Looking Back to Move Forward in Navigating COVID-19

 

A new year provides not just an opportunity for reflection, but a reason to pause and think about the future. Tyler Kern, host of Talkin’ Shop with Walbro, spoke with Jerry Kibby, the company’s Executive Vice President and President of Engine Management, about the current state of the engine management business. They also looked forward to what’s going to come in the future.

According to Kibby, similar to a lot of different companies in their industry, there was a lot of “up and down” in 2020. He reported that Walbro started out the year pretty strong, but COVID-19 started to make waves in January.

“We got early indications that COVID-19 was going to have a pretty significant effect. We have a plant in China that we had to shut down in January, because, as everyone knows, that was where it all started,” Kibby said.

Once that happened, they took some proactive steps.

“Our CEO, Matt Riddle, did a very great job in preparing the rest of the facilities on the backdrop of our China facility having to shut down. So, we saw that coming. And, sure enough, March came and, as you know, all the restrictions started happening,” Kibby explained.

Kibby is very proud to report that no Walbro employees caught COVID-19 at any of their plants.

“With all the added measures that we put in place worldwide, we’re just very proud of them,” Kibby said.

To continue this conversation, subscribe to Talkin’ Shop with Walbro on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale
Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

product
IPS Global Sales Meeting 2026: Jonathan Schavey on the Value of True Product Expertise at TekniPlex
April 9, 2026

In today’s fast-evolving industrial landscape, companies that thrive are those that combine technical mastery with deep institutional knowledge. Events like global sales meetings don’t just align strategy—they surface the expertise and perspective that often drive innovation behind the scenes. At TekniPlex, that depth is evident in the caliber of professionals shaping its product…

Read More
Connection
Rick McKenna Reflects on Timing, Connection, and Impact at the IPS Global Sales Meeting Mexico City 2026
April 9, 2026

Corporate gatherings often walk a fine line between urgency and reflection, but the most impactful ones create space for both—allowing ideas to breathe while still driving momentum. In a global organization like TekniPlex, where collaboration spans cultures and continents, the pacing and tone of meetings can shape not just outcomes, but relationships. This…

Read More
Learning
Exploring Cross-Regional Learning and Sales Innovation with Jeetendra Srivastava at IPS 2026 Mexico City
April 9, 2026

In an increasingly interconnected business landscape, global collaboration has shifted from being a strategic advantage to an operational necessity. Companies that foster cross-regional dialogue are often the ones that adapt fastest, borrowing insights from diverse markets and translating them into scalable success. Events like global sales meetings are no longer just corporate rituals—they…

Read More
leadership
A First Global Sales Meeting Experience: Divyesh Maru on Leadership, Learning, and Collaboration at IPS 2026
April 9, 2026

Global sales meetings are often framed as strategic checkpoints, but their real value lies in the human connections and shared understanding they foster across regions. In an increasingly complex business landscape, aligning finance, operations, and sales through firsthand experiences—like plant visits and product deep dives—can transform abstract goals into actionable insight. For companies…

Read More