Hi, I'm Meli. One of my duties as hostess of the "Gathering" web site is to tell you about the scheduled activities and attractions of the next conference. The picture is Ken Buell, who was the keynote speaker at the 2008 banquet. It is now my pleasure to introduce our evening speakers for 2010.
Evening Speakers:
Neil Dahlstrom - Business Information Analyst, Deere & Company, formerly the Corporate Archivist at Deere.
Neil was born and raised in East Moline, IL and holds degrees in History and Classics from Monmouth College, Monmouth, IL, and an MA in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, IL. Neil is the author of numerous articles in such publications as the Journal of Illinois History, Two-Cylinder and the John Deere Journal, and two books, including The John Deere Story: A Biography of Plowmakers John and Charles Deere, the first biography of John Deere published since 1942. As is apparent, Neil has a passion for writing and has a particular interest in the history of Deere & Company.
Join Neil on Thursday evening, March 18 at 7 p.m. his presentation titled: "John Deere: Frontier Entrepreneur".
What do emerging markets, railroads, bridges, sawmills, and a nice incentive package have in common? These are a few of the issues that persuaded John Deere to move to Moline in 1848. Much has been said about John Deere, the frontier blacksmith who brought the steel plow to the prairie. Yet Deere’s business success has been attributed to others…until now. New research reveals the savvy business side of John Deere, the man who built a thriving business on the frontier. Neil will take us through the decision-making process that led Deere to Moline in 1848, and allowed the man behind the plow to build a state-of-the-art manufacturing business on what was then the edge of the frontier.
Ed Haffenden - The History of the Syracuse Chilled Plow: From Molten Iron to the Chilled Plow.
Ed will present the history of the company along with a verbal tour of the plant and the manufacturing process including photos of the actual chilled process, concluding with the wide variety of agricultural products that Syracuse offered.
Ed is a two-cylinder enthusiast, having founded the Central New York Two-Cylinder Club in 1992. His Dad was employed at the Syracuse Chilled Plow Co. for over twenty-five years, so Ed's interest in the company comes naturally. Ed, an agricultural engineering graduate, began researching the history of the company some years ago and subsequently wrote several articles on the topic for Tradition Magazine.
Darold, Derrick & John Sindt - A Lifetime of "Going Green"
Join Darold and sons, Derrick and John as they relate their experience of being a John Deere implement dealer for over 50 years. Darold will tell of his start in the John Deere business in 1959 and the changes he witnessed in the past 50 years. Sons Derrick and John will tell of life growing up in the dealership and taking the business into the 21st century. In addition, Darold and family operate the Sindt Implement Museum containing a wonderful collection of rare tractors, implements and other equipment. Be sure to join Darold, Derrick and John as they take you on a ride through the history of a "heart of America" small-town John Deere operation. This is an evening presentation you won't want to miss!
Banquet Keynote Speaker:
Johnny Dickinson - Thirty-three years with Deere & Company in a variety of positions primarily in sales and marketing. Johnny was territory manager in Kansas and Missouri for agriculture and consumer products, marketing rep at Waterloo, vice president and general manager of the Bismark ND Implement Co., division manager at the Deere & Company branches in Dallas and Kansas City and later the Worldwide Marketing Manager for tractors at Waterloo. Johnny has traveled throughout the world in his work for Deere and has dozens upon dozens of interesting and humorous stories about his experiences with the company as Deere grew into a global enterprise.
“Gathering” Speakers