NEED A LIFT?
Leavitt Machinery and Leavitt Cranes continue to thrive in the Pacific Northwest
How do you determine the success of a company? Key indicators could include profitability, expansion and internal growth opportunities. Well, Leavitt Machinery is experiencing all three. Despite being one of North America’s fastest-growing materials handling and equipment dealers, the company’s core business principles have remained intact since it was founded in 2001 by President and CEO Tom Leavitt.
Leavitt, when asked about the success of his company, points to his employees. “The success of any business can be reduced to the people who work tirelessly to support a single vision. I am extremely fortunate to be surrounded by such people,” he says.
In October 2014, EY (formerly Ernst & Young) recognized Leavitt as Entrepreneur of The Year Pacific. Lui Petrollini, Entrepreneur of the Year Pacific Program Director, describes Tom as a “true innovator” capable of turning “a good idea into a successful business that thrives on innovative thinking. From business processes to new technologies, Tom’s desire for continuous improvement is what sets him apart.”
The company’s success can largely be attributed to strong leadership, says a company spokesperson, and also to the cultivation of employees who share a similar work ethic. To inspire loyalty and creativity among its staff, management encourages open dialogue at all times.
Aaron Bomke, Leavitt Machinery’s General Manager of Construction, Sales and Rentals, notes how Leavitt has cultivated a loyal management team: “From day one, Tom has kept the same people around him as the company has grown … the core group of people at the top of the company have maintained the vision and message of the company.” With over 500 employees working for Leavitt Machinery and its sister company, Leavitt Cranes, it is clear to see that the company founder’s focus on employee relations has been successful.
Business Expansion
Leavitt Machinery currently owns and operates 30 locations, including service branches and training facilities, throughout three Canadian provinces—British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan—as well as in Washington, Oregon and California. The company started out operating in Canada, then expanded in 2005 and entered the U.S. market. Due to aggressive growth, the business branched out in 2015 by opening Leavitt Cranes, which sells and rents out a variety of new and pre-owned cranes and attachments. This move made the Leavitt conglomerate a big player in both the industrial and construction industries, notes a company spokesperson.
The drive to fully serve both industrial and construction customers was the inspiration that led to the creation of Leavitt Cranes. Though Leavitt Machinery had previously supported the construction industry with cranes, its leaders wanted to offer customers the support of a team of crane experts, specialized mechanics and crane training courses.
“We saw the potential for growth if we moved into a separate business for cranes. The way that Leavitt Machinery grew, focusing on the basics of the business, was the same concept we used when we started Leavitt Cranes,” comments Erick Zampini, General Manager of Leavitt Cranes.
Andy Horner, Leavitt Machinery’s General Manager of U.S. Sales and Operations, adds: “I don’t think you can find a company that is doing what Leavitt is doing. With Leavitt Machinery and Leavitt Cranes’ product offerings, we are able to fulfill our customers’ needs, whether it be construction or industrial, and act as their go-to equipment consultant. It is very rare to find a company that can support so many product lines and types of equipment.”
Providing Solutions
Leavitt Machinery and Leavitt Cranes both aim to provide customers with solutions and match them with the equipment that works best for their businesses, rather than pushing a particular brand. Leavitt Machinery is the authorized dealer for over 25 product lines, while Leavitt Cranes is the authorized dealer for multiple brands of tower cranes, mini cranes and attachments. Together, they offer customized solutions that can handle the demands of any application. Bomke says, “Sometimes we surprise ourselves with the solutions we put together. At the end of the day, our goal is to offer customers a unique partnership that will save them money and increase their operating efficiency.”
Having multiple product lines—and the knowledge and support to back them up—has been the cornerstone of the success of both businesses.
Horner explains, “We have so many brands to rely on, that when we make an onsite visit or create a needs assessment, we are able to make sure we provide the best product. We support the brands most people are familiar with … but we also have machines specific to certain applications and [lesser-known] brands that can completely change a customer’s business for the better.”
Having the ability to work for a customer rather than for one brand has set Leavitt Machinery and Leavitt Cranes apart, but it’s the people who have brought it all together. Bomke notes, “Leavitt hasn’t just grown because we sell a lot of machines. It has grown because our employees build partnerships and trust with our customers.”
A Commitment to Safety
In addition to selling equipment, both Leavitt Machinery and Leavitt Cranes have dedicated operator training divisions. The safe and responsible operation of equipment is a main priority, which is why the businesses’ training division, Leavitt Training, is constantly evolving. With a host of knowledgeable instructors from various industry backgrounds, Leavitt Training trains over 30,000 operators and in-house instructors annually.
“Our safety training is something we take great pride in and is a driving force at Leavitt,” emphasizes Horner. “We also provide training for the products we sell and offer customized training to certain customers. We have in-class, online and blended training for equipment, and even provide training courses for things like chainsaw safety, bear awareness and fire extinguisher safety.”
Leavitt Machinery is also COR (Certificate of Recognition)-certified in British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan. These certifications are awarded by the British Columbia Construction Association, the Alberta Construction Association, and the Heavy Construction Safety Association of Saskatchewan. Leavitt Cranes is also COR-certified in British Columbia.
“COR certification … it’s tough to get that accreditation and we’re very proud of it,” says Bomke, who is also proud that Leavitt Machinery and Leavitt Cranes live up to the corporate safety motto, “Alert Today, Alive Tomorrow.”
Giving Back
The international success of Leavitt Machinery, and now Leavitt Cranes, has given Tom Leavitt the opportunity and resources to pursue a personal dream—founding and running a charity. In 2010, Tom and his wife founded Harvest for Humanity, a charity that primarily sponsors an orphanage in Haiti with 25 children in residence.
The mission of this nonprofit is to empower children so that they may achieve their potential. To do this, Harvest for Humanity promotes initiatives that enable these children to have a safe place to live and supports many of their health, education and life skills needs.
The charity was founded on the goal “to empower communities and families by giving them the resources they need to break the cycle of poverty,” says a company spokesperson. To accomplish this goal, Harvest for Humanity has developed several amazing initiatives, including: a school lunch program designed to boost attendance and provide children with the nutrition they need; English classes taught by Leavitt employees and their families, as well as other volunteers; and funding for scholarships for gifted students looking for secondary education.
In addition to serving as industry-leading professionals, this example demonstrates that the staff at Leavitt Machinery and Leavitt Cranes sets itself apart as true humanitarians. This, among other acts of philanthropy that the company espouses, perfectly illustrates Leavitt’s perspective that true success is validated when employees support a single, unified vision.