The following interview was originally published by the Asheville Chamber of Commerce.
Caroline Marston shares the legacy of Carolina Cat, a construction equipment, power generation, and on-highway trucks company that was founded in 1926 and is a third-generation family owned business. Carolina Cat defines success by its customers, employees, and relationships and Caroline says the company is proud to be associated with all the hardworking men and women that help build the great state of North Carolina.
First off, could you tell us about your business, Caroline?
Carolina Cat is committed to the needs of its customers by providing superior parts, service, and sales of construction equipment, power generation, and on-highway trucks. We are proud to be a part of the elite Caterpillar dealer network. Carolina Cat operates 10 locations throughout Western North Carolina serving the following industries: Agriculture, Construction, Data Centers, Financial Services, Forestry, Governmental, Healthcare, Landfills, Landscaping, Manufacturing, On-highway Trucking, Paving, Quarries & Aggregates, and Waste.
Whether you are looking for construction equipment, power generation, or on-highway trucks, we carry a full line of new, used, and rental options with flexible financing options available.
What’s a little-known fact or trivia about your business?
Carolina Cat was one of the first companies to implement computers for ordering, invoicing, inventory tracking and other office functions.
How has your company grown over the years?
We are a third-generation family owned business that was founded in 1926. More than 95 years later, we have grown to an employee-base of over 1,300 in order to better serve the equipment needs of the Carolinas.
Beginning with LM Weisiger who bought Carolina Tractor in 1930, continuing with his son, Edward Weisiger, Sr., and now under our 3rd generation leader, Edward Weisiger, Jr., CTE (formally known as Carolina Tractor and Equipment Company) serves its customers and maintains partnerships with local companies representing a variety of industries through our different divisions (Carolina Cat, LiftOne, Pinnacle Cranes).
How has you/your company’s idea of success transformed?
We define the success of Carolina Cat by the success of our customers and the relationships we sustain with our manufacturing partners. We are proud just to be associated with all the hardworking men and women that help build the great state of North Carolina.
What’s on the horizon?
In this fast-paced world, Carolina Cat is committed to staying competitive in the construction industry. Whether it is moving its process and procedures into the digital era to make doing business easier, or tracking jobsite productivity through technology solutions, we are here to help keep our customers up and running!