Vermeer Southeast Celebrates 50 Years
Vermeer Southeast Sales and Service, Inc. is celebrating 50 years of providing the Southeast with equipment, parts, service, and solutions for the underground construction market and tree care industry.
The company recently commemorated this significant milestone of 50 years with a celebration near their corporate office in Orlando, Florida. Those in attendance included employees and their families, vendors and partners. Both co-founders as well as the current owners, Kris Den Besten, Todd Ver Steeg and Jim Dees, made remarks reflecting on the company’s growth and success since it’s humble beginnings.
Officially incorporated on Dec. 5, 1966 by co-founders Merle Den Besten and Mel Bokhoven, Vermeer Southeast began operations in 1967 as part of an emerging sales and service, dealer network intended to meet the needs of a growing industrial market for Vermeer Corporation.
See a short video about the history of Vermeer Southeast at the end of this post.
The company, which started with a single location in Orlando, has grown to nine locations and nearly 160 employees across Alabama, Florida and Georgia, with Vermeer Alabama having been acquired in 2005. Vermeer Caribbean, Vermeer Puerto Rico and Vermeer Central America were acquired in 2003.
The former and current owners jointly acknowledged the success of the company has only been made possible by staying true to their core principles and values of always treating their employees and customers with honesty, integrity and fairness.
Also on hand to share congratulatory remarks were Bob Vermeer, chair emeritus of the Vermeer Board of Directors, and Doug Hundt, President of Industrial for Vermeer Corporation.
For more information, visit vermeersoutheast.com.