when they needed something, I could help them. He believed deeply in networking and
giving everyone a voice." Gordy’s business, like many others, found momentum thanks in part to Norm’s introductions and insistence on connection.
Norm's impact wasn't just social; it was tangible. Before launching NW Norm, he spent years building equipment for Smetco, where he also did equipment demos. That deep technical knowledge followed him into his work as an independent rep, where he sold everything from gloves, nails, and earplugs to high-end saws and resaws. If a pallet yard used it, Norm sold it. "He sold for half the people advertising in WPA," Gordy said.
Lina Montes of G.O. Pallets remembers her first encounters with Norm in the mid-2000s. "Every time he came by, he kept saying, 'You need to come to the WPA meetings.' And finally we went. He con- vinced us. And ever since, we didn't miss until this year. It was because of his insistence. Never pushy, just persistent."
Gordy noted how Norm would drop in unannounced, striking up conversations at any pallet yard he passed. "He didn’t care if there was a 'no soliciting' sign. If he thought they should hear about WPA, he stopped. He believed in it that much. He probably recruited over half the members."
That dedication made Norm a fixture at WPA events, and a perennial winner of the annual membership contest.
Charles Yates, Business Development Manager at Bahco, got to really know Norm
"He was so devoted to his customers, he hated
raising prices,
even when
his costs went up."
through their shared presence at WPA events. "He wasn’t into emails or tech, but
he was into people. Norm made himself available seven days a week to talk about business. He taught me about the pallet industry, and he shared his booth with me year after year. Because of him, his network became my network."
Charles described a trait many recognized in Norm: loyalty. "He was so devoted to his customers, he hated raising prices, even when his costs went up. I’d see customers telling him, 'Norm, it’s okay, go up on price.' That’s how much they trusted and res- pected him."
More than anything, Norm's power was personal. He didn’t just work in the industry; he lived in it, forming bonds over burritos, crab legs, and parking lot conversations. He preferred phone calls to emails, eye contact to transactions.
Norm was a character. He could be feisty, and he didn’t shy from an argument. But even in disagreement, it was clear that Norm cared. He cared about doing the right thing for the industry, for the customer, and for the people he called friends.
He may not have sold pallets, but few people did more for the people who do.
WPM
July 2025
July 2025
July 2025