SIGMA Congratulates Harry Bair on his Retirement

SIGMA Territory Sales Manager, Harry Bair, retires after 34 years in the industry.

Some have called it ‘the end of an era’. Harry Bair, also known as “Precast Harry”, will retire at the end of this year, after a long and illustrious career in waterworks, with the last 24 years at SIGMA.  Most recently, he has served as the Territory Sales Manager for Maryland, Virginia, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle, while simultaneously running SIGMA’s Precast Division.

He recalls his early days in the industry: “I started working for Fastech in 1986, and that’s when I got to know SIGMA and Victor Pais, who, in my opinion, is the best owner anywhere. He truly cares—for him, it’s always about his people. I will be forever grateful to the late Sanjiv Kumar, who introduced me to Victor back then.” When he started in the industry, Harry and the owner of Fastech developed MJ Accessory Packs, which were considered an industry innovation. After that, Harry designed the Flangepak, and these are still in use today. He explains:  “We knew there was a need for these types of kits, but the packaging was a problem—the blister packs or shrink wrap got moisture in them and they didn’t hold together. I figured out that packaging them in flat pizza box type configurations would work, so that’s what we did.”

After several years in operations, Harry eventually moved to sales. He remembers his first sales call: “I visited a company in Richmond. They put me in a waiting room, and I was there for four hours. They kept delaying, and I never got the meeting. It was awful. Around the same time, my wife made a tray of cookies and sent them to work with me. Everyone was gathering around me scarfing cookies and smiling, and I got to thinking…this is a way in. From then on, I never went on a sales call empty-handed—and it worked like magic. No matter what the sign on the door said, I got in because people wanted the cookies. I’d bring other things, too, like fresh vegetables out of my garden, which I also pickle and can, so, sometimes I’d bring things like canned tomatoes and pickles, or pickled peppers.” Harry never forgot his customers, especially around the holidays, so depending on the season he’d bring Halloween candy or Easter baskets. He continues:  “It was about the thoughtful gesture, cultivating the relationship.”

Which brings Harry to his relationships: “My customers are my life. I have customers from many years ago who are still my friends—we just call to say hi every now and then. That’s what I will miss most about this business. It’s all about the relationships and I truly value the people I have met and befriended.” There are a few things he won’t miss, he says, only half-joking: “My cell phone, and traffic!  I’ve been on the road a lot over the years, so I’m looking forward to just relaxing on my mountain here in Western PA, becoming a snowbird again to visit with family, fishing, baking, and watching my beloved Steelers. I intend to live every day to the fullest and see what life brings.” He describes retirement as “bittersweet…I knew this day would come, but I have such positive relationships with my customers and coworkers, I really will miss them. I plan to enjoy my life, but I will definitely keep in touch! I want to say a special thanks to everyone who helped me throughout my career for making me what I am today, God Bless ”

We congratulate Harry on his successful career, his well-earned retirement, and thank him for his service to the Company and the industry.

Harry will retire from SIGMA at the end of this year. Until then, he can be reached at hb1@sigmaco.com; after December 31 he can be reached at precastharry@aol.com. His cell phone will remain the same: 850 206 7675.