A Winamac entrepreneur who is regarded as a “rock star” in the waste handling industry is one of the Innovators of the Month of December. Each month, the Society of Innovators at Ivy Tech Community College Northwest spotlights the accomplishments in the seven-county region.
Don Galbreath turned his father’s blacksmith shop in Pulaski County into a major manufacturing operation and then moved on to set up a second manufacturer in the same industry. Both his namesake container company Galbreath, Inc. and GALFAB, Inc. are located in his hometown of Winamac. Galbreath serves as an advisor for the latter operation.
He is known nationally for inventing the “most user-friendly roll-off hoist in the industry.” Galbreath’s products account for most roll-off hoists used in the waste hauling, scrap and demolition sectors.
In 2004 Don Galbreath was inducted into the Environmental Industries Association (EIA) Hall of Fame and described as a “pioneer” in the industry.
He also opened two hotels and donated, along with BraunAbility founder Ralph Braun, land for the Winamac Industrial Park in the 1980s.
