By Bob Miller, NTEA Director of Outreach
This article was published in the November 2017 edition of NTEA News.
About three years ago, Tim Gallagher, a successful 23-year senior manager for Visa Inc., decided it was time for a career change. After looking for an interesting company to purchase, he found Mastercraft Truck Equipment Inc. (Englewood, Colorado).
The company, an NTEA Distributor member since 1984, was originally founded in 1983 by Ed and Shirley Klunifich. Ed was a welder with an interest in upfitting work trucks. He started the business with flatbeds and service bodies, then added van interiors, fuel tanks, ladder racks, snowplows and pushers, cranes, and dump bodies and hoists.
Today, Mastercraft is a full-line truck equipment house representing some of the industry’s best manufacturers. While its main focus is on equipment in the lower truck classes, the company has been moving into the medium-duty and larger vehicle arena.
Custom body from Mastercraft Truck Equipment Inc.
In addition to installing equipment on trucks, Mastercraft services and repairs equipment. Its seasoned employees can custom-design and fabricate whatever customers need. With its growth, the businesses has added liftgates, van interior packages, a complete line of snow fighting equipment and specialty lighting to its product arsenal.
In May 2017, Gallagher purchased Frontier Truck Equipment from Adrian Steel and moved the business to Aurora, Colorado. He changed its name to Mastercraft Truck Equipment, making it the company’s second location. He is actively seeking other expansion opportunities, and recently acquired GM and RAM bailment pools.
Currently, Mastercraft has two sites encompassing 7.7 acres, with four buildings totaling 30,000 square feet under roof, and 35 employees.
Team members are involved in their communities by supporting charities, police and fire departments. Recently, the company was acknowledged in the local press for upfitting a storm tracker vehicle.
Moving from a long career in Corporate America to being a business owner in a new industry required a strong leap of faith, but Tim and his wife Maricel have clearly surrounded themselves with a good team of people, quality group of manufacturing partners and a solid course for success.
For more company details, visit mastercrafttruck.com.