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Companies in the News: Updates from Bobcat, Weller Brothers, KATO and more

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Compact Excavator Sales, a North American distributor for KATO Works and Canycom East Coast distributor, celebrated its 30th anniversary at the American Rental Association Show. (Photo courtesy of KATO)
Compact Excavator Sales, a North American distributor for KATO Works and Canycom East Coast distributor, celebrated its 30th anniversary at the American Rental Association Show. (Photo courtesy of KATO)

Bobcat and NRPA grant results in increased park access

Bobcat Co. and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) are celebrating the culmination of their 2023 partnership grant to create vibrant and sustainable community park and recreation areas. Through this partnership, Bobcat awarded five grants, each worth $50,000, to support five park improvement projects in communities throughout the country.

“Through our partnership with NRPA, we were able to invest time and resources for the betterment of communities nationwide,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “The five awarded grants created opportunities for communities to improve their recreation areas, focus on sustainability and encourage residents and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors.”

The five parks that received grant dollars have completed their projects affording their communities healthier green spaces, more walkable parks and greater climate readiness.

The grant recipients and completed projects include the city of Stonecrest in Stonecrest, Ga., the Davidson County Parks and Recreation in Lexington, N.C., the city of Buffalo in Buffalo, N.Y., the San Antonio River Authority in San Antonio, Texas and the city of Auburn Parks, Arts & Recreation in Auburn, Wash.

“Parks and green spaces are vital to communities because they are places that allow you to connect with your neighbors, move outside and enjoy nature,” said Ayanna Williams, NRPA director of community and environmental resilience. “Everyone deserves a healthy, more resilient community and we are thankful for Bobcat’s support to help build more equitable futures for generations to come.”

Compact Excavator Sales celebrates 30th anniversary

Compact Excavator Sales, a North American distributor for KATO Works and Canycom East Coast distributor, celebrated its 30th anniversary with a kick-off at the American Rental Association (ARA) Show in New Orleans.

Founded in 1994 by Mike and Markie Smith, Compact Excavators began with a vision to supply quality equipment to rental houses in North America. Taking years of experience and relationships, Mike Smith kicked off Compact Excavator Sales with its initial show at ARA in Atlanta, Ga., in 1994.

In 2016, KATO Works purchased IHI and IHI Compact Excavator Sales transitioned to KATO Compact Excavator Sales. This transition reflected a new partnership and expanded product lineup. This transition allowed the company to further its mission of providing industry-leading compact equipment solutions backed by superior customer service and support.

“We were immensely proud to celebrate 30 years of service with customers, industry partners, and family that have made this journey possible,” said Mike Smith, founder of Compact Excavator Sales. “Our anniversary celebration at the ARA Show in New Orleans was not just a milestone for our company but a testament to our team’s hard work and dedication, the quality of our products and our commitment to customer support.”

The anniversary celebration kicked off with Compact Excavator Sales’ participation in the ARA Show, where attendees explored the latest equipment, including the newly released HD308 67hp excavator—a powerful and compact large excavator designed to bridge the gap between compact excavators and large excavators. Compact Excavator Sales also released its 9V5 micro mini excavator; its petite size designed for more small and narrow jobs. The festivities continued with an exclusive party at the JW Marriott, offering guests the opportunity to celebrate the company’s 30 years of success, innovation and growth.

Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals named one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing companies

Inc. magazine named Weller Brothers Landscape Professionals No. 128 on its annual Inc. 5000 list, which ranks the region’s fastest-growing private companies.

“We are honored to be recognized by Inc. 5000; it’s true testament to the dedication of our team,” said Cole Weller, CEO of Weller Brothers. “At Weller Brothers, we grow so we can provide our people with opportunities for advancement. We are excited to continue on our growth journey and watch our people advance their careers.”

Weller Brothers has achieved a three-year average growth of over 82.8 percent and a median rate of 35.2 percent. The company offers landscape design, installation and lawn and tree services services to communities in Sioux Falls, S.D., Rochester, Minn. and Des Moines, Iowa, following a recent expansion of Des Moines, Iowa.

Tim Johnson Landscaping celebrates 25 Years

Tim Johnson Landscaping recently celebrated its 25th anniversary in business. Established on March 1, 1999, the company has continued to grow and has earned a reputation for excellence in landscape design, installation and maintenance.

As part of its 25th-anniversary celebration, Tim Johnson Landscaping unveiled a refreshed brand identity and a new website. The updated brand reflects the company’s evolution and commitment to innovation, while the new website provides an enhanced platform for clients to explore its services, mission, vision and values.

“We are thrilled to commemorate 25 years of serving the communities of the Piedmont of North Carolina and upstate of South Carolina,” said Tim Johnson, founder and CEO of Tim Johnson Landscaping. “This milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, as well as the trust and support of our valued clients. We are excited to enter this next chapter with a renewed focus on delivering exceptional landscaping solutions and exceeding our clients’ expectations.”

GOT NEWS? LET US KNOW!

Have news about your company? Send it to Associate Editor Rob DiFranco at rdifranco@northcoastmedia.net, and we’ll feature it in an upcoming Companies in the News.

Joey Ciccolini

Joey Ciccolini

Joseph Ciccolini received his Bachelor’s in Journalism from Kent State University, where he created news reports across various forms of media such as video, audio and print. Prior to joining our team, he was an intern for 89.7 WKSU producing and voicing multiple broadcast stories.

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