David Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Titan Machinery
“This was a high profile situation with a high degree of seriousness and national attention. There were a lot of people who put their trust in Titan Machinery to get this fixed. Case IH, Bankruptcy Trustee, farmers, employees, fellow Case IH dealers and Titan Machinery stakeholders all had a vested interest.
“Peter Christianson and I knew we had the knowhow and experience to make this work. We also recognized the importance of doing this ourselves and being hands on. It’s like the winning athlete that wants the ball for the game winning basket or touchdown. It was up to us to make things happen. We took the time out of our schedules to focus on Dike putting together a plan and executing. I can remember a number of times working all day in Dike then driving 7-8 hours back to Fargo so we could be at our Shared Resource Headquarters first thing the next morning.
“We are seeing the same commitment and work ethic day in and day out from the Titan employees in Grundy Center. That’s what I like about working with farmers and people in this industry; they do what it takes to get the job done.
“What is really rewarding is to see the improved business climate for equipment dealers in Iowa. Dealers are now working together in a cooperative environment for the betterment of the industry. Dealers are investing in facilities, equipment and people resources. We are seeing improved dealer income statements and balance sheets. Farmers are seeing higher levels of product support and technology bringing long-term value to their farming operations. Dealers are much stronger today which is good for the dealers, manufacturers and customers.”
Troy Price, Store Manager, Titan Machinery Grundy Center
“On some of the toughest days here, I have fantasized about what it would have been like to have moved into a brand new store in a neutral area without all of the baggage that went with getting this store up and running. We had to work ourselves out of a huge hole. The one thing we learned from this experience is the need to reach out and get involved immediately in the community. It’s huge. To reach out to them and not just expect people to reach out to you. We understand that the phone isn’t just going to ring here. Those days are over. Customers aren’t just going to walk in the door. We found out for ourselves about the need to not only reach out and be on the farm, but to be sincere about earning their business.”
