Winter/Spring 2011

Making it Happen in 2010 2011

For the first time since Stone has held
annual sales meetings, talk around this
year’s event was not about making up
for a tough sales year. It was about how
to build on the best year Stone has ever
had.
The 6th Annual Sales Meeting was
notable for its upbeat tone and positive
prospects for 2011. About 70 people Doug Ingram, Brian Herrington
took part in the trade show, training (both SKF)
classes and listened to two guest speakers
from HDA Truck Pride and Coca-Cola. Vendor of the Year, Webb Wheel
Area sales manager Terry Barbee liked (Fred Safrit, left), with Jim Stone
learning more about customers’ evolving
business habits. “A real benefit was
getting to hear how our customers are
changing, adapting to these changes and
ways they are asking for their vendors’
help,” said Barbee.
It wasn’t all about business, though. Reverse Raffle winner,
This year’s reverse raffle was once again Susan Freeman
a popular Saturday night event. While
every employee ended up taking home
a prize, Raleigh’s Susan Freeman landed
the ‘big one’, even with eyes closed. Tom Jackson, Scott Crouch,
Mark Owens (all Haldex)
“During the raffle, I kept thinking to
myself, “Don’t look at it”. Two people
told me I was standing up front with my
eyes closed as the numbers were called
out,” said Freeman. “I couldn’t believe it
when I won the Apple iPad!” Greensboro's Dan Pizzino
Freeman also helped Don Purcell accepted Branch of the Year
conclude the sales meeting by updating award
Purcell’s 2010 slogan. Last year, he
challenged everyone to “Make It
Happen in 2010”. During the final hour
of January’s meeting, Freeman took a Haldex's Scott Crouch (left) wins
Sharpie and crossed out 2010 on the 2010's Hustle Award
banner and wrote in 2011.
“If we could build upon the great strides
we made in 2010, that would make Paul Picotte, Eric Freed
2011 worth celebrating next January,” (both Tectran)
said Purcell.
Stone Wins Big In Las Vegas
Stone Truck Parts took home the Heavy Duty Aftermarket
Week jackpot in late January. The company was tapped as
the ninth annual Truck Parts & Service Distributor of the
Year (DOTY) during the meeting’s opening session at The
Mirage in Las Vegas.
Stone took first-place honors, rising to the top of an impres-
sive field of competitors. Pascale Service Corp., Wheelco
Truck and Trailer, Cook Brothers and Drive Train Industries
rounded out the top five finalists for the national award.
Stone partners Don Purcell and Keith McLemore were
on hand to receive the trophy from Denise Rondini, the
magazine’s executive editor.
Don Purcell and Keith McLemore accept the 2010 DOTY award
“The DOTY winner is seen as the best of the best. Someone in Las Vegas
who is innovative, and also someone who is involved in the
industry,” said Rondini. “In the beginning, we asked suppliers provide value-added products and had the good personnel
who sold through distribution to nominate the best distribu- ready to meet needs out there,” he said.
tors. This did not necessarily mean their biggest, but rather
“Obviously, at the end of the day, the performance of this
those who were the best.”
company, which grew from ground zero to an impressive
Keith McLemore said that although the company has only record in sales and market share, continues to amaze our
three branches, he believes Stone is on par with any company suppliers. I don’t know of any other company in my 30 years
in the country. “We’ve worked hard to create partnerships in the heavy duty aftermarket that has had this type of
with our suppliers that are long lasting and meaningful. We’re achievement in just seven years.”
honored to be thought of in such high regard, especially
Jim Stone Jr, who was on hand to witness the award presenta-
among a field as strong as this year’s finalists.”
tion, agrees with Purcell. “We knew we were becoming known
Don Purcell believes Stone’s recent award is a direct result of as a strong WD in North Carolina, but this type of recognition
the success of Stone’s original business plan. “There was a validates the huge strides we’ve made. From zero inventory and
need in the marketplace for an independent company that no customers to Distributor of the Year in seven years is really
could make swift decisions, respond to customers quicker, amazing!” said Stone.

Partners’ Corner
In the early months of 2003, there was only one goal at Stone Truck Parts. Survive! We were new
players in a marketplace that didn’t lack for competition. We had a dream that we could build a
business that truly focused on our employees, our customers and our suppliers, and we’d value each
one of those relationships. In our opinion, that’s what was missing in the marketplace at that time.
But never did we dream of being named the ninth annual Truck Parts and Service Distributor of the
Year for 2010. Companies that have won this award in the past are ones that I personally admire. To
know now that the supplier community and our peers consider us to be a part of that elite group is
extremely humbling to me.
Since the trophy had to be handed to someone, they handed it to Don and me. But in our case, it truly belongs to the
employees of Stone Truck Parts. Many people believed in us along the way. At each step along the way, our dreams could
have been dashed if someone had said ‘no’. Probably the most important step on our company’s journey was the one where
potential employees said ‘yes’ and joined our team.
Many employees left perfectly good jobs to join Stone, and I thank you for doing that and believing in us. There are at least
60 reasons Stone Truck Parts was given this award. Mostly likely, if you are reading this, you are one of those reasons, and we
thank you sincerely.
— Keith McLemore
Supply Lines
Dan Stepp
Dan Stepp, sales manager for Stone’s Vendor of the Year
Webb Wheel Company, Inc., has survived Vietnam, the
economic downturn of the 1970s, moves from the west
Webb products to Stone, from rotor to hubs to drum
coast to the south, and most recently, knee-replacement
fasteners, Stepp said he appreciates Stone’s commitment to
surgery. Through it all, he has relied on his faith in God
products made in the USA. “‘American Made’ is making a
and his belief in relationships based on mutual trust,
strong comeback in all areas I cover for Webb,” said Stepp.
truthfulness and respect.
“Stone Truck Parts pushes this motto with every effort
Stepp’s work history is as varied as the products he currently they pursue. I do see many fleet customers changing their
represents. After a stint in the Marines, where he saw action attitudes toward buying foreign products.”
against the North Vietnamese army, he went back to Seattle
Stepp’s relationship with Stone began back in 1996 with the
to work until he was laid off during the days of gas rationing
original company and was reestablished with Stone Truck
in the 1970s. He had to do odd jobs to support his wife
Parts in 2005. “Our relationship continues to evolve and
and two sons until he landed a job with a Kenworth truck
progress. This group has integrity that is beyond question.
company.
In all my years traveling, I have never heard a derogatory
After working with Kenworth, he worked with Seattle’s comment about Stone Truck Parts,” said Stepp.
Utility Trailer Dealer, then three years later, he moved on
“These folks have been successful because of the conserva-
to sell Volvo trucks. He then landed a job as a regional
tive business principles they operate under, coupled with
manager for Reyco Industries before joining Webb in 1992.
strong leadership skills and determination that adapts to
Today, Stepp calls on fleets on behalf of his customers or to each situation required to get the job done. This is the mark
secure business for Webb. Representing his entire line of of a trendsetter, a pace setter and a company to watch.”

Employee
Birthdays Bryan Carter (Charlotte) graduated from West Mecklenburg High School
and liked the Charlotte area so much, he decided to put down roots and make
January
it his home base. His children, Bryan Jr. and Brooke, and wife, Gina, keep him
Mitch Wells 1/2
Jonathan Garcia 1/7 busy when he’s not at work, but when he can; he finds time to fix up old cars
Steven Tant 1/8 and trucks.
Mycal Miller 1/21 Justin Lynch (Raleigh) was born and raised in the City of the Oaks (Raleigh)
John Adkins 1/22
and even graduated from the local college (N.C. State). A big fishing enthusiast,
Chuck Gattis 1/22
Justin is planning a winter trip to the coast to try and land some striped bass
February soon.
Justin Lynch 2/4
Tyrone Clayton 2/12 Heath Brown (Raleigh) was also born and raised in Raleigh. Married four
Billy Williams 2/24 years to his wife, Candi, Heath has been working in the trucking industry for
Tyler Pengelly 2/28 10 years. He likes to spend his free time editing video, playing music and
crafting homebrew beer.
March
Chris Isenberg 3/9 Levi Franklin (Charlotte) has been in the trucking industry for 22 years
Jim Stone 3/17 and has held a wide range of positions including inventory control manager and
Ryan Maroney 3/24 parts manager. He’s been married for 21 years to Shae, and has two sons,
Terry Williams 3/26
Wesley and Duncan. His proudest achievement was to lead his son’s travel
April baseball team to a first-place championship at the S.C. state championships. Mitch Wells welcomed this
John Hohmann 4/3 He also served with the N.C. National Guard during Desert Storm. temporary salesman to the
Susan Freeman 4/11 Stone team over the winter.
Donald Purcell 4/12 Congratulations to David Dunn and Andrew Purcell. They were installed
The newest 'employee' should
Bobby Hardison 4/29 as officers with the Eastern Chapter of the North Carolina Maintenance Council.
be good to go until spring!
Diane Reed 4/30 David serves as secretary, while Andrew serves as treasurer.
 1329 Management Way
Garner, NC 27529
CONNECTIONS
Lisa McLemore, Editor and Writer
Please send comments or suggestions to lkmclemore@earthlink.net

Andrew seemed happy with his career in sales. With both

Employee Profile:
Shane Riggs
Shane Riggs, Stone outside sales
trainee, had big plans growing up
in the little town of Cornelius, NC.
Baseball. He was going to be a baseball player. First base
would be his center stage.
Thank goodness Riggs was wrong. It ended up being foot-
ball, not baseball, which landed him center stage at N.C.
State’s Carter-Finley Stadium. At 6 feet, 4 inches tall, Riggs’
size and skill as an athlete landed him offers from other
colleges. But his brother attended State, and that was his
deciding factor.
During his college-gridiron years, Riggs got to know an
underclassman by the name of Andrew Purcell. After gradu-
ating with a sports management degree in 2003 and working
in the restaurant business, Riggs ran into Purcell at a football
reunion. Talk turned to careers, and Riggs was intrigued
by Purcell’s choice of Stone Truck Parts. Six months later,
Purcell called him and asked if he was serious about his
interest in Stone.
“The whole business of trucks was a foreign concept to me.
I’ve never changed my own oil,” explained Riggs. “But
my dad and brother in outside sales, I do have salesmen
blood in me.”
When Riggs began work in the Garner warehouse in late
2009, he found starting from scratch challenging, but not
discouraging. “I’ve seen the life of an outside salesman
through my father. Working on commission means the
hungrier you are, the more you sell. It is definitely like
sports. I like the hunger, the chase and the thrill. Every
sale is a touchdown,” he said.
Riggs fills his days visiting old customers and hunting
down new ones. “A good day to me is finding a customer
we didn’t have and seeing them put the Stone name and
number in their Rolodex,” said Riggs.
With a little more than a year under his belt, Riggs knows
that he still has a lot to prove. “I’m still learning to sell
myself, sell my company and sell our products. But this is
a good career for a young person. It’s the most fun and
happiest I’ve been since I’ve played football,” he said.
Slice of Life: Shane Riggs
•Favorite food: Mom’s spaghetti
•Favorite show: Apocalypse Now
•Favorite vacation spot: Myrtle Beach
•Favorite team: N.C. State