An appreciative Gary Thompson (above) addresses Crown distributors attending the annual Summit Awards program. Thompson of OKI Systems, Ltd., was presented with a special James F. Dicke Pioneer Award for his longtime efforts on behalf of the Crown distribution channel.

Crown Senior Vice President Jim Moran acknowledged Gary and Joan Thompson for their leadership as dealer principals for OKI Systems, Ltd., a distributor with operations in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. He praised the Thompsons for their integrity, honesty and innovation, presenting them with a special James F. Dicke Pioneer Award in appreciation for more than 38 years of service with Crown and its distributor network.

“They are true pioneers in every sense of the word,” said Moran. “OKI was one of the first to develop its service departments and allied product sales teams. Trust and integrity are two words closely associated with them.”

In addition to recognizing the Thompsons, Crown presented two other distributors, Lift Stak & Stor, Minneapolis-St. Paul, and Crown Lift Trucks, LaGrange, Illinois, with James F. Dicke Pioneer Awards, symbolic of Crown’s top dealer and branch operations for 2006. The award is named after Crown Chairman Emeritus James F. Dicke.

Product Support Manager Frank Guzik, General Manager, Branch – Midwest Region Fred Morrone and Sales Manager Pat Casey represented Crown Lift Trucks, LaGrange (front row, l-r) at the Crown Summit Awards program. The Crown branch earned the James F. Dicke Award, symbolic of the top branch for 2006. Also, above are Crown Senior Vice President Jim Moran, Vice President of Branch Operations Jim Ellis and Director of Branch Operations Dave Moran (back row, l-r).

The award marks the seventh time Lift Stak & Stor has achieved the Pioneer Award and its fourth in the last five years. Since the Summit Awards began in 1995, the company has compiled an impressive 19 awards. CEO Jim Wingate, President Jeff Sell, Vice President – Sales Ron Wade and Service Manager Dave Milless represented Lift Stak & Stor, receiving the award on behalf of the company’s employees.

For Crown Lift Trucks, LaGrange, the James F. Dicke Pioneer Award was its first. Previously, the distributor won Summit Awards in 1996, 1997, and 1998. Branch General Manager– Midwest Region Fred Morrone, Sales Manager Pat Casey and Product Support Manager Frank Guzik represented the LaGrange branch.

Other Summit Award winners included Action Lift, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, PA; Lift, Inc., Lancaster, PA; NorthWest Handling Systems, Inc., Portland, OR; and Crown Lift Trucks, Tampa, FL. Action Lift, Inc., earned its eighth Summit Award in nine years.

Eight other distributors received Ascent Awards: A.J. Jersey, Inc., South Plainfield, NJ; Alliance Material Handling, Baltimore, MD; Naumann/Hobbs Material Handling, Inc., Phoenix, AZ; NorthWest Handling Systems, Inc., Seattle, WA; Crown Lift Trucks, Orlando, FL; Crown Lift Trucks, Salt Lake City, UT; Crown Lift Trucks, Denver, CO.; and Crown Lift Trucks, San Antonio, TX.

The tradition continues as CEO Jim Wingate and President Jeff Sell hold the Summit Award and James F. Dicke Pioneer Award respectively during the Summit Awards program recognizing Crown’s top distributors for 2006. Wingate and Sell, along with Vice President – Sales Ron Wade (left) and Service Manager Dave Milless (right), represented Lift Stak & Stor at the annual ceremony. In 2006, the company earned their seventh Pioneer Award.  Also, above are Crown Senior Vice President Jim Moran, Vice President – Branch Operations Jim Ellis, Director of Sales Greg Meyer and Director of Aftermarket Support Jim Gaskell (l-r, back row).

The annual national awards ceremony took place at the St. Regis Resort Monarch Beach, Dana Point, California.