KEMPTVILLE, Ont. — Gerald Tallman, dealer principal at Kemptville Truck Centre in Kemptville, Ont, has been given the Lifetime Achievement Award honor by International Truck and Engine Corp.

Tallman received his Lifetime Achievement Award at the company’s 26th Annual Circle of Excellence black-tie awards ceremony, held at the Four Seasons Resort Wailea, Maui Hawaii.

The prestigious award is presented to those dealers whose “consistent record of achievement and humanity throughout the course of their career has clearly provided a role model of excellence while enriching the value of the International brand among their customers and communities,” the company states.

“Gerald Tallman’s quiet, unassuming personal demeanor masks his very aggressive business character when it comes to attacking his marketplace,” said John Whitnell, vice-president of Dealer Operations, in a press release. “He is a dominant force in his area of responsibility and his dealership has a record of consistent excellence.”

In 2004, Kemptville Truck Centre earned the highest rating in North America from International’s Diamond Standards program. Gerald is also a strong leader in his community. Over the years, Tallman has actively supported the Canadian Cancer Society, the Ottawa Heart Institute and numerous other community service organizations throughout eastern Ontario.

After the untimely death of his father, Tallman began working as a young teen to help support his family. Gerald got his first taste of the automotive business when he got a job in the parts department of a local car dealership. He rose through the ranks of the automotive business through hard work and with a commitment to helping others. In 1970, Gerald opened his own garage and used car lot called Tallman Motors. In 1973, he became an owner of Kemptville Truck Centre and shortly thereafter became the sole proprietor.

Today, the Kemptville Truck Centre is a full-service dealership serving
major markets from six locations in Kemptville, Cornwall, Brockville,
Kingston, Ottawa and Belleville, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the largest International dealerships in Canada, offering International brand products, including the full line of International trucks, and all-makes parts, as well as a full-service repair, paint and body shop.

“It is very exciting to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the years, International has given me and my family numerous opportunities to grow our business,” Tallman said in accepting the award. “Right from the
start, this has been a business that involved my whole family and that
makes winning this award even more special. I attribute our success to our
outstanding group of employees, now numbering 262, who provide excellent
service to our loyal customers on a daily basis.”

Also at the same ceremony, Tom Thayer of International Truck Sales of
Richmond, in Richmond, Va., was named the truckmaker’s 2005 Dealer of the Year.