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Five Star Equipment, Inc. traces its origins to 1980, with the purchase
of Drake Diesel, a certified General Motors dealership, by Bill Bochicchio and
Frank Gallo. Drake Diesel also sold and serviced various brands of commercial
diesel engines, including Detroit Diesel, Caterpillar and Cummins in addition to
Dresser-LeRoy drills and compressors. From this point the business grew. In
1983, a local John Deere dealership was purchased and Five Star Equipment was
born. The name “Five Star” exemplifies the organization’s commitment to quality,
integrity and overall excellence.
Throughout the last three decades, Five Star has continued to grow exponentially
– opening up new locations covering both Pennsylvania and New York. As of 2010,
the organization operates nine locations throughout both states with a focus on
continued expansion into the future. Five Star employs over 140 people
throughout its nine locations and is renowned throughout its coverage area for
exemplary service and quality. The service division is second-to-none in the
construction and forestry industries.
"Our shop facilities are all equipped with the latest tooling systems necessary
to assist with the proper diagnosis and repair of construction equipment," says
20-year veteran and Product Support Manager Mike Vergason. "Laptop computers and
hardware allow effective use of John Deere’s Service Advisor Software at each
branch and in the field. In addition to computer technology all 16 of the Five
Star service trucks are equipped with hydraulic cranes, compressors, lube
systems, welders and generators. Every technician is John Deere trained and
tested to rigorous qualification standards," says Vergason.
Perhaps the crowning achievement of Five Star’s service division is the
independently run track shop. The track shop is located at the company’s
Dunmore, PA facility and Five Star operates an in-house courier system to
guarantee quick transfer of undercarriage components from any of its eight other
facilities. In general, parts orders are filled by the next morning, and Five
Star has been noted for its unparalleled efficiency when dealing with parts –
even for equipment that is out-of-production. “Our goal is to provide the right
parts to our customers and service departments immediately,” says Tim Sinning, a
22 year Five Star employee and the current Parts Operations Manager. “This is no
small task considering the volume of machines sold in our territory over the
past 25 years. We still have customers using machines that sold even 10 years
before Five Star was organized. We support them all,” says Sinning. “We are in
it for the long haul.”
In 2008, Five Star celebrated its 25th anniversary and continues to operate and
expand. The original goals of the company remain in place and all employees are
deeply committed to customer support throughout the buying and ownership process
– ensuring every customer makes the right choice and remains satisfied into the
future.
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