Richard Donnelly

Richard Donnelly is retiring from Gregory Poole Equipment Company on January 31, 2017.

Donnelly joined Gregory Poole in 1978 as a marketing consultant in the forest products division. He held several other positions within the marketing department before being promoted to manager of the industrial division in 1983. His next advancement saw him named executive vice president in December, 2001.

Colleagues say that throughout the years, Donnelly has helped Gregory Poole "grow to be the recognised leader in all the industries it serves".

Donnelly has contributed 38 years of his life to Gregory Poole Equipment Company, and his achievements and contributions will be long remembered.

"Richard has been an outstanding part of Gregory Poole's success and a true inspiration for all of us. He has been a dedicated and loyal associate who has worked tirelessly and selflessly throughout his career," a company statement adds.

In 2011, when he was elected president of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA), Donnelly shared his career highlights with Forkliftaction News.

A graduate of Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, he received a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering technology with an emphasis on construction management in 1970 and a bachelor of science degree in business administration with a concentration on marketing in 1971.

He attended US Army officer candidate school at Ft Sill, Oklahoma and graduated as a second lieutenant field artillery officer. He was assigned to Ft Dix, New Jersey and held positions as basic training officer and motor pool officer. Boosting his leadership experience, he managed 150 people and the operation of 600 military vehicles. He held the rank of lieutenant upon discharge.

In his spare time, Donnelly enjoys playing golf - at one time with a 12 handicap - and snow skiing.