Milling Journal - Q4 2008 - (Page 44) Bliss Industries Knows Hammermills As founder Bill Bliss retires, Greg Alles assumes leadership under new owners A lot has transpired in the past 18 months for Bliss Industries LLC, the Ponca City, OK manufacturer of hammermills, pellet mills, and coolers. First, in July 2007, company founder Bill Bliss sold 75% of the company he started in 1981 to Pennington Allen Capital Partners, a private investment firm based in Tulsa, OK. Then, in late October, Bliss sold his remaining 25% interest in the company to Pennington Allen and retired. With Bliss’ retirement, the company brought back long-time employee Greg Alles to serve as president. It’s a homecoming for Alles, who worked as a sales associate for the company from 1992 to 2005 before a three-year stint as a sales rep for Wichita, KS-based Kice Industries. Bill Bliss Retirement Bill Bliss’ roots in the hammermill industry go back to the 1960s when he sold hammermills manufactured by Jacobson and Champion. In March 1981, he started his own company, and according to Alles, quickly established Bliss Industries as an industry leader in the manufacture of hammermills, and later in the production of Greg Alles President, Bliss Industries LLC Ponca City, OK • 580-765-7787 Years with company: 14 Years in industry: 30 Education: Attended University of Oklahoma, Norman, where he pursued a degree in marketing. Career: 1974-76: Sales associate at Ferrell-Ross while attending college. 1983-92: Manufacturer’s representative for Ken Bratney where he sold Bliss equipment among others. 1992-2005: Director of sales and marketing for Bliss. 2005-2008: Regional office manager for Kice Industries. May, 2008: Rejoined Bliss as president of company which had been bought by the financial group Pennington Allen in 2007. Family: Wife, Julie; couple will celebrate their 32nd anniversary in 2008. pelletmills, coolers, and related equipment. “Bill Bliss has been a pioneer in the hammermill and pelletmill industry, and as our founder, has been the leader and visionary for our company,” states Alles. In announcing his retirement, Bliss said “the success of Bliss Industries due in large part to the employees that worked with me to make our dream a reality.” Bliss Management Team W Lane Pennington and Mark H. Allen, . the two partners of Pennington Allen Capital Partners, have been active senior executives and as members of the board of directors since their majority ownership purchase of Bliss Industries in July 2007. With Bliss’ retirement, Pennington will serve as chairman of the board, Allen as chief executive officer, and Alles as president. The rest of the management team includes: • Pete Davies, COO of manufacturing. • Paul Gill, VP of finance and administration. • Jim Greenburg, director of engineering. • Chad Cook, VP of marketing. Newest Product As the milling industry matured in the 1990s, Alles says the company started looking at new opportunities for growth. It has found one in the bourgeoning market for whole grain food and flour. “We saw more and more families becoming aware of the value of whole grain foods and their increasing demand for 44 Fourth Quarter 2008 Response No. 441 MILLING JOURNAL http://www.agriassociates.com http://www.agriassociates.com
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