CLINTON, Ohio—Keith Collett, a 38-year veteran of Goodyear and then Veyance Technologies Inc., died Oct. 24 after a short illness. He was 74.
Collett earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Akron in 1971, after which he started his career with Goodyear Engineered Products, which later was bought by Veyance.
He worked his way up at Goodyear, starting in 1972 as an accounting Clerk and junior staff man. In 1976, he was promoted to trainee before gaining his first field assignment in Baltimore, followed by a nine-year stint as a marketing specialist at Goodyear's industrial hose plant in Norfolk, Neb.
Collett then was an account executive for the firm's international truck business based out of the Fort Wayne, Ind., location, before becoming marketing manager for air springs.
He spent his last seven years with Goodyear and Veyance as industrial hose marketing manager before retiring in 2011.
While at Goodyear, Collett was a recipient of the Charles Goodyear Award for sales in 1985, the Goodyear Spirit Award for sales in 1988, and an award for outstanding marketing achievement in 1992.
Jim Hill, ContiTech vice president of marketing and strategy for Industrial Solutions Americas, worked with Collett for more than 30 years and called him the consummate professional. ContiTech purchased the Veyance business after Collett retired.
"He was a true gentleman and a dear friend," Hill told Rubber News. "Keith had a level and style of competitiveness that was infectious. You always wanted to be on his team, because you knew no one wanted to win more than Keith. He knew our industries and customers inside and out, and always put them first."
