The Next Hundred Years 145 Services Five Star Equipment is a full-service construction and forestry equipment dealer with seven locations in New York and Pennsylvania. As an authorized John Deere dealer, it ofers sales, rentals, parts, and service for heavy equipment as well as industry-specifc products and services. Director of Sales Dave Johnson worked hard to become a trusted partner of P&CG since getting to know several of our key people in 2000 when we frst participated in the annual Five Star golf tournament. He met Scott Ingalls in 2012. They have had many early-morning cofee sessions in which Scott helped Dave gain perspective on business culture, accountability, and steering their businesses into new directions. Dave says having a trusted colleague to share ideas with has helped him advance in his career. But their friendship did not lead immediately to a business partnership. Dave extended several invitations to Scott to tour the John Deere factory in Moline, Ill., over the course of a year before Scott fnally agreed to go. Low-risk rental transactions followed, which allowed us to get comfortable with Five Star products and each another. Renting equipment reduces operating costs, and, with a large inventory, Five Star consistently meets our demands with quality equipment. And when rental machinery breaks down, they respond quickly with repairs or a replacement to keep our projects moving. Five Star even alters its schedule to perform maintenance on the rental JD 844K at Valley, ofering very early morning or weekend services to prevent disruption to plant production. P&CG has since purchased around 40 pieces of heavy equipment and over 100 accessories. Dave hopes to bring Jason Buchinger to Moline’s demo site, where tourists can operate all the newest equipment, ask questions of the John Deere team, and provide suggestions for product improvements. Dave maintains that the open-mindedness of P&CG’s leaders contributes to our overall success. And he is thankful for their willingness to invite Five Star into our circle of partners. With P&CG’s many high-profle projects each year, other contractors see our success using John Deere equipment and try Five Star’s products for themselves. When our Heavy Haul drivers, dressed professionally in P&CG attire, deliver Five Star products to their customers using clean, well- maintained trucks, they are the face of Five Star. Dave says every day, our drivers represent them with the highest courtesy and respect. During the pandemic, when inventory shrank and lead times were extended, replacement parts were very hard to get. Five Star made the extraordinary decision to remove the needed parts from machinery they held in stock to keep us running, rendering their equipment unavailable while they awaited delivery. At P&CG, we value strong, reliable partnerships. The one we have with Dave Johnson and the Five Star team is a testament to what can be achieved when trust, service, and mutual respect form the foundation.
