Two pioneer employees of GMA Americas – Pete Mitchell and Carl Borgh achieved 10 years of service last year.

PETE MITCHELL

Pete Mitchell came on board as Regional Sales Manager in April 2007. Within a year, he was promoted to Vice President of Sales – a role he holds to this day.

As one of the pioneer employees in GMA Americas, Pete was the second GMA employee and has seen the company grow from the first office in Houston to a large operation of four garnet processing facilities and a hard rock garnet mine in Montana.

“One of my most memorable moments with GMA was watching the first bulk shipment unload at our plant in Fairless Hills, Philadelphia eight years ago,” Pete said.

Besides overseeing the sales and marketing efforts across the North, Central and South Regions of USA, he is actively involved in a number of industry-related professional bodies and societies. Pete represents GMA in WJTA, NACE, SSPC, the Houston and Louisiana Coatings Society, as well as a USA standards team that works with the International ISO standards board.

CARL BORGH

In May 2007, Carl Borgh became the third employee of GMA based in Queensbury, New York.

It all began with a phone call from GMA to Carl. An established waterjet spares supplier had recommended him for the new Regional Sales Manager job at GMA. One month after the interview in New York City, Carl was ‘on the job’.

“From the beginning, I could tell this was the type of outside sales position I could sink my teeth into, once we were ready to sell,” Carl said.

“I remember there were just a few people in the Houston office with Pete Mitchell and I as Sales Representatives. I drove my Chevy Impala all over the Northeast US Region, usually with 10 to 20 bags of GMA Garnet™, weighing 25kg each in the trunk (boot). This earned me the title of ‘Road Dog’ – given by the warehouse staff”.

Carl considers it his great fortune and blessing to have landed with GMA, a little over 10 years ago.

“GMA, as a company has always upheld and supported my empathetic approach to customer relationships. This has allowed me to succeed. I am very fortunate and blessed for my understanding wife, Michelle and for having the GMA family at my back all this while,” Carl said.

By Rod Liebeck, Houston