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Ag Guide FALL 2021

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∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ •••••• •• -•€‚- •‚•ƒ ••„•… •• • Safety & sanitization products • Conveyor belt fabrication • Custom urethane parts • Pumps, hoses, fittings Serving the Community for over 30 years Real People Real Experience Real Solutions Staying small while growing to fill big needs by Ku'ulei Fanene, Marketing Specialist, Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag Since the global pan- demic began in the Spring of 2020, Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag (GRK) has been grappling with challenges faced by most businesses under the current global conditions. From implementing ev- er-changing precautions in their stores and fabri- cation shops to trying to meet the demand for high need safety items, such as N95 masks and powerful disinfecting equipment, GRK has rolled with the punches and continued to push forward to serve their customers. One of the greatest challenges today is snags in the supply chain and the skyrocketing cost of materials. Prices of items GRK distributes, such as water storage tanks, have increased in price more than three times this year. Despite challenges like this, customers continue to reach out to GRK for the parts and materials they need. Although Covid threw them a curveball, a few milestones in GRK's growth happened mid-pandemic, including the addition of their sixth store location in Santa Maria, CA, and acquiring a custom parts division, Urethane Specialists. As growth continues to take place for GRK, the key to its success has always been customer-first service. John Green, Sr., and his son, John P. Green found- ed Green Rubber around 30 years ago. They started their family business by supplying belting to agricultural and industrial processing companies and that is where the "rubber" in Green Rubber origi- nated. Creating custom belting solutions for the agricultural industry and other processing indus- tries is a huge part of the business and one where customer connection and first-class attention to detail are paramount. In 1990, two brothers named Mark and Kirk Kennedy founded Kenne- dy Bros. With a four-per- son, Salinas-based team, they sold tanks, pumps, and spray equipment to local farmers. Thirteen years later, they had five locations throughout California. Both GRK and Kennedy Bros served many of the same cus- tomers, and in 2003 the companies merged to become Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag. The vast wine production and produce industries near Santa Maria made it a perfect location for a sixth store. GRK moved quickly, assigning one of its experienced salespeo- ple to manage the store and sending teams down to stock shelves and train new employees in order to have a fully operating store in a short amount of time. The custom division, Urethane Specialists, orig- inally began as a family business as well. Found- ed and run by Mike and Kathy Hodge for 30 years, it was a perfect addition to GRK's already thriving urethane parts department. Hodge's previous career in aerospace, called for him to achieve precise tolerances in urethane which he carried over to this new enterprise. As a result, Urethane Special- ists is capable of achieving high-precision tolerances with urethane that most manufacturers wouldn't attempt with metals. Through that dedication to precision, the company developed a loyal follow- ing of corporate custom- ers and plant engineers nationwide. It seems that every ele- ment to Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag's growth and success began with the philosophy of serving the customer with great inten- tion. Personally connect- ing with each customer to get to know their precise needs, and having the field knowledge, and product knowledge to supply those needs has been a corner- stone of their success. As the company grows, the ideals of the small, family business keep them grounded. "Customers can tell the difference," says Doug McFarland, head of Marketing for GRK. With decades of experience in the wine and produce in- dustry in the Central Coast region of California, Mc- Farland has seen how the Provided photo of John Green, Sr., and his son, John P. Green personal touch of Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag makes all the difference. "Our customers appreciate our approach to customer service because it reflects a very non-corporate, one on one connection." GRK has a multilay- ered approach to serving customers. Some cus- tomers have reached out personally to show their appreciation. One such customer is Jason Wristen of Wristen Construction in Madera, CA. This is what he had to say about Eddie Garza, a member of the GRK sales team, "Eddie extended the highest level of profes- sional and knowledgeable service throughout all of my interactions. To follow suit your addi- tional team members that also provided assistance were extremely helpful. It has been my experience that when the overall environment fosters a truly committed focus on superior service this is not by accident, it in fact is a result of great leadership and core culture." GRK goes above and beyond to add small touches that make the customer feel valued. Something as simple as providing complimentary bagels and beverages to all customers makes the hard-working people who shop in their stores feel at home. GRK adds a level of convenience for the customer in every area possible – like providing free local delivery, on-site service by their belting division, and free Van Der Graaf drum motor shipping for service at Valley Drummotor Great West (the only Van Der Graaf drum motor factory authorized warranty service and sales center for the western United States). They also provide repair and maintenance service in their own local facility and on-site for products such as Hotsy pressure washers and more. GRK's recent outreach to the CA wine industry is a prime example of "staying small" by mak- ing a personal connection. Members of the sales team are reaching out to current and potential wine industry customers, and connecting with winery and vineyard managers to gain insight into their spe- cific needs, and providing them with a brand new Winery Services Packet that introduces Green Rubber – Kennedy Ag and makes them aware of GRK product lines that are particularly appropri- ate for them. Altogether, Green Rub- ber – Kennedy Ag has emerged as a leader, with a growing company and a first-class reputation for customer service. They are helping people ev- erywhere remember that growing big still means that - in the big picture - it is the small things that make the difference.

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