[Pictured: Slide One - Jimmy Vela; Slide Two - Ryan Horner; Slide Three - Darol Hayes]

Franklin Electric Co., recently held its annual Commercial Summit, a gathering of team members from across its operations. The event is an important start to the year, providing time for strategic planning and educational training. It also gives the company a chance to celebrate the previous year’s sales and service achievements across its United States and Canada water operations. The winners of this year’s awards for outstanding performance, sales and customer support include the following:

Field Salesperson of the Year: Jimmy Vela

Jimmy Vela has been with Franklin Electric for 25 years, beginning in field service in Mexico and Central America, to field service in Texas, and was promoted to territory management with Franklin Electric in 2004. He is an extraordinary example to those who work with him, offering ideas, guidance and mentoring. In 2021, Vela made it a point to provide on-site training and dealer support whenever his customers needed it. He is known to both his peers and his customers as the “go-to-guy” for answers. Jimmy is an active member of the Texas Ground Water Association.

Field Service Engineer of the Year: Ryan Horner

Ryan Horner is known throughout his New England territory for delivering a unique point of view, extensive knowledge and exceptional service, backed by his training as an electrical engineer. He works regularly in conjunction with the territory managers in his area to collaborate and problem solve. The award recognizes how Horner has truly set the bar for field service in his area.

Team of the Year: US South Central Region

Led by Darol Hayes, the South Central team delivered outstanding service and results across their area, despite challenging circumstances. The team is recognized for their willingness to do whatever is asked of them and providing extensive training and support. They are also actively involved in local associations and groundwater organizations, helping to promote the future of the industry. The South Central team included the following: Chase Ellsworth, Darol Hayes, Dave Batdorff, Erasmo Barron, Ilse Gallegos, Jennifer Ford, Jesse Zwiebel, Jimmy Vela, Hannah Kiningham and Woody Kunkel.