Last week, FINN Corporation held its annual Dealer Sales Conference in Fairfield, Ohio. All 22 North American dealers were represented, along with its Australian/New Zealand distributor. Participants were treated to nearly two days of FINN equipment and consumables sales education, erosion control best management practices, specialty applications, and field demonstrations. As part of the conference, FINN recognized dealers with awards for excellence in partnership, leadership and growth based on their 2011 performance. 
For the second straight year, Highway Equipment Company was awarded the Don Sharp Dealer of the Year award. The award is named after a long-time FINN employee, now retired, who was instrumental in making FINN the market leader that it is today. Highway Equipment sells, rents and services FINN equipment throughout western Pennsylvania.
Other award winners included hydrograsscorp.com out of the northeastern U.S. and James River Equipment of Virginia and North Carolina, as first and second runners-up, respectively, to the Dealer of the Year. Road Builders Machinery and Supply based in Kansas City, Kan., was named New Dealer of the Year for its impressive start as a FINN distributor.
In addition to the awards handed out by FINN Corporation, the dealers recognized a FINN employee that they felt gave exceptional service to the distribution network. The first-ever Jerry Malcolm Dealer Choice Award was given to FINN Production Manager Keith Spitznagel. Prior to becoming production manager earlier this year, Spitznagel had been the FINN service manager.
Caption: Left to right: Jon Richardson (FINN), Matt Jacobs (Highway Equip), Nate Brooms
(Highway Equip), Jim Langer (Highway Equip), Don Sharp (FINN-retired), John McNally (Highway Equip), James Higgins (FINN), John Imm (FINN) and Angie Arnold (FINN).
