2020 E.P Garrett Manager of the Year Wayne Gilliam

BY JESSIE SHOOK

From the cotton field, to the battlefield, to the Coop and now the first four-time E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year award recipient, Wayne Gilliam overcame the challenges of 2020 to win the highest honor awarded by Alabama Farmers Cooperative. “I am fortunate to win this award,” Wayne said. “I was just the leader of the people who did all the work.”

A few words AFC President and CEO Rivers Myres used to described Wayne included passionate, devoted, visionary and a mentor. This passion and devotion have kept his cooperative profitable for 48 consecutive years.

While 2020 was a year full of obstacles, Tuscaloosa Farmers Cooperative remained successful through adaption and innovation. The Co-op generated $2 million in net income in 2020 and paid out $1.1 million in patronage over the last five years. With a gross margin of 27% and net margin of 4%, this Co-op turned their inventory 6.19 times. “He is not afraid to reinvent his business and has done what it takes to survive and succeed,” Myres said.

Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Wayne’s passion and work ethic began on the farm and continued during his time in the military. “I went from the cotton field to the battlefield,” Wayne said. “I worked long hours in the cotton field and then joined the military and served in the Vietnam War.”

In 1971, Wayne began his career at the Tuscaloosa Co-op as a truck driver. Fifty years later, he is still happy to be a part of this industry. “It doesn’t matter to me if I’m sitting here doing a PO, outside driving a truck or on a loader loading fertilizer,” Wayne said. “I like having many different roles and wearing all the hats the Co-op has to offer.”

To Wayne, putting in the hours and communicating with your customers are the keys to success. He works seven days a week and is always available to his customers. “You should never go to bed until you return all your phone calls,” Wayne added. “We are on call 24/7. We work when the farmers work.”

Wayne’s son, Cole Gilliam, now works alongside his dad as store manager. Cole graduated with a degree in finance but returned home to the Co-op to follow in his father’s footsteps. “I’ve been here for 14 years now, and my dad has taught me things I never learned in school,” Cole said. “We have a name here and I’m not going anywhere.”

Although Wayne works long hours, he has always made time for his family. “He always showed up for us,” Cole added. “He never missed a ballgame.”

Cole said that growing up watching his dad as a Co-op store manager inspired him and his brother to work hard and make something of themselves. “It definitely rubbed off on us and was good to see growing up,” Cole said. “Those same habits I saw in him, I wanted to do, I wanted to be like him.”

Wayne said that he appreciates all the support they receive from Alabama Farmers Cooperative and he loves the family atmosphere the Co-op offers. “My most memorable moments of the Co-op are the people,” Wayne said. “We work together but we are family.”

The success of this manager is not hard to understand. In Wayne’s words, “Just always treat everyone the way you want to be treated.” This philosophy has made Wayne the outstanding manager that he is today.

Wayne’s family was there to watch him receive the 2020 E.P. Garrett Manager of the Year award. (L to R) Wayne’s son Timmy and wife, Sydney; Wayne’s wife, Annabel; Wayne; Wayne’s son, Cole.