| In 1986, when Mike Boyle took ownership of Mid-Atlantic Services, Ronald Reagan was president, and the price of gas was about 93 cents per gallon. Triumph Industrial Park in Elkton, Md., where the company is located, had about 20 tenants, which is half of the 40 companies that operate there today. Mid-Atlantic Services has evolved and changed a lot since that time, and is now celebrating 25 years in business. Not only does the company have longevity, it also had record sales in the second quarter of 2011. Mike Boyle attributes this to the company’s commitment to providing the highest quality equipment, parts, and service at competitive prices, backed by superior product knowledge. The company has grown substantially over the past 25 years, and enjoys long-standing relationships with many of its customers, including some very high-profile organizations. Mid-Atlantic Services has supplied equipment to the Baltimore Ravens, Phillies, Dover Downs, The Architect of the Capitol, the Arboretum of the City of Boston and Harvard University. Mike Boyle, president of Mid-Atlantic Services, got the chance to buy the business after serving as a sales rep for the company for 14 years. “It was a great opportunity for me. Everything fell into place and the timing was right.” Mid-Atlantic Services was originally a John Blue dealership. John Blue is a manufacturer and distributor of pull-type spray equipment and ground drive metering pumps. The company sold to agricultural customers only. At that time, the company was busy from January through June, serving its ag customers, and then faced a six-month lull. Mike Boyle’s vision was to build a business that could sustain itself year round, and he wanted to expand the customer base. “I decided to cover all aspects of liquid handling equipment. By adding new lines, we could better serve our customers. We began offering a line of poly storage tanks, and instead of offering only John Blue parts, the company became a distributor for Banjo, Hypro Pumps, Ace Pumps, and Thurston Manufacturing. When we diversified, it really made a difference.” While remaining one of CDS-John Blue Company’s largest distributors, Mid-Atlantic Services now sells a balanced, diversified line of many manufacturers. In addition to adding to the product line, Boyle chose to reach out to other markets, starting with the turf / lawn care industry. “This worked out well. If one segment was down due to the economy or other factors, the other was up, and it allowed us to work consistently throughout the year.” A significant change was made in 1992 when Mid-Atlantic Services purchased their first piece of fabrication equipment. “Manufacturing our own products allows us to be more competitive. Plus, we can design a piece of equipment specifically tailored to meet our customer’s needs. That really sets us apart. We listen to the challenge that the customer is facing, and we develop a solution just for them.” In addition to serving agricultural and turf customers, Mid-Atlantic Services provides liquid handling equipment for the golf and highway maintenance industries. The company recently introduced a specialty line of tree sprayers that has been very well received. Today, the company has a group of loyal employees. Production Manager John Haase is responsible for fabrication and service. Danny Eller is the Parts Manager, handling inventory, taking orders and assisting customers. Pump service is done by Anthony Menaquale. Jim Gustafson is a fabricator and delivery driver. Emma Simmons runs the daily operations in the office. The company’s client base has grown substantially, now serving customers along the Eastern seaboard, from Florida to Canada. In addition, they have delivered equipment to points as far away as Alabama, Michigan and California. A new web site is in the works, and will be launched in the coming weeks. It has been designed to make it easy for customers in each market segment to obtain the information they need while showcasing the company’s diverse product line and custom design capabilities. |
