Kansas City's CBM Rep Agency Celebrates 50th Anniversary

Cleaves-Bessmer-Marietti (CBM) Inc., Kansas City, Mo., celebrated 50 years of service with a two-day open house, April 29-30, at its Kansas City headquarters that drew an estimated 200 end users, manufacturers, distributors and friends from throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area. Founded by Robert Cleaves in 1960, the company's first product was copper ground rods manufactured by the Jasper Blackburn Co. Today, CBM has 33 employees and represents products in the electric utility, telecommunications, contractor and industrial markets in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Iowa, Nebraska and Illinois.

A big part of CBM's success over the years has been the technical expertise of its sales force. To handle the specification work for the lines it represents, the company employs 19 field sales engineers; eight inside sales specialists; one registered professional engineer; one electrical engineer; and two mechanical engineers. Nine employees have CPMR (Certified Professional Manufacturer's Representatives) certification.

Along with celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, CBM also recently took on two new product lines: Leviton's lighting controls and energy management systems, and Mono-Systems' wire management products.

CBM's executive team includes Larry Robinson, president; and vice presidents Pat O'Donnell, Doug Mayle, Marla Sparks, Kevin Kruse, Bill Unruh and Duff Greenwood. Also on hand to enjoy the open house were two of the company's presidents: John Marietti, now chairman of the board, and John Caulfield, CBM's CEO.