Rob Bowie and Robert Fountain got their start in the construction industry underground.

The former utility contractors united to offer a source for parts and service for the underground and environmental industries.

Since then, Masters Equipment Inc. has grown into a full-service equipment dealership offering complete lines of underground and tree equipment.

When Masters first opened in Pembroke Park, it represented the Melfred Borzall line of directional drilling tools. But it expanded its reach in 2004 with the addition of the Astec line of trenchers and directional boring machines.

Over the past few years, Masters has expanded dramatically with the opening of a branch in Stuart in June 2004, which became its headquarters. Other branches were added in Lakeland in January 2006 and Starke in March 2006.

Among Masters’ staff of 16 are Sales Manager Mark Donnelley and Directional Drilling Specialist Kirsten Bolen.

Masters also sells Carlton equipment, which specializes in stump cutters and brush chippers, as well as Takeuchi mini-excavators, skid steers and track loaders, in southeastern and north-central Florida.

Their offerings are rounded out with Baroid industrial drilling products and Earth Pro HDD products, as well as mud pump parts, pipe wrenches, HDPE pipe, DCI locator packages, equipment trailers, reel carriers and fusion machines.

“We use our experience to help our customers succeed on their job sites,” Bowie said. “We specialize in matching equipment and materials to the needs of our customers so they can be even more successful. We are locally owned and staffed by an experienced team of professionals to assist with our customers’ job site needs.”

For more information, visit www.mastersequipment.com. CEG