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Fort Smith Arkansas: Mars Petcare Expansion Project

Fort Smith, AR

Beginning May, 2021, Hugg & Hall started work with contractors on the the Mars Petcare Plant expansion in Fort Smith, AR. Mars Petcare Associates began work on the multi-million dollar expansion to their wet food plant located in Chaffee Crossing, adding 200,000-square-feet.

The project, which started in January 2021, is scheduled for completion of its current phase in the beginning of 2023.  With the addition of two production lines, they expect to increase the production capacity by more than 40%.

Hugg & Hall is working directly with contractors pulled in from across the country for this project, renting out well over 150 pieces of equipment to complete the job. Outside Rental Salesman, Kevin Lea, says, “This is easily one of the largest projects Hugg & Hall has had the pleasure to be a part of in many years here in Fort Smith.”

“I expect to see us on site with more major projects in the near future,” says Lea. “With expansions in production facilities in Chaffee Crossing, it’s not hard to see why.”

The 48-acre Fort Smith plant has plenty of room to continue to expand as work begins on “phase 3” in 2023. 

Why expand?

Mars Petcare says that over the past year (due in part to people staying home and getting more pets), the demand for wet pet food has risen nearly 18%. The two expansions at the Fort Smith plant are expected to grow this location’s production capacity by more than 75%.

“At Mars Petcare, everything we do is in service of our purpose: A Better World For Pets,” said Ikdeep Singh, Regional President of Mars Petcare North America. “Pet parents are at the center of everything we do, and at Mars Petcare, we’re committed to answering their evolving needs as a trusted partner for pet parents.” 

“The role of pets in our lives has grown even stronger during the pandemic, and our latest investment in Fort Smith enables us to deepen our commitment to our Associates and the City of Fort Smith.”

MARS is Going Green

The Fort Smith facility, which first opened in 2009, was the first sustainable manufacturing facility in Arkansas and the first sustainable pet food manufacturing facility in the world. It is LEED-Gold certified by the United States Green Building Council.

Hugg & Hall worked directly with contractors to ensure they meet this high standard for eco-friendly building. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the nationally-accepted benchmark in the U.S. for designing, constructing and operating green buildings. 

The wet pet food factory achieved gold certification for its efforts such as recycling water, reduction of energy use and protection against light pollution and soil erosion.

For more information about Mars Petcare, visit www.mars.com/made-by-mars/petcare.

Looking to rent Hugg & Hall equipment for your next large project? Visit our rental page! Rental Equipment – Hugg & Hall (hugghall.com)

Partners renting with Hugg & Hall for the “Blue Moon Project”:

 

The Future in Equipment Training

Earlier this month, the Fayetteville Public Library in Fayetteville, AR opened the J.B. & Johnelle Hunt Family Center for Innovation. This space provides patrons with free and public access to technology and educational resources. The Center for Innovation stems from the 2020 expansion of the library, which added more than 5,000 square feet to the building. The new space offers access to workforce simulation, virtual reality, audio/video production and editing, and a robotics/fabrication lab.

The Crossland Companies Simulation Lab offers training on equipment such as large trucks, hydraulic excavators, and forklifts. These simulators offer a similar experience as hands-on training. Participants are able to log hours and then use those hours towards their certification. These simulators allow library goers to learn various trades and gain valuable knowledge that can launch them into the workforce.

Will this make a difference in the equipment training world? Absolutely. These simulators allow more people to gain training. This training allows for more efficient starting employees and less time spent on onsite training. Geared towards teens and those interested in heavy equipment, the opportunity to learn these skills come at a much earlier age.

The world needs tradesmen and the simulation lab gives people the opportunity to try out these machines and see if these fields of work are right for them- free of cost. With the construction boom currently happening, there are plenty of opportunities to come.

The library is already working on adding more simulators in the future to allow training on other pieces of equipment. A tool rental center/shop is in the works as well, with hopes to open in late 2022.

Tom Ermann Retires After 40 Years

It’s a rewarding end to many years of hard work and dedicated service as we congratulate our long time Part Systems – Operations and Inventory Analyst, Tom Ermann on his recent retirement! Throughout his 40 year long career here at Hugg & Hall, Tom has held many different titles from Parts Runner, Service Manager, Branch Manager, General Parts and Service Manager, and Corporate Parts Manager– just to name a few!

“Tom has been an ever present calm and steady part of Hugg and Hall, he has guided the product support folks for many years and has instilled the Hugg & Hall spirit of service and fairness in everyone that has had the privilege of working with him,” said Jack Beckford, Springdale Parts Manager. “He has been a mentor and support post for many in his tenure and that example will be hard to match,” continued Jack. 

Tracey Gibbs, Corporate Parts Manger adds “He’s been the ‘Parts Guru’ for years and is famous for looking over the top of his glasses at you and saying ‘Parts is Easy’.  He’s mentored many parts managers over the years and we are a greater company today, because of that.  His knowledge and dedication was second to none.  He was my mentor for almost 30 years and he’s not just a co-worker, he is a great friend!”

It is easy for all of us to agree with Tracey and Jack, when they say Tom Ermann will be greatly missed by the Hugg & Hall family! 

Hugg & Hall would like to send a huge thank you and congratulations to Tom for his hard work and dedication throughout his 40 years of service. Tom, you will always be part of the Hugg & Hall family!

Employee Spotlight: Cardec Martinez

Meet Cardec Martinez! Field Service Manager – Springdale, AR

Where is your hometown?

Cardec Martinez was born in Killeen, TX but was raised in Puerto Rico until I decided to move to Arkansas in 2001. I currently call Fayetteville, AR home.

Do you have family? Kids?

I am happily married with three wonderful children, two girls and a boy.

What does your typical day at work look like? Daily job duties?

As of right now I have 10 outstanding road technicians that I manage. I follow up every day with their job progress and help on any major repairs they might need me for. I also work with CROWN Infolink systems for Tyson, Walmart, and GLAD Manufacturing other small businesses in the area.

How long have you been with the company?

I have been with Hugg & Hall for 6 years now.

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I get to talk to and meet new people daily, and everyday there is a different challenge so it is never boring.

Do you have a favorite memory while working at Hugg & Hall?

My favorite memories while working here have been the company potlucks for the holidays. Nice to break bread with colleagues and we are all family here.

Have you had other roles while working here? Did you work in the industry before Hugg & Hall?

Before Hugg & Hall, I worked as a Service Manager for Volvo Rents in Springdale. Prior to that, I worked in different companies such as Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar and in the trucking industries as a diesel technician.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

Outside of work I enjoy grilling and playing golf.

What is something that the people you work with might be surprised to know about you?

I primarily listen to country music, but have a mix of other music I enjoy as well.

 

Cardec is an essential part in keeping daily operations moving smoothly at Hugg & Hall. We are proud to have him on our team!  

Employee Spotlight: Britney Bradshaw

“Ask Britney!”

Meet Britney Bradshaw, Service Manager at our El Dorado branch! 

Britney’s original spotlight was published 9/20/2020. Read on to get an update about her new role at Hugg & Hall! 

 

What’s your hometown?

Camden, AR.

Family?

One son, Roen, who is 11 years old and will be attending 6th grade this year.

What does your typical day at work look like?

I feel like I do a little bit of everything! But a quick way to sum it up would be that I help manage the daily operations of our service department, and make sure our operations are going as smoothly as possible. I’m constantly on the phone assisting technicians and make sure they have everything they need to handle a service job. I communicate with customers and do everything we can to accommodate any requests, and I help my coworkers with anything they’re unsure of. I think one of the most common phrases around here is “Ask Britney!”

Britney Bradshaw smiling. She is wearing a purple shirt and has blond hair. How long have you been with Hugg & Hall?

10 years.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

Honestly, the people I work with! Even though there are days we all drive each other crazy, I wouldn’t trade them for the world. We have a great group of people here, and it makes a huge difference being able to come to work and having a good team to work with every day!

Have you had other roles while working here? Did you work in the industry before Hugg & Hall?

I started out at Hugg & Hall as a Service Administrator, moved into the Field Service Coordinator position, and have since been promoted into the Field Service Manager/Coordinator role.

Before coming to Hugg & Hall, I was still enrolled in college (for dentistry) and working part-time. I got a call from Tracey Gibbs asking if I was interested in the Service Administrator position. After I got my first degree, I was going to take a break from school for a semester or too. Honestly, I thought I would just be at Hugg & Hall for a couple of years until I had to move to continue school. But I enjoyed working here and loved the people I worked with, so I never did end up going back! Here I am, 10 years later, and hopefully many more! I definitely went into a totally different career than what I originally planned!

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I love spending time with my family, and that’s mostly where you’ll find me in my free time. I like to travel. To me, experiences are way more important than materialistic things. I try to make memories with the people I love, more than anything else!

What are your passions?

Outside of work, I would have to say I’m most passionate about helping children. This past year I completed my 5-year term being a volunteer/board member for the nonprofit organization National Association of Junior Auxiliaries (NAJA). Their focus is meeting the needs of children in our local community, spotlighting their welfare, health, recreation, culture, and education. It took a lot of time and hard work, but it was so rewarding! I’m enjoying having free time, but I look forward to getting involved with another non-profit organization.

What’s something that the people you work with might be surprised to know about you?

This isn’t a surprise to most of my coworkers in El Dorado, but a fun fact about me is that I’m a 2nd generation employee. My mom started working for Hugg & Hall when I was five years old and worked here for 13 years before she retired after I graduated high school. Today, there are several employees still working that have been here from the beginning of my “Hugg & Hall life.” I honestly feel like I grew up here and Hugg & Hall is my family!

 

2022 Update

Britney Bradshaw smiling and sitting at her desk. She is a blond woman wearing a green shirt.

In 2022, Britney accepted the position of Service Manager in El Dorado and celebrated 12 years with Hugg & Hall! We took the opportunity to catch back up with her.

What does your day look like in your new position?

I’m taking additional responsibilities and developing myself and my team. I’m super excited about the Field Service Manager that I selected to fill my prior position, and I’m thrilled with the “Dream Team” I’m building. I have big plans for us!

What do you want to bring to the department as Service Manager?

As always, our first and main focus is having happy, well-served customers! In addition, I believe having happy, well-treated employees plays a huge role in that! I want to make sure my team feels how much they are appreciated, and that they’re getting all the training and tools they need to do their job more efficiently and effectively. El Dorado just became the Bobcat dealer for our territory, and we officially started a new branch in Shreveport this summer to take over our Northwest and Central Louisiana territory. We have a lot of new, exciting thins happening and we continue to grow and evolve like never before!

What’s the most interesting place you’ve traveled since we last spoke?

I haven’t traveled out of the country since the pandemic started, so we’ve stuck to our normal Florida beach trips. One cool thing we’ve done, that will most likely end up being a once-in-a-lifetime experience, was go to Universal Studios when they first opened after the pandemic. A lot of people were still nervous about the unknowns of Covid, so park attendance was super low. There were no lines and we felt like we had the whole place to ourselves! I told my son he got spoiled on his first trip and if he ever went back, it would definitely not be the same experience!

What’s your favorite quote that impacts your daily life?

“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”

 

Congratulations on your promotion, Britney!

Want to hear more about our awesome employees? Check out our Employee Spotlight page! 

Employee Spotlight: Trey McClenahan

Meet Trey McClenahan!

Trey works as an Industrial Truck Salesman in our Little Rock, AR location and has been with the company five years!

On a typical day, Trey keeps busy by selling forklifts, meeting new customers and providing solutions to their needs. When asked what his favorite thing about his job was, Trey replied, “There is a new application every day, no two days are ever the same”.

Trey has a long history with Hugg&Hall. In 1997, his mother, Neeli Kinzler, started working here. Trey would often come with her to the office when it was “still okay to bring your kids to work”.

Later, he came back and interned at our Jonesboro location as a sales intern while attending Arkansas State University. Now, Trey is officially a part of the Hugg & Hall sales team!

When Trey is away from the office, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Tessie, and their two dogs Bama and Harper. Trey also has a passion for two of his favorite hobbies – duck hunting and fishing.

We are thrilled to have Trey as a part of the Hugg & Hall family! To learn about our other employees, check out our Employee Spotlights page! 

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in August 2020. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in March 2023.

Hugg & Hall and Scott Equipment Agree to Trade Manufacturer Product Lines in Two States

Deal to Deliver Greater Value for Companies, Clients and Manufacturers

Little Rock, Ark. (Oct. 1, 2019) – Industry leaders Hugg & Hall Equipment Company and Scott Equipment Company, LLC have entered into a unique strategic agreement to trade Volvo and Toyota manufacturer territories in Louisiana and Arkansas in order to better align product offerings with each company’s business model and target markets. The agreement, effective today, is designed to expand the companies’ core operations, streamline manufacturer-dealer engagements and increase value to the companies’ clients through enhanced focus on primary business lines.

Under the terms of the landmark agreement, Hugg & Hall is transferring its Volvo Construction Equipment territory in Arkansas to Scott Equipment; in return, Scott Equipment is transferring its Toyota Material Handling territory in Louisiana to Hugg & Hall.

Hugg & Hall’s business focus includes sales, rental, parts and service of material handling and light construction equipment. The agreement calls for Hugg & Hall to operate out of current New Orleans and Baton Rouge Material Handling locations. Operations in Broussard, Lake Charles, Alexandria, Shreveport and Monroe will be absorbed into existing Hugg & Hall facilities.

Scott’s business focus includes sales, rental, parts and service of heavy-duty construction equipment and cranes. Under the terms of the deal announced today, Scott will absorb the Hugg & Hall Volvo operations into Scott’s existing Arkansas facilities.

“This is a transformative agreement that enables Hugg & Hall to expand our industry-leading position in the forklift market, sharpen our manufacturer relationships and deliver greater value to clients by enhancing the core capabilities we provide throughout our operating territory,” said Hugg & Hall President John Hugg. “Volvo Construction Equipment and Toyota Material Handling have both lent their full support to this innovative arrangement and are optimistic the new structure will result in growth across each brand.”

In order to expand their presence in Louisiana, Hugg & Hall intends to retain Scott’s material handling employees within the territory. As part of the deal, Scott Equipment will absorb Volvo-specific Hugg & Hall team members into its current Arkansas operations.

“We have enjoyed being a Volvo dealer for 33 years and are confident the talented team at Scott will continue to represent the brand well in Arkansas,” Hugg said. “At the same time, we are excited to grow our already strong relationship with Toyota, adding new territory in Louisiana that provides a valuable opportunity to advance our long-term strategic objectives.”

About Hugg & Hall

Hugg & Hall Equipment Company, headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, has been family owned and operated since 1956. The company is a full-service dealer for material handling equipment, representing Toyota, Taylor, Crown, Doosan, Enersys, Combilift, Sellick, Bobcat, and more. Hugg & Hall provides comprehensive material handling solutions including new & used equipment, parts and service support and a fleet of over 1000 rental forklifts. Hugg & Hall services all of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, southern Missouri and east Texas with a team of 600 employees and 14 locations. The company is also one of the largest construction and industrial equipment rental providers in the south, with a fleet of over 6,000 rental units. With value-added services and a focus on their customers, Hugg & Hall Equipment Company is the one-stop shop for every construction and industrial equipment need.

For more information about Hugg & Hall Equipment Company, please contact John Hugg, President, at john.hugg@hugghall.com.

About Scott Equipment

Scott Equipment Company has represented the world’s finest makers of heavy-duty construction equipment, cranes and forklifts since 1939.  Headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, the company is a full-service dealer for heavy-duty construction equipment and cranes, representing Volvo, Elgin, JLG, Case, Kobelco, Cushman, Rammer, Furukawa, BTi and Gradall. Scott’s team of nearly 400 employees sells, rents and services at 19 locations in five states including Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. Scott Equipment Company provides the customer with quality equipment supported with over $10 million parts inventory and certified service technicians with over 770 years of combined experience.

For more information about Scott Equipment Company, please contact Eric Goebel, Chief Operating Officer, at egoebel@scottcompanies.com or visit their website at https://www.scottcompanies.com/