Tag Archives: Employee Spotlights

Employee Spotlight: Melinda Speer

Employee Spotlight: Melinda Speer

Melinda Speer

Meet Melinda Speer! Speer has been with Hugg & Hall for more than 23 years and works as a Fleet Maintenance Coordinator at the company’s Little Rock, Ark., location. She is absolutely essential to the process of ensuring that rental equipment is maintained and ready-for-operation before machines are delivered to job sites. 

“Demanding and challenging,” said Speer, when asked to describe her job at Hugg & Hall. “My main job duty is to keep the rental equipment ready to rent by working with the service department to ensure a quick and cost-effective repair.”

Speer said that the things that have motivated her to stay at the company for so long are the relationships she’s made throughout her time, an allegiance to the organization and an affection for what she does. 

“Over the past 23 years I have built a lot of good relationships and made some really good friends,” said Speer. “There are two things that have kept me at Hugg & Hall: loyalty and I love what I do.” 

Speer is a native of Paragould, Ark., but has lived in Little Rock for more than 30 years. She is married to her husband of 25 years, Doug, and has one daughter and two granddaughters. Outside of work, she enjoys going to the gym and spending time at the lake. 

When asked, Speer said that her coworkers might be surprised to know that she can barefoot waterski and was a competitive bodybuilder for five years.

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Speer for all of her hard work and dedication throughout the years!

Product Support Team Gathers for Unprecedented Meeting in Little Rock

The Hugg & Hall Equipment Company (Hugg & Hall) Product Support Team gathered for a meeting like no other. For the first time (in anyone’s memory) all parts and service managers, as well as all product support sales representatives (PSSRs), gathered together to build comradery and talk about upcoming changes in the coming year. This unprecedented meeting took place in downtown Little Rock, Ark., from May 14 to May 15 at the DoubleTree Hotel and the Robinson Center.

Vice President of Parts and Service Operations, Chris Shields, set the tone for the next two days by offering definitions of comradery and what it means to be a team player in a company of this magnitude. Shields also spoke on the game plan for the meeting, noting that the first day would be difficult because he was going to be talking about the various struggles the departments face internally. He said that he hoped by the end of it all each department would have a better sense of what it means to be a team.

“One objective, one team,” said Shields. “Relentless passion to be the best provider of services that deliver maximum equipment up time to our customers.”

Before diving into the struggles of the Product Support Team, Shield’s spoke on the team’s achievements from the previous year. The Product Support Team had a record-breaking year, they contributed about 45% of the company’s total gross profit. With technicians bringing in 72% of total revenue deriving from product support operations.

“We are in a great place as a company, not only to provide quality service to our customers but to provide quality service and training to attract and retain skilled technicians,” said Shields on the importance of the role technicians serve. “Saying things like ‘they could’ve done better’ or ‘they should’ve tried harder,’ is unacceptable. The value of our techs can’t be understated.”

Larry Denson, Parts Operations Manager at the Hugg & Hall Oklahoma City branch, was surprised by the impact technicians play in the overall success of the company.

“To see the average number in dollars of their (technicians’) contributions to the company’s gross profit and the bottom line was eye-opening, to say the least,” said Denson. “I think if more of the employees understood this it could and should help to eliminate some of those negative views technicians are saddled with.”

Shields was also proud to announce that the team is currently doing business with 55 Fortune 500 companies and 17 Fortune 1000 companies, a large majority of which are located, or have a substantial presence, in Arkansas.

“You should be very proud to do what you do and you should be very proud to do what you do with this company,” said Shields.

When it came time to address the struggles and hardships that the Product Support Team has been facing internally, Shields addressed it head-on, owning up to his part of the problem.

“I receive that, I own that, I believe in that,” said Shields.

The room grew quiet as everyone seemingly began to realize that the problems and issues they were having with specific departments were universal.

“The great thing about old walls is they can be removed,” said James Burgess, Product Support Sales Representative at the Hugg & Hall Fort Smith branch. “Our culture is changing with the business landscape, we are proving to be progressive and self-reflecting. I’m excited to be a part of the Product Support Team and look forward to the great things ahead.”

After the meeting, everyone gathered at the Flying Saucer, a local restaurant near the River Market, for dinner. This was also a great time for everyone to decompress and enjoy meeting people from other branches.

“It is always a neat experience when you get to put a face with a name,” said Denson “You hear these names of your counterparts that are in the same position as those you work with at your branch and then you finally get to meet them.”

The next morning, everyone gathered for the second half of the meeting. Shield’s kicked off the meeting by introducing structural changes within the Product Support Team’s leadership. After the new introductions were made, Mitch Perry, Regional Vice President of Product Support for the southern region, and Mark McLarty, Regional Vice President of Product Support for the northern region, conducted break off meetings with their respective colleagues to answer any questions and set the tone for future meetings.

“This isn’t going to change today, we aren’t going to be all huggy dovey as soon as we leave here, but you’ve got my trust and I hope I’ve got yours,” said McLarty to his group.

“We have the resources and people to do something incredible,” said Perry.

After a short break, everyone gathered to conclude the meeting. The meeting ended with small presentations from Lucas Hall, Product Support Software/Data Developer/Business Analyst, Tracey Gibbs, Corporate Parts Manager and Tom Mitchell, Product Support Manager at the Hugg & Hall Springdale branch. Each presented on new initiatives to minimize downtime and maximize productivity. Each of these initiatives will be detailed in future blog posts.

“This unprecedented meeting provided a unique opportunity to share real-world experiences that may be brought to bear for the benefit of our customers both external and internal; time well spent,” said Mitchell.

 

Employee Spotlight: Susie Teague

Susie Teague

Susie Teague

Meet Susie Teague our most recent Employee Spotlight!

Susie Teague works as the lead service administrator at the company’s Fort Smith, Arkansas location. Her typical day involves processing warranty work orders, creating & receiving purchase orders, assisting with day to day problems & concerns, and much more. Before receiving her current role as lead administrator, Susie worked as the service administrator assigned specifically to the Gerdau account.

Teague recently said that her favorite things about her job are all the friendships made along the way, in addition to the family like environment. When asked her favorite memory of her time with Hugg & Hall, Susie said, “When my youngest son got to meet our Bobcat salesman, Mr. Bobcat (Rob Ledbetter).”

Teague is married and she and her husband, Josh, have two sons: Brody (10) and Drake (7). Outside of work, she enjoys attending her boys’ sporting events and advocating for her husband, who has kidney disease, and youngest son (tourette syndrome and epilepsy).

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Susie Teague for all of her hard work and dedication to Hugg & Hall! To start your own career with Hugg & Hall, visit our hiring site today!

Hugg & Hall Employee Donates To Children With Hair Loss

Carla Hale Donates To Children With Hair Loss

Good neighbor alert!

After noticing her significant haircut, some coworkers learned that Carla Hale, payroll administrator at Hugg & Hall Equipment Company (Hugg & Hall), recently donated many inches of her own hair to Children With Hair Loss.

Children With Hair Loss is a non-profit organization providing hair replacements (at no cost) to children and young adults struggling with medically-related hair loss, according to their website. When a child loses hair to cancer treatments, alopecia, trichotillomania, burns and other issues, it can cost thousands for a custom human hair replacement. Children With Hair Loss relies on donations to provide hair replacements at no cost to the donee.

Beginning as an accounts payable clerk, Hale has been with the company for more than 11 years. Her day-to-day responsibilities range from processing payroll to assisting employees with questions/concerns and much more.

Hale loves to fly fish, spoil her grandkids and spend time with family and friends.

“I also donate my time and sometimes my hair to help others who may be less fortunate,” said Hale.

Her bucket list includes traveling to Paris with her daughter.

Hugg & Hall would like to send out a big thank you to Hale for all of her hard work and generosity!

 

Employee Spotlight: Lucien Provost

Lucien Provost

Lucien Provost

Meet Lucien Provost!

Provost is the parts operations manager at the Hugg & Hall branch in Broussard, La., and has been with the company for more than 22 years. In this role, he handles day-to-day parts operations, controls inventory, manages the parts team and much more.

Provost is a native of Lafayette, La., and, before onboarding with Hugg & Hall, worked at both Deep South Equipment and Briggs Equipment. Before joining the parts team in Broussard, Provost worked at the Little Rock, Ark., branch as part of the service team for about 16 years. Recently, Provost spoke on his favorite things about working at Hugg & Hall.

“I enjoy working with the parts group here and handling the day-to-day activities,” said Provost. “When I worked at the Little Rock branch the holiday get togethers were a lot of fun. Eating together, the cakewalk and the gift exchange. It really gave it that small company feel.”

Provost emphasized that he enjoys being a part of the Hugg & Hall team.

“I strive to get the job done right the first time and keeping our customers happy,” said Provost, speaking about the things he’s professionally passionate. “A neat and organized workspace and warehouse.”

Provost is married and has one preteen stepson and one son (22) in college. The family also has three dogs and a school of fish. In his free time, he loves kayaking, camping, grilling out, the local gun range and spending time with his family.

People may be surprised to know that, years ago, he worked with his father on the filming of the hunting, fishing and guide television program, “Provost Adventures.”

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Provost for all of his hard work and dedication throughout the years. To start your own Hugg & Hall story, visit our hiring site today.

Employee Spotlight: Katie Hicks

Katie Hicks

Meet Katie Hicks!

Hicks has been working at Hugg & Hall for more than 20 years. She started her career with the company as a parts salesperson and currently works as a field service coordinator at the Little Rock, Ark., branch. In this role she handles the coordination of field service repairs which may include: receiving customer calls, dispatching technicians to work sites, opening work-orders, keying time logs and ensuring all I’s are dotted and T’s are crossed before billing work-orders.

“I get paid to tell men where to go,” said Hicks with levity. “I basically take care of any needs that the technicians have. I am also the person who would take care of the service calls for customers who call with units that are in need of repair. Key the technicians’ times, daily. Proof all work-orders before moving them to the appropriate category to be closed or filed. There are almost too many duties to name them all.”

“Having the ability to cut up with my fellow coworkers every now and then,” said Hicks when asked about her favorite aspect of the job.

Hicks recently spoke on some of her favorite experiences at Hugg & Hall throughout her time working for the company.

“Being at Hugg & Hall as long as I have, I have seen some coworkers come and go,” said Hicks. “I had a few that are no longer with us that I guess you could say livened up the atmosphere. I have two in particular that I owe the honor. One was Bill Betts. He is the reason that I am employed here at Hugg & Hall. The other, Jim Painter, taught me everything I know and some things that I did not need to know.”

Hicks has a wonderful husband of more than 13 years, two daughters (28 and 10) and a son (27). She also has a 16-year-old granddaughter, a 15-year-old grandson and a brand new, infant granddaughter (“the love of my life”).

“If I did not have a 10-year-old, my hobbies would be boating and camping,” said Hicks. “But as it stands right now, my hobbies are her hobbies. These hobbies are softball, everyday, softball, with a little volleyball thrown in there from time-to-time.”

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Hicks for all of her hard work and dedication throughout the years!

Employee Spotlight: Bobby “BJ” Burnett

Bobby "BJ" Burnett

Bobby “BJ” Burnett

Meet Bobby “BJ” Burnett!

Burnett is the Regional Rental Sales Manager, but started his Hugg & Hall career as an Inside Rental Salesperson in Baton Rouge. A typical work day in this role includes fielding rental inquiries, coordinating rentals (closing rental tickets, picking up called-off rentals in a timely manner) and making sure all billing is up-to-date. One of his most important responsibilities is tracking down equipment that customers need and ensuring that any necessary repairs are conducted before delivery. 

Before starting his career at Hugg & Hall, Burnett worked at Louisiana CAT, in heavy rental coordination/key account management, and Doggett Machinery, in sales.

When he’s not hard at work, Burnett enjoys saltwater fishing, hanging out on the lake, spending time with his family (wife, Lisa, and sons, Trey and Brandon) and attending his sons’ wrestling matches and football games.

Burnett loves football and enjoys cheering on the New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers. Some might be surprised to know that Burnett likes to scuba dive when he has the free time.  

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Burnett for his continued hard work and dedication!

Employee Spotlight: Becky Spradling

Becky Spradling

Becky and family

Meet Becky Spradling!

Spradling is a sales coordinator at the Hugg & Hall Oklahoma City branch (beginning with Westquip and continuing with Hugg & Hall after the acquisition) and has been with the company for 16 years.

Spradling worked for Ceco Door Products for 13 years prior to her current position and has worked as the sales coordinator for 16. Her typical work day consists of doing anything and everything to assist and coordinate the sales department: she helps the salesmen with paperwork, handles the invoicing, financing, bills of lading, transfers, warranty registrations, customer inquiries, lease returns, shipments and more.

“There is no ‘typical’ day in the sales department,” said Spradling. “Most of the time it is ‘crazy.’”

When asked about her favorite things about the job, Spradling noted that she enjoys the fast-pace and variety.

“It’s never boring,” said Spradling. “It’s full of challenges.”

One of her favorite memories of her time as a sales coordinator comes from her first days on the job.

“I will always remember the first forklift that I checked in on my first day,” said Spradling. “It was, what I thought, a ‘Cadillac’ forklift. It was a Toyota 7FDU40 with brick forks, so there were eight, a cab with heater and A/C. I just remember that I didn’t know anything about a forklift, but that one had to be special.”

“Although, that is a memory that will always stick in my mind, nothing compares to the memory of May 2013,” said Spradling. “Our family lost our home of 24 years on May 20, 2013 to an F5 tornado. Hugg and Hall had only been a part of my life for five months, but the love and support from the administration and staff was overwhelming. Knowing that I was working for a company that was loyal to me and my family was extra special and that is a memory that I will always keep close in my heart.”

Spradling was raised on a 200-acre dairy farm in the unincorporated community of Wheel, Tenn., and she loves to deer hunt.

“I learned to drive on a tractor (I was about 8 years old, shhh),” said Spradling.

She moved to Oklahoma at 19 after marrying a native-Oklahoman.

“My story is, I was ‘raised’ in Tennessee but I ‘grew up’ in Oklahoma,” said Spradling.

Spradling has been married to her husband, Dalton, for 30 years and they have two sons (Jake, 23, and Jared, 19) and a brindle boxer named Saber.  

When she’s not at Hugg & Hall, she loves spending time with her family, going on vacations and watching football. Her passions include her faith, her family and the beach.

“Life is too short to wake up with regrets,” said Spradling. “So love the people who treat you right. Love the ones who don’t just because you can. Believe everything happens for a reason. If you get a second chance, grab it with both hands.”

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Spradling for all of her hard work throughout the years!

Employee Spotlight: Dale Vaughan

Meet Dale Vaughan, Product Support Sales Coordinator at our El Dorado branch! Dale recently celebrated 25 years with Hugg & Hall. 

Dale Vaughn

Dale is a lifelong resident of Camden, AR. He started his Hugg & Hall career as a Service Manager before stepping into his new role. As PSSC, he coordinates parts and services for customers, finding them the best value. 

Dale’s favorite thing about working at Hugg & Hall is the time he gets to spend with his customers. He especially enjoys the customer relations trips: “I’ve made a lot of solid relationships during those.” He loves building new customer relationships and fostering the relationships he’s built throughout the years. 

Outside of work, Dale loves to cook (not grill, but cook full-course meals!). He has been an elected official in Ouachita County as Justice of the Peace. His responsibilities included legislating county funds and performing wedding ceremonies. Dale also loves spending time with his friends and family. He’s been married to his wife Joanne for more than 35 years, and they have two children together (Krista and Matt). He finds a lot of peace outdoors and enjoys mowing the grass and doing outdoor activities. 

Thank you for your many years of dedicated service! 

 

Want to read more about our awesome employees? Check out our employee spotlight page

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in January 2019. We updated it for freshness, accuracy, and comprehensiveness in December 2022.

Band Featuring Parts Manager, Larry Worley, To Release New Single

Larry Worley, Parts Manager

Larry Worley

Larry Worley, the parts manager at Hugg Hall’s Tulsa branch, has been with the company for more than 13 years!

Worley began his career in the industry as a preventative maintenance technician with Arkla Taylor (a Taylor Machine Works dealer which Hugg & Hall acquired in 2011). He subsequently went on to work as a service technician and, later, in parts. After the acquisition of Arkla Taylor by Hugg & Hall, Worley transitioned to his current position of parts manager.

Worley said that his favorite part of his job at Hugg & Hall is the people. As a parts manager, his responsibilities run the gamut from overseeing the many aspects of inventory control, ensuring great customer service/customer satisfaction and effectively leading his team of parts professionals.  

When he’s not juggling the important job of parts management, he enjoys music, martial arts and spending time with his family. Worley is the guitarist (and former lead singer) in the classic Christian rock band, Fear Not.

Fear Not was recently signed by Roxx Records to release their new, 25th anniversary EP entitled “For The Wounded Heart.” The band will be premiering their new single for world release on January 11.

Download the single, “Don’t Want None (Come Get Some),” wherever digital music can be found and be sure to check out and like their Facebook page, here.

The company would like to send out a huge thank you to Worley for all his hard work throughout the years and congratulates him on his newly-produced music!