The biggest nail producer in the United States, Mid-Continent Steel & Wire, has announced the retirement of Kirk Henningsen, the company’s national sales manager. He will retire in the first quarter of 2019, and he has been a driving force behind Mid-Continent’s growth and plant development. Through the years, Mid-Continent’s Poplar Bluff, Missouri nail manufacturing facility has become the largest nail mill in North America.
George Skarich, vice president of sales and marketing for Mid-Continent, credited Henningsen for helping to make the Magnum nail brand synonymous with quality and service. Skarich added, “Kirk Henningsen has played an instrumental role in the development of what is now the largest nail plant in North America. He has been a loyal manager, mentor and friend to many customers and fellow Mid-Continent employees.”
Looking to continue its place of leadership in the pallet industry, Skarich has worked with Henningsen to ensure a seamless transition. He added that Henningsen is being replaced by two separate national sales managers. Each will have a different focus. Bruce Kennedy, who has become well known to the pallet sector, will be responsible for industrial sales. And Jason Kennedy will manage the distribution channel.
Skarich affirmed, “Kirk and I have been working on making sure that the future of MCN is in good hands knowing this day would come at some point. Over the last two years he has been mentoring Jason Kennedy to manage our Distributor Channel and Bruce Kennedy (no relation) our Industrial Channel. Both Kirk and I are confident that he is leaving all of us in good hands.”
For an interim period, Henningsen will stay on as a consultant for a few months. Please join us in wishing Kirk Henningsen all the best in his retirement. You can reach Kirk at kirk@mcswusa.com. For more information on Mid-Continent and Magnum nails, please visit www.magnumfasteners.com.
