in the U.S. are located in Yankton and the headquarters in Hibbing, Minnesota, with worldwide locations in Chile, Mexico and Australia. The Yankton location opened in 2007 and has quickly evolved into a very efficient and strong team of employees, as explained by Janell Worm, Human Resources. Alicia Smith, Back-up Supervisor, has been with the company for four years. When she moved to Yankton a little over four years ago, she found that L&M Radiator was paying a higher starting wage for female employees and appreciated the benefits they offered so she decided to apply with the company. She loves cooking, photography and watching her children play in sports. Sabrina Poore has been an Assembler with the company for one year. A friend told her about the job and she applied online for the position. She had three interviews with the company and became hired on within the same month. A very active person, she enjoys the outdoor activities of hunting, fishing and four-wheeling. Like many women do, she also likes to go shopping. She also loves to play with her puppies. Who doesn’t love puppies!? Wilson Trailer As explained by John Kreber, Director of HR, “Wilson Trailer is an industry leader in the design, manufacture and sales of livestock, grain, belted, and flatbed truck trailers as well as pickup truck, gooseneck livestock trailers. Wilson Trailer began in the Dakota Territory in 1883. Founder Frank T. Wilson began manufacturing horse drawn wagons. By 1890, when he moved his carriage and wagon business to Sioux City, Iowa, Wilson Trailer was at the forefront of livestock trailer manufacturing.” “In the early 1900’s Wilson Trailer started building stock and grain racks for motor trucks and by 1928, Frank T. Wilson’s son-in-law, Clarence A. Persinger, joined the thriving firm. Upon the untimely death of his father in 1952, C. Wilson Persinger assumed the management of Wilson Trailer where he guided the company through many expansions and successes. Wilson held the position of Chairman of the Board until his passing in 2010. The fourth generation of Wilson Family leadership is currently represented by Wilson G. (“Bill”) Persinger, Co-CEO and John Persinger, Co-CEO, of Wilson Trailer.” “Today Wilson Trailer manufactures livestock, grain, flatbed, and gooseneck trailers and has manufacturing facilities in Sioux City, Iowa, Yankton and Lennox, South Dakota and Moberly, Missouri, with the home office located in Sioux City, Iowa. Wilson Trailer sells trailers to customers throughout North America and in some foreign countries. From the horse drawn wooden wagons of the past to the specialized equipment of today, we credit our success to loyal team members and faithful customers.” Lisa Davis, Welder and Quality Control, has been with Wilson Trailer for 16 years. When she began working for them, she was a single mother of five children and looking to provide a good future for her family, she opted for the company because of their high wage. Having found her niche, she states, “I love working here.” Her children are still her main hobby, though now she has grandchildren that she can spoil. She also manages to find time to shoot pool and travel. Vicki Otterman has been with the company for 15 years, nearly as long as Davis. She works the night shift as a machine operator for the Panel Machine. When Gurney’s was closing several years ago, they had a job fair and Wilson Trailer had a representative at that job fair who helped Otterman get her start with the company. She’s a puzzle buff, enjoying Soduku, jigsaw and crossword puzzles and she is also interested in new technology. Stacy Barta, a Supervisor with Wilson Trailer, has been with the company for nine years. Knowing other people employed with the company, their good comments about working for Wilson Trailer intrigued her into applying. Highly involved with her children and family, they are her main hobby though she also bowls and follows the Kansas City Chiefs football team. It is no doubt that Yankton’s success in manufacturing is from the remarkable staff and team of employees behind the scenes at the companies. These women are just an example of some of the amazing women in our community helping with the success of these businesses. vBy Julie Eickhoff Be Ready For The Upcoming Holidays With... FREE In-Home Consultations With One Of Our Design Professionals 920 Broadway, Yankton, SD • 605.665.3719 Monday - Friday 9 - 8 • Saturday 9 - 6 • Sunday Noon - 5 it’s a good life.™ furniture that lives the way you do HERVOICE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015v21