2013 marks the 111th year that The Vernon Company, Newton, Iowa, has spent creating ideas, developing innovative products and successfully helping other businesses effectively market to their customers.
The company recently celebrated this unique anniversary by holding a number of special events for its home office staff, 35 Central region account executives, company retirees, the mayor of Newton and other dignitaries.
“We are very pleased to celebrate 111 years of success in the Newton community,” said Chris Vernon, MAS, president of The Vernon Company. “My great grandfather F.L. Vernon and grandfather Bill Vernon would be very pleased to see the progress and vast expansion of the business during the last 50 years. Through these many decades, we’ve been blessed with outstanding and loyal employees who have helped us to grow, diversify into new market segments and prosper even during tough economic times. I think it’s a testament to our unique family-friendly culture that dozens of our employees (and retirees) have been with us virtually their entire adult career often spanning 25, 30 and even 40-plus years.”
Festivities throughout the day included a catered luncheon for all guests, a dedication of the Vernon Cardinal Sculptures (carved from a 165-year old white oak from the property), prize drawings and giveaways, fun photo opportunities for staff, and Mike’s Homemade Ice Cream served on the south lawn. Additionally, the company had numerous displays showcasing more than a century of collectible Vernon products, manufacturing operations and VIPs from yesterday and today.
Williams F. “Bill” Vernon, Jr., CEO of The Vernon Company, started with the company in 1956. Of the 111 year milestone he remarked, “I wanted this celebration to be a reason to once again acknowledge the importance of our home office employees. They are a very skilled group of people. We are proud that the average length of service is much higher than most companies. My grandfather, Fred Vernon, and my father, Bill Vernon, Sr. laid the groundwork for where we are today. They had the ideas, the energy and the ability to pick good team members that laid a solid foundation. I’ve tried to follow the same pattern during my 57 year career here.”
Founded in 1902, by Frederick L. Vernon in Newton, the company is currently in its fourth generation of family management and ownership and has grown from a small, one-man business to become one of the largest distributors and manufacturers in both the promotional products and screen graphics industries. Today, Vernon Company is one of only 30 companies in America of its age that is in the same industry in which it began and still owned by the same family.
For more information, visit www.vernoncompany.com.
