No different area within the United States holds a candle to the mining legacy that lives within the Southwest.
Nevada is the highest mining jurisdiction within the nation, hitting $9.3 billion in 2022, in line with the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Blessed with a novel mixture of uncooked supplies together with gold, silver, copper, lithium, molybdenum, and a number of other uncommon earth minerals, Nevada’s mining business doesn’t simply usher in financial progress but additionally invests in technological improvements and their rising communities.
In Arizona, copper is king however different rare-earth parts have gotten important gamers for high-tech units. In 2021, the mining business hit $8 billion and created 13,645 jobs, in line with the Arizona Mining Association.
Both states can be necessary gamers sooner or later as our nation contends with vitality transition objectives, local weather change, and job progress.
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And as these states proceed to make an affect with their mining initiatives, they share one factor in frequent to assist present a vivid future – the dealership Empire Cat.
An impactful historical past
Empire Cat is a family-owned business based in 1950 as Empire Machinery by Jack Whiteman in Eastern Oregon. After lobbying for extra territory and proving his capabilities, Jack was awarded the Caterpillar Arizona territory in 1959 and moved Empire to Phoenix.
As an organization, Empire shortly started building partnerships with the state’s development and mining industries that also endure right this moment. Empire was a key associate to the brand new copper mine websites established within the Seventies, and the Central Arizona Project, the 300-mile canal system which funnels Colorado River water into Arizona.
It was Empire’s on-site elements and repair operation that turned the prototype for future mine website applications.
Over the following half century, Empire’s roots grew robust because of Arizona’s increasing financial system and an organization tradition based mostly on honesty and shopper success.
A willingness to diversify and a capability to anticipate market wants led to the institution of further assist companies. Today, Empire gives elements, service, gross sales, and leases together with key assist areas in equipment, energy techniques, pump, transport, precision machining, hydraulic companies, renewable vitality, truck and trailer, agriculture, and Trimble know-how.
In 1985, Empire’s first-ever Cat Certified Rebuild was carried out on a D8 dozer. By the early 2000s, Caterpillar ranked Empire the #1 rebuild group in North America.
In 1993, John O. Whiteman succeeded his father as CEO. Under his management, Empire continued to concentrate on shopper service, inspired group involvement amongst its workers, established official Corporate Values (Safety, Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Excellence, Stewardship and Astonishment) and celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.
Third-generation Chairman and CEO Jeffrey S. Whiteman took the corporate reins in early 2002. He has led the corporate by the financial uncertainties following 9/11 and renewed Empire’s dedication to supporting its purchasers, workers, and group.
Empire was ranked a prime Caterpillar seller on this planet with the 2018 Global Dealer Excellence Award.
Then in 2022, Empire acquired Cashman Equipment and Empire’s territory expanded to Nevada and elements of Eastern California.
Cashman Equipment was began by James “Big Jim” Cashman, who was very concerned within the growth of southern Nevada within the early 1900s. Cashman offered Cat Model 60 tractors to the Hoover Dam challenge, and Cashman Equipment turned an official Caterpillar seller on Aug. 5, 1931. In 1961, Cashman Equipment bought Crooks Brothers Equipment, the Caterpillar seller serving northern Nevada and Eastern California, doubling the scale of Cashman Equipment. With Northern Nevada as a part of Cashman’s service space, the corporate turned extra closely concerned with the mining business.
Today, the mixed Empire and Cashman dealership is positioned to offer even stronger service and options by over 4,000 workers to purchasers within the mining sector in addition to expanded capabilities to serve one of many nation’s quickest rising areas.
From the Hoover Dam Project to world class certification of rebuild amenities and progress within the mining communities, Empire is worked up to develop upon Cashman’s 92-year historical past.
“Empire has been rooted in mining since our very early days,” stated Dennis Sorensen, vp of mining. “A lot of it is copper mining, surface mining, and some smaller underground operations. But what makes Empire positioned very well to engage and support our mining clients in Nevada is our mining heritage.
“A lot of the solutions that we bring to help clients be successful are rooted in a lot of experience. And a lot of those ideas and solutions have been refined and perfected over many years. It’s not something we thought about last week and decided to bring out to a mining client. A lot of the investments that Empire has made in infrastructure, and the key pieces needed to support mining clients, have been in place and refined over a long period of time.”
Client success
A key precedence at Empire that each worker learns about on day one is shopper success.
There is possession with every shopper interplay and a drive to not solely meet expectations however exceed them with the company worth of Astonishment.
“We make sure that we really listen to what the needs of the client are and then we commit to delivering solutions to those challenges or issues that are being faced,” stated Sorensen. “Ultimately when we deliver, we go above and beyond.
“Let’s say the issue is to try to make a machine last another 5,000 hours. We will work on a concept and then in actual delivery of that solution, we make sure that we try to make it last further than the 5000-hour target.”
Many purchasers have created lasting partnerships with Empire after their constructive experiences however report that they nonetheless can’t imagine the extent of assist they really obtain.
“I had a client recently call to tell me they now understand our Astonishment Value because we delivered more than what they expected in terms of a solution and support. Our goal is to always overdeliver,” added Sorensen.
Investing sooner or later
Empire is pleased with the accomplishments they’ve achieved over their 73-year historical past however is all the time seeking to be 1% higher every day with each shopper.
As a brand new chapter is getting began in Nevada, Sorensen has huge objectives for the long run.
“We aspire to be a great resource for our mining clients and the mining industry as a whole in Nevada,” Sorensen defined. “Just as Empire has invested in resources to support our clients in the southern portion of our territory, we will be doing the same thing in Nevada. We are investing heavily in our infrastructure and expanding our teams here. We are excited about new projects and look forward to being that partner that’s there to support clients for the things they need to be successful.”
Empire states that their goal is to redefine what excellence appears to be like prefer to purchasers by creating the sort of partnership they wouldn’t need to do with out. 
