The RDO Equipment Co. story began with a single store in 1968. The story between then and now is filled with ups, downs and milestones of all sorts. One of the most defining milestones is RDO’s entry into the construction side of the equipment business, and that chapter of the story unfolded in Bismarck, North Dakota.
We asked a few of them to reflect on their careers — read on to learn the stories of longtime team members Duane Hoffert, John Sayler and Tracy Kramlich.
John Sayler – Parts Specialist, 30 Years
Parts Specialist John Saylor actually has the newspaper to thank for his origins with RDO. “In 1994 I saw a listing in the paper for a parts position and jumped at the opportunity,” Sayler said. “I called and called until they told me — okay the job is yours.”
Saylor spent 10-plus years of his RDO career at the Washburn, North Dakota store before moving to the Bismarck store in 2006. And, when Saylor made the switch, he naturally assumed his customers would go elsewhere for their parts.
However, he underestimated the strong reputation he had built for himself as the go-to parts guy. Now, more than 30 years into his career, Sayler still has customers coming to Bismarck from Washburn to visit, buy parts and catch up with their favorite RDO team member.
Building connections in and out of the store remains the most rewarding aspect of Sayler’s job.
Whether it be with customers or fellow team members, his curiosity has treated him well over the years as Saylor never walks away from an opportunity to learn something new.
“My advice for others is simple: keep learning and enjoy where you’re at because it will all work out in the end,” Sayler said.
Duane Hoffert – Yard Coordinator, 45 Years
Duane Hoffert has been an RDO team member for 45 years. In that time, Hoffert has been in multiple roles but, most prominently, spent 30 years as a Service Technician. This foundation allowed him to hone his understanding of the backend before transitioning into a customer-facing role. Currently, Hoffert is the Yard Coordinator in Bismarck where he manages loading and unloading shipments. Although Hoffert’s roles have shifted throughout the years, his favorite part of being a team member at RDO is the people he’s met along the way.
“I’m so proud to work alongside my fantastic team as I enjoy learning something new from them every day,” explained Hoffert. “As the industry has changed, I’ve been committed to keeping an open mind and ensuring that new team members feel at home within the store.”
As Hoffert reflects on 45 years and his impending retirement, he thinks fondly of the culture at the Bismark store that he has played such a pivotal role in building.
“When I met Ron Offutt, I was so inspired by the way that he treated everyone fairly,” said Hoffert. “I’ve tried to emulate that attitude throughout my career and stay true to my roots, through the good days and the bad days.”
Tracy Kramlich – Customer Service Advisor, 30 Years
Thirty years ago, Tracy Kramlich began his career with RDO at the Rapid City, South Dakota store as a Service Technician. Eventually, he made the switch from agriculture to construction when he transitioned to work at the RDO Bismarck store.
Most recently, Kramlich transitioned into his current role as Customer Service Advisor, where he works with the same customers he worked with all those years ago as a Service Technician.
“My favorite part about my job is seeing customers smile and having the chance to shake their hand at the end of a deal,” stated Kramlich. “Building relationships with our customers has always been very rewarding for me, regardless of the angle or role I approach them from.”
Over the years, Kramlich has had the opportunity to participate in many unique projects. For example, when customers who worked in coal mining approached the Bismarck store, Kramlich and his team committed themselves to learning the ins and outs of a new industry to provide the service RDO is known for.
Although that story is one of many in a career that spans thirty years, Kramlich remains committed to helping customer after customer build a better tomorrow.
RDO Equipment Co.
Founded in 1968, RDO Equipment Co. sells and supports intelligently connected agriculture, construction, environmental, irrigation, positioning, and surveying equipment from leading manufacturers, including John Deere, Vermeer, and Topcon. With more than 80 locations across the U.S. and partnerships in Africa, Australia, Mexico and Ukraine, we deliver creative solutions so our customers can grow and build the world.
