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Tom LeTourneau
GENERAL MANAGER
GILL BEBCO, LLC, LENEXA, KANSAS
NUMBER OF DIRECT REPORTS:
41
NOMINATED BY:
Beth Suter, Kenny Weiland, Cheryl Becker,
MAS, Amber Wiles, Melissa Fitkin, Ann White and Jennifer Gomez
Tom LeTourneau, who
will soon retire, built his
career for the past 34 years
at supplier Gill Studios,
Inc. and then moved to
Bebco two years ago when
his employer acquired
the supplier. It was an
ideal opportunity to use
his people management
skills to help guide and
support the growing
company. While his new
reports praise LeTourneau’s
abilities (and a number
of them nominated him
for this honor), he’s also
retained longtime devotees
such as nominator Cheryl
Becker, who reported to him
at Gill for 30 years. “Tom is
responsible for teaching me
the print and technical side
of manufacturing,” she says.
“He remained my mentor
when he left Gill and moved
to take on the challenge of
rebuilding Bebco. He has
always been that person in
the background that made
us what we are today. He has
a ‘never say no’ attitude.”
Nominator and
purchasing manager Beth
Suter, who was at Bebco
when it was acquired,
praises LeTourneau—and
for good reason. “He helped
save about 35 people’s jobs
after Gill Studios bought
Bebco,” she says. “He came
in and let everyone continue
doing the jobs they were
used to doing, and got
to know the employees,
equipment, products and
processes before making
any changes.” Her colleague,
customer service manager
Kenny Wieland, shares her
admiration for their boss.
“Tom has instilled a high
standard of integrity and
honesty in the company
since Bebco opened,” he says.
“He is dedicated to providing
a quality product, excellent
service and prompt delivery
to our customers—and his
dry sense of humor will
brighten up the day.”
Tom LeTourneau (center) is all
smiles shown here with five
of his nominators. From left:
Melissa Fitkin, Ann White,
Beth Suter, Amber Wiles and
Kenny Wieland.
Most important lesson
learned as a boss:
As a
boss you are always being
watched by your associates
for what you do and say.
Set a good example.
Philosophy for successfully
managing people:
Hold
associates accountable for
their actions in the company.
Set goals and prioritize
them. Do not micromanage.
To create a positive
team culture:
Praise in
public and discipline in
private. Every day, make
the rounds and say hello
to the associates. Listen
and share information.
Have fun and be happy.
Best advice for other people
managers?
When something
goes wrong do not quickly
assume it is a people issue.
Look at the process first.
Best boss ever:
My best
boss was the one who hired
me at Gill Studios—Jim
Westendorff. He had a
mild-mannered style of
managing that was still
effective. When the right
people were placed in the
right positions he trusted
them to do a good job.
ONE-ON-ONE WITH
TOM LETOURNEAU
As a boss
you are
always being
watched
by your
associates
for what you
do and say.
Set a good
example.
2016
TOM’S COOL FACTOR
Tom’s mind never shuts
down. “You can see his
mechanical mind always
working,” says nominator
Cheryl Becker, MAS. “He
has a quiet side to him that
makes you want to make
him talk. We have shared
the bad with the good and
still stayed friends.”
54
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OCTOBER 2016
|
FEATURE
|
Best Bosses