After more than 17 years with Central Mine Equipment Company (CME), Joe Jennings, southeast region sales representative, has retired. Jennings has worked in the drilling industry for most of his life.

“Joe has represented us well and we wish him the best in his retirement,” the company says.

Jennings started his career at Asheville, N.C.-based Southeastern Diamond Drilling, which was owned by his father. He took on well-known projects like the Blue Ridge Parkway tunnels and the elevator at Chimney Rock State Park.

A graduate of Stanford University, he earned a degree in geology. After obtaining his degreeJennings took a break from the drilling business to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps andcompleted officer training at the Marine Corps Base inQuantico, Va. Hecompleted two tours of duty in Vietnam.

Uponfulfilling his military commitment, Jennings returned to Southeastern Diamond Drilling for a short time before cofounding a new company, Soil & Materials. The business performed deep-hole exploration work in Kentucky.

Jennings also worked for industry companies including Mountain Coal, Brainard-Kilman Company, Christensen Diamond Productsand Hoffman Diamond Products before joining CME.