Tag Archives: employee spotlight

James Burgess Employee Spotlight: 10 Years at Hugg & Hall

As a Product Support Sales Representative (a.k.a. “PSSR”), James Burgess sells parts and labor to the customer on the job site. For many of our customers in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area, he is the face of Hugg and Hall. We had the pleasure to sit down with him as he celebrates being with us for 10 years!

1. Where were you born and raised? Where do you live now?

 

I was born and raised in Eufala, OK. When I was 22 years old, I left our home to go to college, earning my degree in Agriculture Education. I wanted to be a teacher! 

After I graduated, I realized pretty quickly that I didn’t want to teach and became a salesman instead. Along the way, I made my way out here to the Fort Smith area. 

 

2. How long have you been with Hugg & Hall? If you started in a different position, tell us how you got here!

 

Before I came to Hugg & Hall, I worked for a  business selling uniforms. One of my customers at the time was Hugg and Hall. I am a salesman through and through and I sold myself to Hugg & Hall.

Chris Shields (Vice President of Product Support) gave me an opportunity to work here and I have to say, I have got the best job in the world. I am celebrating 10 years here on April 2nd!

 

3. What does a day in the life of a PSSR look like?

 

Most days, I am on the street or talking to customer before 7:30A.M. Typically I am walking in 10-15 doors a day to speak with our customers.

My goal is to always be the first one a customer calls. Sometimes, you can get upwards of 120 calls a day, and I gladly welcome all of them.

The work definitely ebbs and flows. Some days it’s slow and others there’s not enough of you to go around! More than anything, every day I sell value of what we here at Hugg & Hall bring to the table.

 

4. The best part, or your favorite thing, about working for Hugg & Hall?

 

In 10 years of working here, I haven’t ever had a day that’s duplicated itself. It’s different every day around here. 

5. Do you have a favorite memory of your time here at Hugg & Hall?

My goodness, there are too many great moments I have had here to pick just one.

I will say this though, I love watching the process. It truly takes all of us to make the wheel turn here at Hugg & Hall. We all rely on each other and trust that each person is going to do their part all with the customer in mind. 

 

6. What do you like to do in your free time?

Woodworking! Also, I just bought 57 acres and will be doing stocker cattle.

7. What is an interesting or random fact about you people may not know?

At one time, I paid the bills as a rodeo announcer. 

8. Tell us your favorite quote and what it means to you.

“Life is on.” I’ve had to be still for a long time. I have gotten myself to where I can move and shake and I’m never gonna be still again.

What people are saying about James:

“When I first met James 10 years ago, I found out that equipment repairs were not, as James would say “his wheel house”. He went head-first into his new position wholeheartedly. He is quick to learn and knows what customer service is about. James has learned, and retained, what is needed in his job and is second to none in his performance.

He has indeed sold some unusual items over the years that are not related to equipment repairs, for instance, catchers masks for one of our poultry customers, step ladders (enough to reach the moon), pink trash cans, 800 lbs. of rock salt (snow storm for melting ice), stainless steel spaghetti colanders (to weigh chicken) and a host of other items. Our customers know if there is something they need, if anyone can supply it, James is the man to get it done.

James knows that we as a company have to make a profit, he also knows we have to be fair with the customer. He is the perfect mix of the guy in the middle in a marketplace where we are not the least expensive lift truck company in town. We are the best and I’ve heard him tell customers “There’s one thing you don’t get with the other guys, and, that’s James Burgess”.  -Holand Purifoy

 

CONGRATULATIONS ON 10 YEARS, JAMES! We appreciate you! 

To read more of our employee spotlights, check them out here! 

Employee Spotlights Archives – Hugg & Hall (hugghall.com)

Employee Spotlight: Treanaka Darensburg

Meet Treanaka Darensburg! 

Treanaka Darensburg is a Field Service Coordinator in our New Orleans/Destrehan service department and we love having her on our team. We enjoyed asking Treanaka a few questions and learning about what she likes to do away from work. 

Where were you born and raised? Where do you live now?

I was born in what is called the Westbank- Avondale, Marrero, Harvey and Gretna, Louisiana. I currently live in Reserve, LA, outside of New Orleans.

How long have you been with Hugg & Hall? 

I have been with Hugg & Hall since October 2019. I started in Accounts Payable/Receivable with Scott Equipment 15 years ago. When an Office Manager position became available on the Toyota Material Handling side I jumped at the opportunity. Once Hugg & Hall and Scott Equipment traded product lines, I became a Field Service Coordinator for Hugg & Hall. I have been in this position for the last two years.

What does a day in the life of a Field Service Coordinator look like?

I start the morning off dispatching our technicians. Then I work on opening and preparing work orders for closing and sending out to customers. I also work on Parts Cart Requests and Recommended Repair forms. My day also involves sending out quotes and handling customer calls and emails. Oh, and lets not forget about doing invoices and receivers for Bill Pay. Just to name a few!  

The best part, or your favorite thing, about working for Hugg & Hall?

The people I work with.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I like to relax and travel in my free time.

What is an interesting or random fact people may not know about you?

I used to sing in the church choir. I can’t sing at all but I loved it!

Tell us your favorite quote and what it means to you.

“No One Owes You Anything”. People tend to think that others owe you something. I feel that anything you do should be done from your heart. Everything you get, you should work for and earn. So instead of feeling owed, you would feel satisfied and content knowing what you accomplished.

To get to know some of our other coworkers, visit our past employee spotlights!

2023 Update: Treanaka has been promoted to Parts Operation Manager! We can’t wait to see what her future with Hugg & Hall holds!

Employee Spotlight: Rental Sales Manager, Conner Tujague

 

As the Hugg & Hall Broussard Rental Sales Manager, Conner Tujague helps his team with everything from making the sale to finding the equipment the customer needs. We got in touch with him to learn a little bit more about his role and his favorite things about working for Hugg & Hall. 

Where is your hometown?

I grew up in the small town of Eunice, LA where rice and crawfish farming is the way of life for most citizens.  

How long have you been at Hugg & Hall?

I have been with Hugg & Hall for a little over two years.

What is your favorite thing about working for Hugg & Hall?

My favorite thing about working at Hugg & Hall is the culture. You have the freedom to choose your work style, which brings out the best in you.

Do you have a favorite memory of your time here at Hugg & Hall?

One of my favorite memories here at Hugg & Hall is when I took a trip to Miami for The Natural Disasters Expo. I learned a lot about natural disaster needs. Free time allowed me to go site seeing as this was the first time I traveled to Miami.

Tell us a little bit about what a day in the life of a Rental Sales Manager looks like.

As a Rental Sales Manager, I receive a lot of calls needing assistance from my sales team. I don’t mind though because I truly like helping people out. A lot of this involves helping my team close on deals and find new opportunities.

What is something that people you work with may not know about you?

I like to play competitive sports. Tennis is my favorite and I played it throughout my childhood and into high school. It’s hard to have time to play now with family and work taking up most of my free time but I plan on teaching my kids when they are older. I tried introducing them to the game, but they end up playing on the playground.

Tell us your favorite quote and what it means to you.

My favorite quote is “No Pain, No Gain”. I believe nothing great in life comes easy. You must work hard and go through trials and tribulations to achieve greatness. Nobody has ever said the journey to the top of the mountain was easy, but there is a lot of lessons to learn on the way up and you will appreciate the top that much more. 

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

First and foremost, I don’t consider Hugg & Hall being work. I was always told to find something you love to do, and you will never work a day in your life. I truly enjoy my time at Hugg & Hall. Besides my time at Hugg & Hall, I spend it with my family. I am married to my high school sweetheart who which we have three daughters and a baby on the way (Praying for BOY). My daughters love to spend their time outside. Whether it be swinging and riding bikes or swimming at our neighborhood pool.

To contact our rental department or find out more about what equipment we have available for rent, go to our RENTAL PAGE.

 

 

Corey Holtz Celebrates 20 Years!

Meet Corey Holtz, Systems Administrator for Hugg & Hall Equipment Company’s IT Department! Corey has been with the company for 20 years and has experienced a memorable (to say the least) past few months.  As Hugg & Hall dealt with a cyber attack in November of 2021, Corey and our IT department worked tirelessly to get everyone back up and running while building  hardware and servers. We appreciate their hard work!

Where were you born and raised?

I was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin on New Years Day, 1968. I was raised in a little town called Eagle River, Wisconsin which is about three hours north of Green Bay. We were way up there in the cold! 

Where did you go to school/college?

I went to school at the University of Arkansas- Little Rock back in 1999 for my A+ certification in computers and my MCSE certification. (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer)

How long have you been with Hugg & Hall?

I came to Hugg & Hall in February of 2001. I saw an ad in the newspaper for an IT position and at the time I was working around the corner at a small company called Personalized Computers. During my lunch, I came by and put in an application for the position here and the rest is history. I’ve been in the IT department ever since and enjoy what I do very much.

What does a day in the life of a Systems Administrator look like?

I am the Systems Administrator here for all our laptops and computers so needless to say, it can quickly get very busy. You have to try to stay levelheaded and help everyone you can in a timely matter and treat them like they are your customer. Most everyone here at Hugg & Hall is very understanding when it comes to helping them, and that sure helps.

What is the best part, or your favorite thing, about working for Hugg & Hall?

Job Security and it’s indoors! LOL What I like best is everyone from the top (John Hugg and Robert Hall) to the bottom, are very approachable, which I think is key. If you can’t communicate with everyone, that’s how problems get started.

Do you have a favorite memory of your time here at Hugg & Hall?

I’ve had a lot of good memories with cookouts and company lunches, and making lots of new friends, but one of my favorite memories was when I was being interviewed by Robert Hall. I was all ready and waiting, wondering what his first question would be and what my answer would be, and then he asked me, “What do I like to do for fun!”. Needless to say, I was not ready for that to be his first question.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to hunt and fish and I am into pond management. I am also currently fixing up a 1972 Mach 1 Mustang with my two boys.

What is an interesting or random fact about you people may not know?

For 4 years I was a hydraulic and pneumatics specialist in the United States Air Force working on C130’s, C5’s and C141’s.

Tell us your favorite quote and what it means to you.

I always liked the quote from Rocky, “It isn’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done.” I’ve always shared this with my two boys as a constant reminder that life is not easy and anything worth having takes hard work.

Thank you, Corey, for all that you do for Hugg & Hall

 

Employee Spotlight: Luke Benson

Meet Luke Benson!

Luke was born and raised in Perth, located in the western territory of Australia. After coming to the United States for vacation and spending several months traveling, they decided to make the move to Fort Smith, Arkansas, where his wife once visited to meet a pen pal she was paired up with while in school. 

Luke has been a part of Hugg & Hall since July of this year- entering the role of Inside Rental Sales. He can be seen as somewhat of an expert in the rental industry, as he worked for a rental company in Australia for 15 years. In a typical day, Luke can be seen taking orders from customers and our Outside Rental Sales team while interacting with any walk-in customers that may come in. Luke considers himself a people person, getting to interact with new people and customers daily while building relationships is the highlight of his workday! 

In his free time, Luke enjoys playing golf, listening to live music, and spending time with his family! Something many people may not know is that he can surf and play guitar. You could classify Luke as some what of a world traveler as well, he has visited beautiful places such as Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia.

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough”

The next time you visit our Fort Smith branch say ‘hello’ to Luke! To get to know some of our other Hugg & Hall teammates, check out our other employee spotlights.

Meet Darren Hebert: New Product Support Manager

Meet Darren Hebert!

Darren has been with Hugg & Hall since October of 2019 and started with us as a Service Manager. Starting October 1, he will be serving us as Product Support Manager in our Baton Rouge, Louisiana location. Darren brings a great amount of industry experience,  outstanding professional skills, and a passion for the employees here at Hugg & Hall. We are so excited to see all the great things he is going to do in his new position! 

Where were you born/raised? Where do you live now?

I was born and raised just south of Houma, Louisiana in a small town called Bourg. Oddly enough, my family owns property in the back of the Hugg & Hall location down there and that’s where I spent a good bit of my free time hunting and riding dirt bikes. Later in life, after I completed my 8 year military career in the Navy, I moved to Baton Rouge to pursue careers other than what the oilfield had to offer.

How long have you been at Hugg & Hall? If you started in a different position, tell us how you got here.

I started with Scott Equipment in 2013 and made the transition to Hugg & Hall in October 2019 carrying on as Service Manager.

What is the best part (your favorite thing) about working for Hugg & Hall?

There are so many things that I love about Hugg & Hall, but if I were to pick just one, I would have to say the most obvious is the eagerness to grow. From day one I have been impressed at how some is never enough. There has never been a time that anyone has said no to making improvements or trying to do better for our customers or our employees. Hugg & Hall continues to push forward even in the darkest moments of hurricanes, the pandemic, etc. The support that we as employees get from the upper management and ownership of this company stands out far greater than anyone could ever expect.

Do you have a favorite memory of your time here at Hugg & Hall?

One of my favorite memories here at Hugg & Hall was the announcement that we were going to move into a newer facility that would be home to all departments at one location. One of the most valuable things here at this location, is that all departments work and help each other without conflict

or forced obligation. The definition of being a TEAM is valued by all and is thoroughly embraced. A bond between departments has been formed and thrives to get stronger as we grow for the future.

What are you most excited about in your new position as Product Support Manager?

My focus has always been to make things run smoother not just for the Service Department, but for ALL departments involved. To be in a position that is designed to encourage that even more and to increase the growth of the company by being a bigger part of the operation is very exciting. The challenge of the daily operations for anyone is how well you make a positive impact that ultimately gets you positive results.

What is an interesting random fact about you that people may not know?   

Most folks don’t know that I am a Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy with the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office and have been for the past 14 years. I have volunteered to serve my country and now this is what I do to serve my community. I’ve spent 10 years in uniform patrol, 2 years executing warrants and I currently serve as a Firearms Instructor with the Sheriff’s training department helping new recruits and ongoing in-service training for seasoned deputies.

Tell us your favorite quote and what it means to you.

John F Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”. This quote inspires me in so many ways and those folks that know me can tell you that I implement it in everyday life. A positive, selfless act to help others is so rewarding.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Free time? What’s that? If there is such a thing, I do like to Sport Clay shoot, deer hunt and go on the occasional motorcycle ride with my wife, Carrie, in the mountain areas of Tennessee.

Joey Baker: Promoted to Regional Sales Manager

Meet our newest Regional Sales Manager, Joey Baker!

Joey was born and raised in Russellville, Arkansas. Once graduated from high school, he attended Arkansas Tech for two years before joining the Marine Corps. After serving for six years he completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Arkansas. Joey began his career with Hugg & Hall in 2007 as a Product Support Sales Representative in our Springdale branch, from there he was promoted in 2011 to an Industrial Truck Salesman and earned his current promotion in June of this year. He is now the Regional Sales Manager for all of Oklahoma as well as our Ft Smith and Springdale territories. 

In a typical day, Joey can be found sourcing new and used equipment for his customers. While every day looks a little different for him, being able to understand the customers needs and satisfying those needs accordingly is a constant in his routine. One of the best parts of working at Hugg & Hall for Joey is being able to build long-lasting and meaningful relationships with our customers.

When he’s not working, Joey enjoys spending time with his wife, Stephanie, and daughter, Scarlett. You can also catch him enjoying the outdoors any chance he gets- hunting and fishing are some of his favorite activities. Joey is no stranger to any genre of music, but especially enjoys country and red dirt country. He’ll take you up on any tickets to listen to some live music!

Hugg & Hall would like to say a big thank you Joey for his many years with the company and a congratulations on the promotion! We look forward to continue to watch him grow! 

Ryan Grebert: Promoted to Bobcat Sales Manager

Meet Ryan Grebert!

Ryan is the Bobcat Sales Manager located in our Little Rock, AR branch! Ryan shares his knowledge of Bobcat equipment with the Sales Team to provide customers with new and used equipment and quality service. With his new position as Sales Manager, Ryan hopes to use his experience and understanding of the Bobcat brand to help the Arkansas Sales Team provide the best possible service to build Hugg & Hall’s market growth.

Ryan is a long time employee in our sales department; he got his start in Inside Rental Sales in 2009 and has worked his way up over the years to his current Sales Manager position. His favorite part of the job is being able to interact with customers and being able to help them grow their business with the equipment and services Hugg & Hall provides.

Ryan was born and raised in Shenandoah, IA! He attended Iowa Western Community College on a baseball scholarship and later attended Southern Arkansas University where he received a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Management. 

Ryan and wife Holly currently reside in Cabot, AR with their son Fielder. When Ryan is off the clock he enjoys watching his son play baseball, spending time with friends and family, and going hunting. 

Hugg & Hall would like to say a big thank you to Ryan for everything he does to grow our Bobcat equipment sales and the knowledge he brings to customers and his fellow salesmen.

If you are in the market to purchase new or used Bobcat equipment, give Ryan or a salesmen on his team a call!

May Employee Spotlight: Mark Riendeau

Meet Mark Riendeau!

Mark is a Rental Sales Manager stationed at our El Dorado, Arkansas location! Mark works with the Rental Team to deliver top-quality equipment to our customers while providing around-the-clock support on all rental reservationsAlthough he is new to the Hugg & Hall team he has already made a huge impact on rental sales, specifically in our North Louisiana region! Rental Managers like Mark are always meeting new customers, Mark expressed “interacting with different people from different backgrounds is my favorite thing about my job. Everyone has a story, I love hearing new & interesting ones!”  

Mark was born and raised in San Diego, California but is proud call Alexandria, Louisiana his home that he shares with his wife Emily and six-month-old daughter Mailey! Mark is a huge baseball fan and quite the athlete himself; Many do not know that he played College Baseball at Louisiana College in Pineville! Although he has a long sports background, he mentions, “If I could learn anything in life it would be how to hit a golf ball straight!” 😂 

Hugg & Hall appreciates the work Mark Riendeau has contributed in his short time here and hopes both customers and employees alike help us give him a warm welcome aboard! 

To start your own Hugg & Hall Story, visit our hiring website.

Employee Spotlight: Mike Landrum

Meet Mike Landrum – Product Support Sales Representative – Baton Rouge, LA

Where is your hometown? Baton Rouge, LA (laissez le bon temps rouler) *let the good times roll*

Do you have family? Kids? My wife, Kelli of 29 years and sons Chandler and Parker.

What does your typical day at work look like? Our territory consists of 10 Louisiana parishes (counties) that I travel covering customers and prospects. I normally like to start work early in the mornings when there is less traffic on the roads and usually will have at least one customer calling needing help before 7:00 A.M. I accept customer calls anytime of the day either very early in the mornings or late in the evenings. Depending on the area within the territory I am covering that day, I will normally start by visiting existing customers early and then cold calling later in the morning and after lunch. In the late afternoons, I am calling on customers and following up on outstanding quotes and preparing new quotes.

Daily job duties? Developing new customers, growing business with existing customers, service and parts quoting, helping customers make sound financial decisions and teaching equipment operator training.

How long have you been with the company? I came over from the transition with Scott Equipment, so total time of 7 years.

What is your favorite thing about your job? Meeting new people and developing new business opportunities. I really enjoy listening to customers and prospects to identify their problems and needs so Hugg & Hall can provide a successful solution building a mutually beneficial long-term relationship. Solving customer’s problems is very gratifying to me and at the same time, helping someone else clear their obstacles.

Do you have a favorite memory while working at Hugg & Hall? Learning that our branch was moving to a new location soon.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Traveling with family and friends to interesting places across the country.

What are your passions? Saltwater fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, hunting and cooking.

What is something that the people you work with might be surprised to know about you? I participated in competition water skiing and began barefoot skiing when I was just 13.

“When someone asks me where I work, I’m very proud to say that I work for Hugg & Hall Equipment!”

Mike Landrum is an essential part in keeping daily operations moving smoothly! We are proud to have him on our team! To start your own Hugg & Hall Story, visit our hiring website.