Page 28 - July-Aug 2019 Vol37 No2

MIDDLE AND WEST TENNESSEE By Mark Bird
Thompson Continues Investment
in Tennessee Communities

Thompson Machinery, the exclusive our customers and support the building of He said the company “is positioning
Caterpillar dealer for middle and west new roads, schools, banks, hospitals, and local investment growth to withstand
Tennessee and north Mississippi, sells and more using Cat equipment,” emphasized the next economic downturn with
services a variety of equipment, ranging Trace Hall, General Sales Manager. “We expanded products and services offered
from dozers to backhoes, to electric operate in a high cost capital environment by Caterpillar, especially in the areas of
power generation and on-highway trucks, with brick and mortar needs, tooling, jobsite technology.”
and even power systems for river barges service trucks, and inventory. The time to
traveling down the mighty Mississippi reinvest in our local communities is now.” With technology rapidly changing
River. Strategic Branch Placement, Growth in the face of many industries, Thompson
75th Year officials said they are meeting the evolving
Over the last few years, the strong local market demands with their SITECH
economy has been good to Thompson Thompson invests $4-5 million for Tri-Rivers technology division. It offers
and its customers, and Thompson is each new branch store that it builds, machine control solutions, site surveying
reinvesting back into the communities it not including land, equipment, or parts solutions, drone services and support, and
serves. “Within the last 36 months, we’ve inventory, which can be another $13- connected jobsites.
opened new Cat Rental Store locations 15 million investment per location.
in Nashville, Memphis, Clarksville, and Thompson determines branch store The industry’s biggest challenge
Jackson, Tennessee, as well as Columbus placement based on forecasted housing continues to be attracting and keeping
and Greenwood, Mississippi,” said Mike and commercial growth, ease of logistics, skilled labor. Keith Peevy, VP of Product
Rattan, Rental General Manager at and infrastructure investment from local Support at Thompson, said their
Thompson Machinery. “Plans are in the communities. customers “are constantly looking for
works to open new stores in Thompson’s machine operators. At Thompson, our
Station and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and As the company celebrates its 75th challenge is working swiftly to develop
Oxford, Mississippi within the next twelve anniversary this year, it continues to technicians, especially as the baby
months.” position itself to evolve with the ever- boomers exit the workforce.” Thompson
Thompson Employment Doubles Since changing economic cycles. currently has many technician positions
2010 available throughout its territory.
“We’ve aggressively grown market share Qualified candidates should apply at
In 2010, Thompson employed 433 over the last few years,” noted Daniel www.TMCat.com.
people throughout Tennessee and Clark, Director of Strategy at Thompson.
Mississippi. Today, Thompson employs
almost 650, an increase of 50%. And even
so, “The net employment growth does not
take into consideration a large number
of retirees replaced during the past ten
years,” explains Rob McCleary, Customer
Experience Champion at Thompson.

“The amazing part of the story is
our ability to remain #1 in customer
satisfaction and #1 in employee
engagement, while concurrently
experiencing a large increase in market
demand. Onboarding and product
training are critical, but we also focus
heavily on Customer First training for all
employees, which is designed to ensure
we consistently listen to our customers,
show genuine concern for their needs, and
provide the best solution,” he said.

Thompson has been the #1 Caterpillar
dealer in customer satisfaction and
employee engagement for several years
running. “We’re extremely proud to serve

28 TPW July/August 2019