Hull Brothers honored

Hull Brothers Inc. of Fort Recovery has won national recognition for excellence in all aspects of its business from Case IH.

The longtime Case IH dealer has achieved Pinnacle Excellence status in parts, operations, service, marketing, sales and support.

The Pinnacle Excellence program was developed by Case IH and its dealer advisory board to recognize best-in-class performance by dealers in the current changing agricultural landscape.

“At Case IH, we talk about doing our part to help ag producers because tomorrow’s infinite potential is open to those who prepare themselves,” a company spokesman said in a prepared statement. “Hull Brothers Inc. has shown its commitment to serving customers’ needs.”

Six areas are the focus of the Pinnacle program:

•Parts — where dealerships are evaluated on customer satisfaction, personnel competency and training and inventory management.

•Operations — where dealerships are evaluated in terms of leadership and team development, business planning and workplace environment.

•Service — where dealerships are evaluated in terms of competence and training.

•Marketing — where dealerships are evaluated in terms of promotion, advertising and merchandising.

•Sales — where dealerships are evaluated in terms of competence and customer satisfaction.

•AFS — where support for Case IH precision farming products is evaluated.

Culy acquired

Midas Cos., a Washington area utility services company, has acquired Winchester-based general contracting company Culy Contracting Inc.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Both Culy and Midas specialize in pipe infrastructure services related to water, stormwater and wastewater in the public and private sectors. The acquisition gives Midas exposure to markets in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Ardagh automation

The Irish Independent reported this week that Ardagh Group, parent company of glass container plants in Dunkirk and Winchester, is considering an increase in automation at its U.S. plants.

The company’s chairman Paul Coulson was quoted as saying that the company has encountered problems with the labor pool, including drug use.

“The labor pool is difficult,” Coulson said. “It’s difficult to get people who are drug free, etc., etc., and to train people.

“I think one of the things you’ll see, and certainly one of the things we have to look at because of the issue on labour cost and labour availability, is more automation of our plants. That’s something we will have to look at.”

Staff changes

Beverly Huntsman will be returning to the main office of CrossRoads Financial Federal Credit Union, and the credit union’s Winchester office is getting a new manager.

Huntsman has been in Winchester since July 2015 as branch manager.  

“Beverly’s transition back to our main office in Portland after the first of the year in 2019 will strengthen and enhance our lending department,” Janet E. Bantz, president and CEO of CrossRoads, said in a prepared statement.

Gavin West will take over responsibility of the Winchester office. He attended Purdue University.

Huntsman has been with CrossRoads for 21 years and has a degree from Ivy Tech.   In addition to serving as Winchester branch manager, she was formerly manager of member services at the main office.