By all accounts, Jerry Putt never set out to become a legend. But here we are—over 200 Noria training sessions later—reflecting on a man whose quiet tenacity, disarming humor, and unwavering professionalism have helped shape the lubrication and reliability landscape for nearly five decades.
To understand Jerry, you have to understand this: his story isn’t about flashy titles or corporate fanfare. It’s about showing up, day after day, year after year—whether the projector works or not, whether the manuals made it to the right plant, and even if you have to improvise an entire course by flashlight. (Yes, that happened.)
From Doctor Dreams to Dirty Bearings
Jerry's path started like many others—with a well-meaning parent who dreamed big. His mother wanted him to be a doctor. But fate had other plans. As a child, Jerry witnessed a dog getting hit by a car and quickly realized the medical profession wasn’t for him. His dad, an inventive sort who loved tinkering, planted a more resonant seed: engineering.
He started at the University of Cincinnati but had to leave after a year due to financial hardship. Jerry didn’t give up. He took a job at Republic Steel and enrolled in night classes at Kent State. His coursework included sociology and psychology—not typical fare for an engineering student, but this detour gave him a unique ability to understand people. "I think that helped me a lot in my later career," Jerry said. "It gave me perspective."
Jerry co-oped with Timken and hoped to return after graduation, but a short-sighted HR policy blocked rehires. While he waited for the red tape to be cleared away, an opportunity with Goodyear came up, and Jerry grabbed it – as he often does.
Brass Ring Theory
Jerry sometimes shares a simple but profound career philosophy he calls "the brass ring theory."
"Opportunities come up like a brass ring on a trapeze. You have to reach out and grab it. If you don't, the next time it swings towards you, it may not be within reach. Grab the ring – you may not get the chance again."
It’s a metaphor that captures Jerry’s courage and curiosity. Whether it was moving across the world, tackling massive operational challenges, or jumping into an unfamiliar training role, Jerry never waited for perfect conditions. He reached for the ring.
Global Goodyear Adventures
His first assignment at Goodyear had Jerry reporting to a grizzled, crotchety old engineer who didn't like anybody. Jerry, being Jerry, questioned one of the valve schematics he was reviewing and—instead of getting reprimanded—earned the old man’s respect. That one act of "speaking truth to power," as Jerry calls it, led to a bond that nearly resulted in Jerry naming his firstborn after the guy.
What followed was a globetrotting career with Goodyear that included long stints in South Africa, Argentina, and England. During his three years in a remote plant in South Africa—during the energy crisis of the 1970s—Jerry led aggressive energy reduction projects. His results were so impressive that Goodyear had him replicate those initiatives across their Asia-Pacific plants.
"We had 16 moves during our marriage," Jerry said, referring to the many relocations he and his wife, Sharon, made over the years. Some locations required armed restroom escorts. "I’m not used to people watching me pee," Jerry quipped. Yet he went, served, and succeeded—every time.
The Reliability Pivot: Enter Noria
In the late 1990s, Jerry was back in Akron and tasked with leading a new corporate reliability initiative at Goodyear. Most executives might have focused solely on maintenance. Jerry looked upstream.
"Even if we fix everything tomorrow, you're still not going to get what you want," he told Goodyear’s chairman. "We have issues with how we design, install, and operate equipment."
The response? "So what are you going to do about it?"
That challenge led Jerry to Noria Corporation. Unlike traditional vendors, Noria didn’t come in pushing products. They asked one thing: "How can we help you learn what you need to buy?" That resonated with Jerry. He began working closely with Noria to improve lubrication practices throughout Goodyear’s facilities, and a long-lasting relationship began.
The Retirement That Wasn’t
After officially retiring from Goodyear in 2009, Jerry figured he’d take it easy. That lasted about a week.
Drew Troyer, a Noria executive, came knocking and before you know it Jerry had signed on as Director of Reliability Implementation. The plan was to support strategy, but fate had other plans. When a last-minute training need popped up in Newfoundland, Jerry got the call.
"I hadn’t even taken the course yet," he laughed. "But they said, 'Actually, you wrote half of it. You know this stuff.'"
He delivered. And then he delivered again. And again. Fourteen years later, he’s led more than 200 classes across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
The Trainer Mistaken for a Maintenance Guy
Jerry’s classes are legendary. Not just for their content, but for his delivery.
He tells it straight. He makes you laugh. And he’s never afraid to share stories and examples that make the material memorable. His aim with each class is to get on the same level as his students and connect with them. One time, a student asked, "Are you the trainer? You look like a maintenance guy." "Thanks," Jerry said. "That’s the best compliment I’ve had in years."
He targets the skeptics in the room—the ones who were "voluntold" to attend. By the end, they’re leaning forward, asking questions, and realizing what they didn’t know.
His goal? "To make people say, 'Why didn't we do this 20 years ago?'"
Faith, Family, and Fortitude
Through all of it, Jerry credits his wife, Sharon, for being the steady force in their life. A fellow psychology enthusiast with a master’s degree, she managed the home front, raised their kids, and supported his whirlwind career.
"I had the easy part," Jerry says. "I got to go to work."
He also credits his Christian faith for shaping his work ethic and purpose. "I believe we’re here to serve," he says. That belief shows in how he teaches, leads, and lives.
Wearing Out, Not Rusting Out
Jerry has a favorite saying: "Don’t rust out. Wear out."
It’s more than a tagline. It’s how he lives.
"I'm not doing this because I need the money," he says. "I do it because it's fun. Because it matters. Because it helps people."
And he means it. One student told him after class, "You know, you really got me thinking. I always thought of lube work as bottom-tier. But now I see it differently."
That’s the Jerry effect.
Jerry by the Numbers
- 200+ Noria trainings delivered
- 16 moves with his family
- 40+ years in reliability and engineering
- 1 styptic pencil he credits with his marriage to Sharon
But the real numbers are harder to quantify. Thousands of lives impacted. Dozens of careers launched. Countless equipment failures prevented.
The Quiet Icon
Ask anyone at Noria, and they’ll tell you: Jerry Putt is one of a kind.
"He walks in with a humble presence but commands the room with experience," said one colleague. "He’s a unicorn."
He might cringe at being called a legend. But legends don’t ask for the title.
They earn it.
And Jerry Putt has earned it, one training, one story, one learner at a time.
Want to find out more about this industry icon? Jerry was our guest in episode #16 of the Gear Talk podcast.
