Special order rack no headache for Fort Lupton company

In letter, Canadian couple thanks Merritt Aluminum for help

BY BELEN WARD BWARD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Edmonton resident Allison Kuzyk wanted a special gift for her husband Darrell’s birthday last March, so she turned Fort Lupton’s Merritt Aluminum Products for help.

“We take pride in our culture within our company,” said Drew Merritt, vice president of sales and marketing. “It’s nice we can extend that outside of our company to help customers and others that are inter- ested in our products and services.”

Allison’s husband Darrell was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia – a kind of cancer that attacks the blood and bone marrow – just after his 57th birthday in 2016. He has undergone a long series of treatments since then, including chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant.

His birthday wish, now seven years after his diagnosis, was for a headache rack for his truck. at’s the kind of metal rack that covers the rear window of a truck’s cab, protecting the window while o ering a safe place to hang gear.

“I had contacted Merritt Aluminum Products because they had the Headache Rack that my husband absolutely loved, but it was nothing for the newly created Congressional District 8. She lost by less than 1 percentage point to Democrat Yadira Caraveo of ornton. we had ever seen in Canada,” Kuzyk said in a letter to the Fort Lupton Press

“He never asks for anything, working to provide for his family and also taking a dangerous pill to keep the cancer at bay,” she said. “If anyone deserves a nice gift it would be him.”

She turned to Rachel Deere, one of the Fort Lupton company’s outside sales representatives.

“Rachel Deere – who is any company’s dream de nition of providing exemplary customer service – she took my inquiry seriously as I explained that I wanted to get this for my husband whose birthday was approaching,” Kuzyk said in her letter.

Deere found the rack that the Kuzyk’s wanted and prepared to the Colorado County Clerks Association. “ ey help make democracy work.” ship it to them in time for Darrell’s birthday – with an added surprise.

“We were thrilled he was really excited to get this headache rack for his truck,” Merritt said. “We thought it would be really nice to send it to him as a surprise at no charge to make them happy.”

“ ank you, just simply isn’t enough, and we would like the community to know how special Merritt Aluminum Products truly is, and what wonderful sta they employ,” Kuzyk said.

“Obviously customer service isn’t dead, and every company could learn from the culture of the owner, manager, and especially Rachel Deere whose dedication to a great company is a daily practice, not just an empty motto up on the wall.”

“I may be Republican,” she said, “but I think the election was fair and right.” share. We appreciate all she did for us and look forward to working with her on future election bills that will help small counties like ours,” she said.

Kirmeyer, a fourth-generation Colorado who has lived in Weld County for 35 years, last year ran e other lawmakers recognized at the event were Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango, and Sen. Cleave Simpson, R-Alamosa. Senate President Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, will receive his award at a later date.

“ ese lawmakers are valuable partners,” said Fremont County Clerk Justin Grantham, president of

Kirkmeyer, a former Weld County commissioner, stressed that clerks are partners with the Secretary of State. Clerks run elections; the secretary of state oversees them.

And she dismissed election deniers, who have questioned recent election results and practices, particularly the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

Lynn Bartels was a reporter for 35 years, including working for e Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News. She served as the spokeswoman for Secretary of State Wayne Williams, and now occasionally handles communications for the Colorado County Clerks Association.