It’s All About Customer Success
What happens when you have spent your career in the construction equipment industry and then take early retirement? For Ray Romano it was just an opportunity for a fresh start. After successfully running Caterpillar dealerships in multiple countries simultaneously for decades, he was ready to return to Tennessee. But he was by no means done with his business career. Ray acquired a two-store Ditch Witch dealership about 11 years ago and established RJV Equipment LLC (doing business as Ditch Witch of Tennessee and RJV Kubota), and in a little over a decade has turned them into one of the top dealerships in the country. Ray’s core vision was simple, “If your customer is successful, then your company will be successful” he says.
Ditch Witch equipment covers the gamut in the utility industry, not only trenchers but ultra-sophisticated horizontal drilling machines that can install pipes as large as 24” at distances of close to one-half mile. This allows utility companies to economically place conduit in overcrowded right of ways with ease. They also have a vacuum excavation system that utilizes water to cut and provides a safe way to excavate around existing utility lines. Ditch Witch is the industry leader in underground utility construction.
Ditch Witch is also an innovator in the mini skid steer construction and landscape arena. They have developed a line-up of five models of stand-on skid steers that offer capacities up to 3,000 pounds and a complete compliment of attachments for every need from buckets, forks, soil conditioners, material handling, etc. These amazing machines can be hauled by an SUV or standard duty pickup.
Ray added Kubota construction equipment products in Nashville as RJV Kubota during 2011 and was awarded the Kubota construction equipment line for Knoxville in 2018. These premium compact construction products are some of the best in the industry. These products include Hydraulic Excavators, Rubber Tire and Track Skid Steer Loaders, Loader Backhoes, Compact Wheel Loaders, and the popular RTV Utility Vehicles.
Ray needed a take-charge kind of manager to be his boots on the ground here in Knoxville. He turned to Chris Alexander, who was a Ditch Witch customer in the landscape irrigation industry. Chris shares Ray’s philosophy about customer service and to both of these men experience is key. So when they set out to build the best service department in the area they went after experienced technicians and then invested further Ditch Witch training to be Gold level certified. This Ditch Witch certification is the highest level the manufacturer offers. The Kubota side of the company was able to be reach Elite Dealer Certification after just one year.
Chris has an active, hands-on style that keeps customers coming back. When it comes to product knowledge, it doesn’t get any better. “People thought of us as only Ditch Witch for years, but “we are also a top Kubota dealer in not only construction equipment but in RTV utility vehicles” he says. Perhaps you didn’t know but the Kubota vehicles you see at all of the University of Tennessee football games are provided by RJV Kubota. Chris adds “We have customized those vehicles for the University of Tennessee athletic department.”
If it involves construction and/or any off road applications, Kubota RTV’s and RJV Kubota is the place to go.
Ditch Witch of TN
3356 Rudy Street
Knoxville, TN 37921
(865) 970-2840
140 Charter Place
La Vergne, TN 37086
(615) 793-7576
www.ditchwitchtn.com