie Chopper family.
“He will fit our mold well,” Land said, envisioning new heights for his sales team that numbers 15 TMs.
“With the addition of Bruce, I plan on moving Mike Mueller (6-foot-6 Louisiana/Mississippi TM) to forward and Lee Hall (6-foot-5 Illinois TM) to power forward. I will remain at point guard at 6-1, while Darren Hughes will be on the wing as the shooting guard.
“Not only can we beat the competition in the grass, but we have the makings of the best basketball team in the country as well!”
VerMeulen joined the Dixie Chopper crew at the National Farm Machinery Show booth in Louisville Feb. 13-17 and will begin making his rounds the week of Feb. 18-22.
VerMeulen currently resides in South Haven, Mich., but will be relocating to his hometown of Kalamazoo. In addition to duties in northern Indiana and Michigan, he will cover the northwest corner of Ohio (a line of U.S. 30 over to Sandusky) as well.
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