Name: Tom Euler
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Parts Rep
Years at PVE: 7
Tom was born in California and spent his childhood on several military bases in the area. With a father in the Air Force, he learned not only the value of taking responsibility for your actions, but also the importance of having pride in what you do.
Tom started in the aftermarket industry on the automotive side. Working as a delivery driver for NAPA in Omaha, he found his calling.
“I was drawn to the parts department,” Tom said. “People came to the counter with something wrong and you get to be the problem solver. You get to fix it and get them back going.”
Tom’s journey into agriculture started with moving to Wahoo. Despite growing up on the West Coast and in big cities, he soon felt right at home in the small-town community. Platte Valley’s presence in Wahoo led Tom to consider changing directions in the aftermarket industry. He heard Platte Valley was hiring from John McEvoy, sales rep in Wahoo, while they were watching their sons’ baseball game. He decided to try for the opportunity.
One of the biggest differences Tom found between the automotive parts department and the agricultural one was the sheer number of parts. From his years in Nebraska, he had a general knowledge of ag, but when he started working at Platte Valley, he realized just how broad the ag aftermarket was.
“It’s incredible, what farm machinery entails,” he said. “Most vehicles have one or two belts. Now, I deal with equipment that has 27 belts, and they all have different thickness and length.”
Tom most enjoys the interactions with the customers and his coworkers. “The things that make me feel most successful are the relationships. Watching the business grow with the customers.”
“Tom is an integral part of our parts team,” said Ross Miller, Wahoo Store Manager. “In addition to being the primary service shop parts man, he is a very productive counter salesman. He understands customer service, is an outside the box thinker, and has utilized his many years of experience in the automotive parts industry to bring ideas and new approaches to our business. His customer base grows annually as they see the value that he provides.”
Outside of work, Tom spends as much time as he can with his family. Congratulations, Tom, on your nomination as Wahoo’s Pride of Platte Valley!
