Joe Johnson Sets Up in NY Market

Profile Staff - August 2003

Making its way across the border, Joe Johnson Equipment is breaking into the western upstate New York municipal equipment market. With this move, the company brings along a new sales team.

“This area is just ripe for a good municipal equipment dealership with a high level of customer service,” said Bill Ackendorf, the company’s new general manager of U.S. operations.

Ackendorf brings with him 27 years experience in product, market and sales development, primarily focusing on new business growth. He has more than 23 years experience with environmental and heavy-equipment application and sales. With a strong municipal equipment knowledge base, Ackendorf, who was previously employed by Federal Signal Corporation, the parent company of Elgin Street Sweepers, Vactor Sewer Cleaning Equipment and Leach Refuse Bodies.

With new offices opening in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, Joe Johnson Equipment hopes to be fully operational in New York in the upcoming months. The company plans on opening the doors to Buffalo-area customers by Sept. 1.

David Laubisch, Buffalo regional manager, has been involved with municipal equipment for 36 years. He began his career as a Village of Williamsville employee, where he operated equipment for 16 years. Advancing to highway superintendent, Laubisch was not only responsible for the construction of all roads, parks and sidewalks, but also the purchasing of equipment. After 11 years in this position, he became a municipal sales specialist in Erie and Niagara counties in New York.

With experience in both specification writing and sales, Laubisch plans on expanding sales in the six-county Buffalo area. “We plan on giving a level of service customers have come to expect,” he said.

As regional manager for Rochester, Steve Webster is the regional sales manager for eight counties and the regional service manager for the 32 counties Joe Johnson covers.

“I will be setting up and overseeing the three service branches located in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse,” he said. “I will also be outside sales for my territory, utilizing all my customer service skills to create a confident customer service base.”

As a mechanic for more than 20 years and in sales for 14 years, Webster has worked on and sold refuse, sweepers, sewer cleaners and other municipal and contractor equipment, with factory sales and service training on Leach, Elgin and Wittke product lines.

“I will be setting up my service guys with trucks stocked to handle most jobs they come across. They will be on call 24 hours, seven days a week, offering that after sale service,” Webster said.

Dudley Sutton, Syracuse regional sales manager, has more than 30 years sales and management experience in the municipal and construction equipment industry. Covering 16 counties in central New York, Sutton says he is in “growth mode” and is looking forward to opening the first Joe Johnson office in Syracuse.

Recently incorporated in New York, Joe Johnson Equipment, a family-owned and operated business, represents Vactor Manufacturing Sewer Cleaners, Elgin Street Sweepers, Leach USA Packers, Labrie Packers and Recycling Collection vehicles and Wittke packers. P