Who is Todd Stites?
You may know him as the General Manager of Kentuckiana Wire Rope & Supply (KWR), a Fulcrum Lifting company, but we also know him as a husband and father of two, an avid exerciser, a lover of sports and a tremendous asset to the Fulcrum Lifting team.
Todd Stites was hired at KWR in 1997 for inside sales, and was promoted to General Manager when Bob Sample retired in 2013. He now also serves on the board of directors for the Association of Crane & Rigging Professionals (ACRP).
We asked Todd to tell us a few things about himself that you may not know.
What do you like most about your job?
I love the variety. Each day there is something different that comes up. I may be working on rigging applications, doing something in inside sales, human resources or maybe working on something in the shop. I’m always hopping around doing something different.
How do you strive to give customers a good experience?
In today’s world, everybody wants it now. We do a great job living up to those expectations. Customers keep coming back throughout the years for the service we provide. Many times when asking customers when they need their order, the common response is “yesterday.” Although time travel is not an option, we still get pretty close.
What’s an interesting fact customers may or may not know about you?
Although they see me sitting in the corner office, I have no problem with going out in the shop and getting greasy whenever it’s needed.
What do you like doing outside of work?
Jiu-Jitsu, exercising and tennis. The cool thing for me is that my family shares in my hobbies!
Tell us about your family.
I have a wife and two sons – Will is 16 and Jackson is 14.
What is your favorite movie?
Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum
What about your favorite food?
Most would say it is brown rice and chicken because I have it every day for lunch, but my favorite is definitely pizza.
If you could be any superhero, who would you be?
That’s a tempting question, but to answer it would be to open myself up to never-ending ridicule. I’ll pass!
How would your family or friends describe you?
Dependable, loyal and usually laughing at something.
What do you like best about working with your customers?
Helping them find solutions to their rigging needs. It’s pretty cool when I drive down the road and see a customer using something we made or had a hand in.
How does your long tenure in the industry help you with your job?
It’s allowed me to be involved in all aspects of the company from sales to fabrication to training and inspection. Through my journey, I’ve always been able to develop relationships with top people in the industry, so thankfully I always know where to go when I don’t have the answers.