After 57 years in the produce industry, Phil “Rock” Gumpert, chairman and chief executive officer of Tom Lange Family of Companies is retiring as CEO, effective December 31st. The board of directors accepted his retirement as CEO and confirmed that Gumpert will remain on the board as chairman.
Gumpert began his career working for the Wabash Railroad on the St. Louis Produce terminal market handling produce rail cars for the wholesalers on the market. “Mr. Tom Lange and Mr. Farrell Gay, better known as Dutch, and Paul Beisser approached me about coming to work for Tom Lange Company,” he remembers. “This was some 57 years ago.”
Tom Lange Family of Companies has grown into a major player in the world of produce and logistics, both domestically and internationally. Tom Lange Company was one of the first companies to have commodity specialists and in the 1990s invested in its own growing operations.
Becky Wilson and Rock Gumpert at Fruit Logistica Berlin.
"I have had the good fortune to meet so many great customers, growers/shippers and transportation providers throughout my career and made countless friendships. These relationships helped me, and the company become successful. Tom Lange Family of Companies has also been blessed with so many associates who have exhibited loyalty, commitment, and passion which was instrumental to our early success, as well as the successes of today. I am extremely grateful for all the hard work and dedication each of them has given to the company. I feel confident in leaving, knowing that there is a great management team in place,” he says.
“What I might be most proud of is that in 1981, Tom, Dutch and I established the Employee Stock Ownership Plan. In 1985, we became 100 percent employee owned. We understood that our people are our most important asset and we wanted to reward them with company profits in the form of employee stock.”
“Rock has been my mentor in not only my professional career but also in my life. I held myself to a higher standard because I wanted to make him proud. His passion and drive for both the company’s and associate’s success are a source of inspiration,” said Becky Wilson, Tom Lange VP operations.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors and current and former employees, we thank Rock for his unwavering commitment to the Tom Lange Family of Companies and its employees, customers, growers, shippers and carriers. Rock’s leadership and ethics have defined our company and established a foundation for the future. I am humbled to have worked with Rock and am proud to call him a friend,” said Greg Reinauer, Tom Lange president.
Wish Rock a happy retirement at [email protected].
For more information:
Danielle Komonce
Tom Lange Family of Companies
Tel: +1 (314) 934-2824
https://www.tomlange.com/