Equipment East has strengthened its leadership team with the addition of Matt Naughton as parts and service director, overseeing aftermarket operations at the company's locations in Bow, N.H.; Dracut, Mass.; Auburn, Mass.; and Brockton, Mass.
In his new role, Naughton is responsible for supporting all aspects of Equipment East's parts and service operations, including customer support, technician assistance, diagnostics, warranty concerns, inventory management and day-to-day service operations. He will work closely with the company's service managers, parts personnel, field technicians and sales representatives to ensure customers receive the support they need long after the equipment is delivered, according to the company.
Naughton brings more than 30 years of service and product support experience to Equipment East. During his career, he has held virtually every leadership position within the service department of a heavy equipment dealership, including product support specialist, service manager, field service manager, regional service manager, warranty manager and regional operations manager. Prior to entering the construction equipment industry, he spent more than two decades working in the automotive and forklift service industries, building a reputation for solving technical challenges while keeping customers productive.
For Naughton, joining Equipment East was an opportunity to become part of a company whose values closely matched his own.
"What attracted me to Equipment East was that it's a family-owned company where the decision-makers are right here," Naughton said. "If there's an issue affecting a customer, we don't have to wait for approvals from somewhere across the country. We have the ability to do what's right for the customer, and that's something I really appreciate."
Naughton said Equipment East's philosophy of putting customers first sets the dealership apart.
According to Naughton, Giovanni Albanese, president of Equipment East, often reminds employees that if you take care of your customers and take care of your people, everything else takes care of itself.
"The financial success is simply a byproduct of doing things the right way," Naughton said. "That customer-first mindset is one of the reasons I wanted to be here."
Although Naughton serves as the company's parts and service director, he is quick to credit the team around him.
"I've inherited an outstanding group of people," he said. "We have excellent service managers, knowledgeable service writers, experienced technicians and dedicated parts professionals. Any success we have comes from working together as a team to support our customers."
Naughton believes that in today's equipment market, service support has become one of the most important factors in a customer's purchasing decision.
"Every manufacturer builds machines that move dirt," he said. "The real difference is what happens after the sale. When a machine needs parts or service, customers need to know their dealer will respond quickly and keep them working. That's where we strive to make a difference every day."
Having joined Equipment East earlier this year, Naughton said he looks forward to helping the dealership continue building on its reputation for responsive service and long-term customer relationships throughout New England.
A lifelong New England resident, Naughton was raised in Massachusetts and now lives in New Hampshire. Away from work, he enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with his three children — Grace, Max and Colten.
Equipment East is the authorized New England dealer for DEVELON, Yanmar, ASV, Ammann and Sullivan-Palatek equipment, providing contractors, municipalities and equipment owners with a full range of sales, rentals, parts and service throughout the region.
