Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1418957
PSAI Association Insight, October 13, 2021 I 23 "Everyone's Best Friend" To everyone who knew Dave Bamberg, he was like a best friend. Dave passed away on September 28, 2021 and will be missed by his friends in the PSAI who knew both him and his wife Pat since 1990. Dave was born in Cheektowaga, New York, on January 27, 1947. As a child his family moved to Lawrence, Kansas, where he graduated from Lawrence High School and Kansas University. After college, Dave joined the Air Force and was stationed at James Connally Air Force Base in Waco, Texas, as a personnel specialist. On April 12, 1968, he married Pat Carter in Waco and the team known as "Ma and Pa" among their PSAI friends was formed. They celebrated 53 years of marriage and were inseparable. Dave and Pat had two children: Jeff and Christina. Dave joined the portable sanitation industry as a salesperson in 1990 with PolyPortables. He picked an excellent company to learn from, owned by Industry Pioneer Ed Crafton. Dave was always an outgoing person and now armed with the skills to succeed, he did just that for the next five years. He and Pat also became involved in the PSAI. In 1995, he joined another company that was owned by one of our industry's best — and also the inaugural Andy Gump Award recipient — Clyde Sansom. At Synergy World, Dave continued to not only sell to customers, but also provided useful thoughts and ideas that aided the company overall. Terri and I first met Dave during this time, as he was our Synergy sales representative. We found him to be very jovial and knowledgeable. He worked with us as new business owners and helped us to fully utilize our inventory of Synergy units. In fact, as a company trial, Dave helped us become a small regional Synergy warehouse. Synergy subcontractors would assemble units at our location in Atlanta for shipment to customers in the Southeast. He always tried to help his customers, in addition to selling to them. In 2004, Dave joined Five Peaks Technology in an executive level position. It was here that Martin Zeltner and Chris Davis first met Dave. Martin shares, "Dave was a big reason why I was able to start in business as he recognized that this industry would be a great fit for me. He spent a great deal of time teaching me about the industry and guiding me through the early days as I learned the nuances of the business and gained my footing." Today we know Martin Zeltner as a successful sales manager for PolyJohn of Canada and a PSAI Board member. Thank you, Dave! Chris Davis is an equally inspiring story as he began his career at Five Peaks at this same time. With Dave as a resource and as an advisor, Chris enjoyed a 15-year career with Five Peaks and is now the International Sales Manager with PolyJohn. Chris states, "Dave was more than a friend and a colleague; he was a father figure. He and Pat became family. He will be deeply missed by me and my family." Another career that was touched by Dave Bamberg. Dave joined Hampel Corp as Vice President of Business Development in 2007. When the company was sold in 2009, he moved to Chemcorp Industries, which made and distributed portable restroom deodorizers and cleaners for Johnny's Choice. Lured back to Five Peaks in 2012 as Vice President and Partner, Dave became the teacher and role model for Andrea Buntley, now Strategic Account Manager with Satellite Industries. "Dave was an industry icon and he taught me a lot that I have continued to use in my career. He will be missed." Dave left Five Peaks in 2017 and spent his last 2 years at Black Tie Products. With his experience in restroom units, deodorizers, and now restroom trailers, Dave was definitely qualified as an "industry expert." Through his 30-year career, he was always selling, attempting to improve the industry, and an ardent supporter of the PSAI. Dave and Pat were two of the people that you always saw at PSAI events. They not only greeted old friends, but made a point of trying to meet and to involve both new and perspective members. Andrea has it right, "Dave was everybody's best friend." Remembrance: Dave Bamberg 1947-2021 By Jeff Wigley