NOVEMBER 5,2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

          
Local company with 80 years history in Tacoma sold to employees

Rick Kirk and Mac Kirk, owners of the G.R. Kirk Company, have sold the operating portion of their company to two former employees, Ralph Nilssen of Maple Valley, Washington, and Gary Snyder of Oregon City, Oregon. The G.R. Kirk Company is a Tacoma-based, third generation family business, established in 1918 by G.R. Kirk. The Kirk’s will retain all land and real estate holdings and will operate under the new trade name of Kirk Properties.

The new owners will take over the operating portion of the company which grows and distributes Christmas Trees along with a variety of related items such as balers, netting, supplies and tree care products.  In addition to the home office in Tacoma, the company has large facilities in Oregon and Wisconsin.

Ralph Nilssen joined the Kirk Company in 1984 and until the purchase, served as Vice President of Sales.  He will now serve as President and CEO. Gary Snyder will maintain his position as Production Manager and will also serve as Vice President.  Together they have over fifty years of tenure with the company.

“This is a great chance for the two of us to take life a little slower, while concentrating more effort on our real estate holdings” Mac Kirk said.  “It also gives two well deserving former employees a tremendous opportunity to expand and grow a successful company which has always been a leader in the Christmas Tree industry.