Junior Kool began grinding welds in 1957 as one of Vermeer Corporate’s early employees. In 1962, he started selling Vermeer equipment and building personal relationships along the way. Using his hands-on experience, Junior helped customers match the right equipment to the task at hand. Then he did whatever it took to keep those customers happy, even when it meant long hours and lengthy trips to customer jobsites.
Junior and his wife Beverly opened the first Vermeer Midwest location in Eureka, Illinois in 1971. They quickly became known for their personal approach to customer service and their interest in seeing their customers succeed.
As their customer base expanded, so did their number of locations. Driven by customer requests and their dedication to personal customer care, Junior and Beverly grew their business to twelve locations across Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri that make up Vermeer Midwest today. With well over 125 years of combined experience, the company’s management team carries Junior’s vision forward while also integrating technology designed to enhance the customer experience.
As a larger, multi-state operation, Vermeer Midwest brings additional value to its customers. All ten branches are linked together, creating a regional network of parts, equipment and technical service know-how. And a fleet of over 30 mobile service vehicles gives customers quick access to experienced technicians, parts and on-site trouble-shooting.
The business looks a lot different today than it did in 1971. But one thing hasn’t changed: a genuine commitment to personal customer care.
Go the extra mile. Work the extra hours. Get your boots dirty on the jobsite. Do whatever it takes to take care of the customer. At Vermeer Midwest, this isn’t a banner on the wall or some statement in a business plan. It’s simply how business is done.
Wheeler Mission
Gleaners Food Bank
Flanner House
Third Phase Christian Center
Construction Family Assistance Foundation
Indiana Youth Services
Ronald McDonald House
Paws and Think
Wounded Warrior Project
Home for our Troops
Helping Heroes of America
Brace For Impact
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Five Acres Animal Shelter
Where Pigs Fly
Toys for Tots
By The Hand
Suicide Prevention
Illinois Troopers
Marklund
Lazarus House
Hands & Hooves Ridin
Whitetails Unlimited
Delta Waterfowl
Lupus Society
Anderson Animal Shelter
The Salvation Army
Juvenile Diabetes
Tunnels to Towers
Hessed House
Habitat for Humanity
American Heart Association
American Cancer Society
ADDWC
Alzheimer’s Association
Boy Scouts of America
Feeding America
Kids Wish Network
Peoria Rescue Ministries
South Side Mission
Smile Train
Special Olympics
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
Susan G. Komen
Compassionate Ministries
Family Impact Center
Extollo International
Fowlerville Agricultural Society
Folds of Honor