Kirby-Smith welcomes Rickey Bailey

Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. has announced the hiring of Rickey Bailey as vice president, crane division. Bailey will be responsible for the strategy and oversight of Kirby-Smith’s crane operations, replacing the recently retired Ben Graham who had led the company’s Crane Division for over 16 years.  

Prior to Kirby-Smith, Bailey served as manager – major accounts for Link-Belt Construction Equipment Company. Bailey has over 20 years of crane industry experience with management roles at the manufacturer, distributor, and end-user level. In addition to Link-Belt Construction Equipment, he has also worked for Link-Belt Mid-Atlantic and Bulldog Erectors, Inc.

Jeff Weller, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Kirby-Smith, believes Bailey will build upon the foundation that Kirby-Smith has established for its Crane Division.

“When choosing a successor for Ben, we needed someone with the right experience who would fit our culture, uphold our expectations for excellence, and be comfortable in Oklahoma - Rickey fits all those criteria,” said Weller. “He is a ‘known commodity’ in this industry, and possesses both a strong work ethic and customer-facing mentality. I trust that he will take great care of our customers and am excited to welcome him to our family at Kirby-Smith.” 

Weller also praised the retiring Graham for his role in building Kirby-Smith’s presence in the crane market. 

“Under Ben Graham’s leadership, our Crane Division has grown immensely and developed an industry-wide reputation for quality and customer service,” said Weller. “I know he is happy for the opportunity to spend more time with his four grandchildren. I am grateful for everything Ben has done to get us to this level, and wish him the best in his retirement.”

Bailey is ready to serve Kirby-Smith’s customers and seize new opportunities for the Crane Division.

“It is an honor to join this great team. Ben and his group have established an incredible division here and I look forward to continuing the great work already being done,” he said.

Bailey’s roadmap to success is eerily similar to the one which helped grow Kirby-Smith into a top-10 Manitowoc dealer. “Our expectation is to provide the best service and support in the industry. Kirby-Smith will continue to work hard each day for opportunities to help our customers with their lifting needs,” said Bailey.