Page 22 - Mar-Apr2023 Vol40 No7

By Lisa Hood Skinner
Erma Barr, Late Owner of D&M

Distributing, Kept it All in the Family

Pearls of wisdom from a trailblazer
mom spelled business success for Donna
Barker.
“Don’t ever worry about the money.
Just take care of the customer and the
money will take care of itself.”
That’s just one “mom-ism” attributed
to Erma Barr, mother of Donna Barker,
Tri-Green Equipment customer sales for
roadside mowing. For 45 years, Erma
was a trailblazer as the first woman (and
one of the few women) in the roadside
mowing equipment business in Middle
Tennessee.
As the principal and owner of D&M
Distributing, Barr started a business Barr never stopped working, even 29-store-locations operation, but said she
worth $5,000 in monthly sales and grew after she moved into a nursing home, still misses those “mom-isms” every day.
it into a multi-million-dollar-a-year her daughter said. “She never completely You see, her mom passed away six years
business, according to Barker. Barr won retired. She was still taking calls and ago. But she left a legacy of how to do
top dealership and outstanding dealership doing business from that facility.” business.
awards for decades, and the Tennessee And she never took advantage of her “Mom-isms”
County Highway Officials Association “woman-owned” business status to get
gave her a lifetime achievement award in guaranteed contracts. Barker said her - “Your word is your bond.”
the industry. mom would state “if I can’t win the - “Learn how to read a room.”
D&M Distributing Stood for ‘Donna & business because I’m good at what I do, - “Get to know the customer as a human
then I don’t want the business.”
Mom’ The two of them worked the business and let them chat about their grandkids
She was a hard worker, but Barr also for 36 years together, with Barr handling and their dog.”
had a good sense of humor, too. “D&M the outside sales, selling roadside mowing - “Make people feel like they matter.
Distributing stood for ‘Donna & Mom.’ and snow removal equipment, and Whatever their pay scale or title,
The ‘M’ should have been first, but it Barker balancing the books and handling everyone is valuable!”
made the company logo look like, ‘MAD.’ the parts side. Three years ago, Barker - “And treat people right.”
She was something else,” Barker said, merged the business into Tri-Green’s It turns out, Mother DOES know best.
chuckling.

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22 TPW March/April 2023