09/14/2026
Spend a few minutes talking to Percy Pearson and one thing becomes clear: he does not see procurement as purchasing parts. He sees it as helping people succeed.
On 8 September, the procurement manager for Newton operations celebrated 45 years of service with the ESCO Division. From his desk in Newton, Mississippi, Percy helps keep foundry operations running smoothly, building strong relationships with suppliers and supporting teammates he proudly calls “his partners.”
“What I do affects somebody else, another department, a customer,” said Percy. “It takes partnership. Having good relationships with department managers allows me to draw on their knowledge to convey what we need to our suppliers.”
When Percy joined the Newton foundry in 1981, he spent a brief time on the shop floor, first as a grinder, then as a painter in the finishing department supporting the foundry and fabrication. But, he found his calling in procurement. From there, Percy became Newton’s dedicated procurement manager, a role he has held for 44 ½ years of his ESCO career.
Percy brought structure to manual processes. For example, he pitched a novel idea related to consignment inventory, leading to a first-of-its-kind program. The result: immediate improvements to cost savings and inventory reductions, plus payment for materials only as they were used.
For Percy, the experience was a reminder about supporting people through change: “The vast majority of changes will be positive,” he said. “You may not agree with the change, or you may be apprehensive at first, but when you start showing people the vision and relying on their expertise to assist in the change process, the benefits become a reality.”
Congratulations and thank you, Percy, for your 45 amazing years of dedicated service!
