06/16/2026
Sargent's Equipment Department sits at about 65 people strong, with maintenance, fabrication, the machine shop, small tools, transportation, and parts all working hand in hand. From Stillwater to the field mechanics in the Mid-Atlantic, the goal stays the same: keep the iron ready so the crews can build. Our Equipment Manager, Tim Richards, started as a mechanic in 1985 and has watched the shop grow with the company. Welder Matthew Smart joined the team in 1999 when there were four of them. Today, there are about 17. Assistant Equipment Manager Brandon Mace, who steps into Tim's role in 2027, puts it plainly. "We all have to work together to turn machines out."
In our 100th anniversary year, it's worth saying out loud. These teams are a big part of how Sargent keeps its word. Most days, no one outside the shop notices, and that's how they want it. As Matthew puts it, "If you do something right, then no one knows you did anything at all."