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Mission Statement

• To be our customer's and STIHL's preeminent partner in the marketing and distribution of power equipment.

Our History...

• Robert J. Joynt (Bob) graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in industrial administration after serving in the Korean War for 4 years in the Navy. In 1957, he began his career selling for Western Tool and Stamping, a lawnmower company in Des Moines, Iowa. Through mergers, AMF (the new owner of Western Tool) began dissolving the companies, and Bob moved to Peoria, Illinois to begin distributing the STIHL line.

• On September 21, 1978, Mississippi Valley Saw began shipping STIHL chainsaws, log splitters, and an accessory line to about 70 dealers in Iowa and northern Illinois.

• The company consisted of a very small group of dedicated people -- two remain with us and three have retired over the last 23 years.

• At that time, the largest competitors were Homelite and McCulloch.

• At Galena in 1979, STIHL and Fred Whyte affirmed the dedication that STIHL placed on servicing dealers.

• In 1981 Mississippi Valley Saw had moved into a new location and now had a team of 12 dedicated people selling and servicing dealers in our area.

• On one of Mr. STIHL's visits to the United States, he asked Robert to put all of his faith in STIHL and he would likewise put his efforts in growth with products and support.

• Mississippi Valley Saw became a single line distributor and the name changed to Mississippi Valley "STIHL."

• Michael J. Joynt graduated with a degree in horticulture in 1981, having spent several years in the landscape industry. His career began as a park manager and later as a golf course superintendent. He joined MVS in 1986. Sales at that time had topped $5,000,000. Mike began working and learning all aspects of the business. He became sales manager in 1992.

• Sales for the company had grown to well over 7 times what they were in our first full year of business.

• As the volume grew, we made a 4,500 square-foot addition to our facility. A portion of this addition was dedicated to the sole purpose of training servicing dealers.

• Walter Greenberg joined MVS in 1992 working with Ruth Rosine. They worked together for two years in the accounting side of the business. Ruth was one of the original team members who made up MVS. Walter is a graduate of Brown University with a degree in geophysical engineering and spent most of his career traveling the world. When Ruth Rosine retired in 1998, Walter became controller.

• Robert Joynt officially retired in 1997 at which time Mike Joynt became president and Walter Greenberg became vice president. Sales had grown to $13,000,000 with a staff size of over 20.

• By the end of the 1990s, business had grown to proportions unheard of at the inception of the company. The need for greater inventory, better training facilities and additional support staff came about as the new millennium approached. Over 8 acres of land were purchased and the building process began.

• With sales growing over $25,000,000, shipping nearly 50,000 powerheads annually, and a team now approaching 30, MVS has the sole purpose of supporting servicing dealers who have chosen to make STIHL their major line and doing all in their power to grow the mutual business.