There are a lot of men and women at Rotary Lift who go above and beyond to make our customers happy and our products the very best. This Veterans Day, we’re especially grateful to those who have served in our armed forces. There are 37 veterans who bring their talents, drive and commitment to our Rotary team. As we wish them all a Happy Veterans Day, we invite you to get to know a few of our veterans a little bit better.
Meet Gary Bennett.
What branch did you serve, and for how long?
I served in the Marines for four years.
What motivated you to join the military?
I needed direction and motivation in my life. My older brother joined so I couldn’t let him one up me. I’m a very competitive person.
How does your experience in the military help your work at VSG today?
The military gave me teamwork skills, drive, discipline and people skills that I use every day in my job.
Tell us a bit about your family and what you like to do outside of work.
I’ve been married to my wife Kim for 23 years. I have two kids: Lexi, 20 and Gabe, 18. Both attend IUPUI in Indianapolis. My hobby is fitness, I enjoy running up our local hills in town. I used to be a fitness instructor at our local gym for 6 years.
Meet Tom Cope.
What Branch did you serve, and for how long?
I served in the United States Marine Corps for five years. Two years in a line unit, two years in a chemical rescue unit and a year with the military police.
What motivated you to join the military?
It had been a dream of mine for years, and I had no idea really what I wanted to later in life. The Marine Corps fulfilled my dreams and gave me time to figure out what direction I needed to go.
How does your experience in the military help your work at VSG today?
One of my biggest take-aways from the military is mission accomplishment. I manage the testing and qualification lab, and that mindset of finding a way to get things done regardless has been a big asset. Sometimes we have to get pretty creative to find the best way to test a lift or component.
It is also a positive attribute when it comes to assisting other departments. I’ve never been one to pass the buck. If tech support needs help with a field issue, I jump right in to help figure it out, or head out to the location to find a fix.
Tell us a bit about your family and what you like to do outside of work.
My wife and I just celebrated our 9th anniversary. We have two boys, 4 and 7 years old. I like being outside hunting, fishing, four-wheeling and golfing. I also enjoy carpentry; building stuff with my hands and using power tools. And I’m pretty involved with our church and just ran a half marathon for our church’s charity to bring clean water to kids in Africa.
Happy Veterans Day from everyone at Rotary.