Quinn Company Congratulates
Lalonde Equipment Rental on their 50th Anniversary Quinn Company is proud to partner with Lalonde Equipment Rental; providing Cat equipment, parts and service. Since 1919, Quinn Company has been serving Central and Southern California. Locations: Bakersfield Fresno Salinas
Corcoran Lancaster Santa Maria
Firebaugh Los Angeles Sylmar
Foothill Ranch Oxnard
QuinnCompany.com
Above: Brian Lalonde, VP and Janelle (Lalonde) Reusch, President. Right: Original Long Beach yard on Edison property next to 710 Freeway.
E Q U I P M E N T R E N TA L
Celebrates 50 Years of Excellence in the Southern California Building and Construction Industry THE BEGINNING 1966 was a very big year for Rudy and Mary Lou Lalonde, as well as their future family. Not too many young couples get married and start their own business in the same year, but that is exactly what these two high school sweethearts did some 50-years ago. Rudy had recently returned from a 4-year enlistment in the Army and Mary Lou was graduating from college. Rudy operated heavy machinery in the Army and when he returned home to California, he went back to doing what
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
he knew best and that was running a tractor. His father, Al Lalonde, had 3 acres of land in Long Beach, where the 710 Freeway is now located, which he sold to the State of California back in 1950. After the sale, Al Lalonde moved his home and business operations right next door where he leased another 3-acre plot owned by Edison. He continued to farm parcels in Compton and Long Beach, while also working as a heavy equipment owner operator on the side. Rudy went to work as an operator for his dad after
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Above: Rudy, Mary Lou, Janelle and Brian at headquarters in Signal Hill. Right: Al Lalonde with sons Rudy and Phillip in 1945 at original property in Long Beach.
returning from military service, but the business relationship did not last long and the newlyweds found themselves working a deal to purchase his father’s tractor and dump truck, while also signing a lease on the yard in Long Beach. This represented the official beginning of RJ Lalonde, Inc. and an adventure full of excitement, opportunity, and some hardship. There was no real master plan and the young couple found themselves looking for opportunities one job at a time. They did, however, decide early on that having more than one machine working would be a pretty good idea. As their business grew, Rudy began recruiting friends and family members who showed an interest in learning to operate heavy machinery. Eventually, Rudy found a niche in weed abatement for the county of
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Los Angeles, as well as performing a variety of work for property owners in the South Bay and Long Beach areas. This involved quite a bit of disking and exposed Rudy and his company to the wonderful world of dozers. Soon, they were working for an ever-increasing number of building construction and grading companies on housing and new freeway projects, and by the late 70s, R.J. Lalonde was adding equipment like John Deere 450 dozers with slopeboards to their fleet. A MAJOR TURNING POINT Rudy and Mary Lou had grown their business to as many as 10 operators, but the workload kept Rudy not only continuing to personally operate machinery but also doubling as a mechanic and lowbed driver. 1980 however, would change everything about the way Rudy and Mary Lou
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
Above Left: Cat 950B wheel loader in Los Angeles. Above Right: Cat 977L track loader in San Pedro. Right: John Deere 450C dozer with homemade slopeboard.
continued to operate their business. While grading on a slope on Mulholland Drive, Rudy and his track loader rolled down an incline, pinning him under the machine. He was airlifted to the UCLA Medical Center, where they worked long and hard in an effort to save both of his legs. After several surgeries, doctors successfully reconstructed his right leg but were not able to save his left leg. Rudy was hospitalized for six months, fighting the pain that came with rehabilitation and even surviving a few bouts of pneumonia. Mary Lou was determined to be by her husband’s side throughout his struggle, and fortunately, a family friend stepped in to help run the business during these difficult times. At the time of the accident, all five of Rudy and Mary Lou’s children were already born and growing strong. This was most definitely a turning point in both Rudy and Mary Lou’s personal life and the way they would do business in the future. Only the strongest souls are capable of turning tragedy into motivation and then opportunity and that is exactly what this husband and wife team did. “The thought was that if we could get through this together, we could certainly go back and continue to successfully run our business,” says Rudy. “It was not an easy time, but a time of perseverance and determination.” They both realized that they could not do everything by themselves and that
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they needed to put more trust into others and empower them to make decisions on behalf of the business. Mary Lou learned to be even more efficient at going after contracts and Rudy became proficient at carrying them out without having to take on the strenuous physical labor. Ideals were formed at this time that would serve the entire Lalonde family and their business for many years to come. Not too long after recovering from his accident, and fresh with a new attitude and determination to further succeed, Rudy decided to procure his contractor’s license and a grading division was formed. This segment of their business did very well and eventually was purchased and autonomously owned and operated by one of Rudy’s children. The core focus for the company was primarily union operated equipment rental and that is what had brought success to RJ Lalonde thus far. However, by the late 90s, the persistent call for bare rental could no longer be ignored, and a bare equipment rental division was successfully implemented. This too was widely successful and just as with the grading division, it was eventually spun off and sold to another of Rudy’s five children. This brought the company once again back to its roots of union operated equipment rental services.
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
Ritchie Bros. Congratulates Lalonde Equipment Rental th on their 50 Anniversary!
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Above: John Deere 450G dozer in Irvine. Above Right: John Deere 450G dozer in Anaheim Hills. Right: Cat 325L excavator and 980F loader in Whittier.
Much like their father before them, the Lalonde children grew up in and around the equipment business. Rudy and Mary Lou wanted each of their children to pursue their own path and like other parents thought that a career in medicine, the law or corporate business might be a nice choice. In the event that their children decided to join the family business, their hope was that one-day all five would sit on the same board of directors and work together to grow what had begun so humbly back in 1966. The reality was that each of their children were driven in their own way to pursue different paths and that individuality is perhaps what has made them all so successful in both their professional and personal lives. Brian Lalonde came to the family enterprise on an official basis after graduating with a business management degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1991. He grew up in the business, helping his parents out anyway he could on weekends and during the summers. Sweeping seemed to be the common theme in his youth, as Brian was often found pushing dirt around in one place or another. He came on board, after graduating in 91’, to help out while searching for a permanent job. The company’s office manager, Roxandra Grosser, had gone on maternity leave and Brian was afforded the opportunity to step in and learn the accounting side of the business. What was originally set
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up as a temporary arrangement soon became a permanent full-time job and Brian began to settle into his career choice. He worked very hard and after time and proper training, Brian eventually became the operations manager. Janelle (Lalonde) Reusch also grew up in the business and she spent much of her spare time as a teenager working dispatch in the mornings and on the accounting side during the day. She graduated from the University of San Diego in 98’ with a degree in diversified liberal arts in elementary education. Janelle came from a long line of educators, as many of her cousins and other family members worked in the field of education. Immediately after college, Janelle went to work at RJ Lalonde helping to establish and manage the new bare rental division. A few years later, she decided to pursue her career in education and went on to teach second grade. After a few years of teaching, she began to realize that it was the equipment rental business that seemed to truly be her calling. She missed the family business that she grew up in and eventually rejoined the company in 2003 working in all aspects of the business before settling into the administration responsibilities. Both Brian and Janelle worked in their respective roles and over time they were exposed to all areas of the business. This included a full cross-training experience, spending valuable time in all aspects of the business including
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
Right (L-R): Signal Hill office staff - Ryan Beam-Operations Manager, Roxandra Grosser-Controller, Janelle Reusch-President, Anthony Martinez-Sales, Jason Groom-VP Field Operations, Brian Lalonde-VP, Catherine BramblettBare Rental Coordinator, Conner Warren-Operated Rental Coordinator, Gina Toledo-Office Administrator. Below: 20,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Signal Hill. Below Right: Maintenance/ Transportation in Signal Hill Pablo Hernandez, Alan Gottfried, Wendy Smith, Mike Martinez, Tom Frame, Johnny Mac, Emerson Tran, Josh Hernandez, Juan Torres.
transportation, dispatch, accounting, sales, and operations. It was during this period and specifically in 2000 that RJ Lalonde left their original office and facility in Long Beach in order to purchase and move into their new headquarters in Signal Hill. This new 20,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility has worked out very well with plenty of room for expansion. As a matter of fact, Lalonde currently has a few tenants in the building with a lot located adjacent to the property for equipment storage. THE NEXT GENERATION OF LALONDE RJ Lalonde had experienced tremendous growth every year since its inception, and the decision was made to open a satellite location in Menifee in 2006 in order to better serve customers in the Inland Empire. By 2007, the economy began to slow and continued to fall off dramatically on into 2008. It was during this year that Brian and Janelle approached their parents and worked out a deal to purchase the company. They established the company as a WBE (Woman Owned Business
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
Enterprise) with Janelle serving as the company president and Brian as vice president. The name was officially changed by dba from RJ Lalonde, Inc. to Lalonde Equipment Rental, and after weathering the storm of the Great Recession; both Brian and Janelle were off to implement what would be the greatest growth the company had experienced since its inception. One of the first changes came in the same year that the brother and sister team purchased the company and that was to once again add a bare rental division. Their fleet of around 55 machines in 2008 has grown to 135, and that number will be over 150 by the end of 2016. Part of this growth has been due to the recent addition of a Bakersfield facility in 2015. Lalonde had already been renting machinery in Bakersfield for some time, and they were very excited about the growth in this region, including the prospects that highspeed rail might bring. They also had recently signed a large contract with the City of Los Angeles and a great deal of their fleet was being utilized up north in the Mojave area, so opening a branch location was a logical evolution.
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Left (L-R): Grand opening of Bakersfield branch in 2015 - Mike Martinez, Brian Lalonde, Shane Gregory, Janelle Reusch, Lisa Ramey, Josh Hernandez, Mike Gaskill. Below: Bakersfield office at 9631 Enos Lane.
According to Brian Lalonde, corporate decisions and growth prospects are customer driven and it is the customer and their workload that dictates any sort of acquisition. This was true back in the 90s when Lalonde made the transition from dozers, skip loaders and backhoes, to a heavy inventory of excavators equipped with quick couplers and a full compliment of attachments. Through this wise investment in excavators with quick couplers, Lalonde essentially enabled their customers to perform a wider range of tasks with one machine, in many cases doubling production. This adjustment proved to be prudent as more than half of their overall business is now focused on the bare and operated rental of excavators and attachments. THE EQUIPMENT FLEET Lalonde Equipment Rental’s fleet is made up of approximately 50 percent Caterpillar machinery. Around 40 percent consists of John Deere and Hitachi, with the remainder being supplemented with other great brands like Volvo, Komatsu, and Case. According to Lalonde, their inventory and offerings are driven by several factors including what their customers request, what their operators want, what is deemed to be the most productive and what makes the most economical sense on all fronts. Certain customers request Cat, while others prefer John Deere or Komatsu. As a further example, the company just added Volvo articulated dump
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trucks, because of their reputation in the field and the feedback they have received from long time customers. Lalonde offers a full gamut of machines from the massive Hitachi ZX800 hydraulic excavator to a Cat 980 loader, a Volvo A40 truck, down to a John Deere skiploader and the compact John Deere 35 mini excavator. Janelle handles the accounting, service and equipment side of the business. “We have been very aggressive in updating our fleet and are currently at 30 percent Tier III with the remainder of our fleet being either Tier IV Interim or Tier IV Final,” says Janelle. “We are way ahead of the game where CARB compliance is concerned.” Janelle continues to point out that around 75 percent of their fleet is GPS equipped or wired for telematics, like Caterpillar’s VisionLink™ or John Deere’s JDLink ®. This technology provides valuable computerized reports on productivity and efficiency, sent via texts and emails that help keep Lalonde Equipment Rental updated on things like the location of the machine, usage rates, and maintenance schedules. “It’s pretty cool when you receive a text notifying you that one of your machines is in use and that the parking brake is still on,” says Brian. “This technology allows us to consistently maintain our equipment, resulting in less down time and a better overall experience for our operators and bare rental customers.”
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
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Below: Portion of I-10 Freeway was washed out by flash flood. Cat 336 and Cat 963 with Lalonde operators demolished the remaining structure.
Above: Emergency repair of I-10 Freeway between Indio and Blythe for Granite Construction.
Lalonde Equipment Rental now offers a full compliment of machines for any size project. They offer excavators, backhoes, dozers, wheel loaders, track loaders, motor graders, articulated trucks, skip loaders, rollers and a wide variety of other implements and attachments. Their business is equally successful in operated and bare rentals and they have worked long and hard to earn a reputation for reliability and excellence in both divisions. “Coming from a background where our father was an operator, you gain a firsthand deep appreciation for the operator that is in the seat, and just how difficult it can be to do what they do every day,” says Janelle. “Whether it is one of our operators or a bare rental client, we want them to be comfortable and that is why, whenever possible, our machines are equipped with an enclosed cab, air conditioning, ergonomic controls, and many other creature comforts.” Janelle is quick to point out that Lalonde goes very deep on the service side of their business, recognizing that downtime equals lost profits. “Our commitment to service is instilled into everyone here at Lalonde. From dispatch to our lowbed service personnel, to our mechanics and operators, we stand steadfast in our commitment to keep our customers up and running.” Lalonde also recognized the need to partner with their customers as a team member and not just another vendor. “We aren’t just dropping off a piece of equipment, or sending out just any operator to a jobsite. We are joining in as a member of a crew with a focus on professionalism and profitability, says Janelle.”
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LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
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800-896-2726
A PARTNER IN YOUR SUCCESS FOR 20 YEARS. Congratulations Lalonde Equipment Rental on 50 years. We are proud to be part of your success. We look forward to many more.
rockbreaker.com LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
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Left & Above: All over So Cal Lalonde can be seen "moving the earth to reshape the world".
Brian Lalonde oversees all sales and operations at today’s Lalonde Equipment Rental and he will be the first to admit that the business has changed a bit over the past 50 years. “The business model has changed where you can’t just purchase a few used machines, fix them up and rent them out for another 10 years. That is not the rental market today. The industry as a whole has transitioned from local family businesses to corporations. This is true for both our customers and our competitors. The business has grown larger and more complicated and this change has brought about consequences that are both good and bad,” says Brian. “Improvements in equipment and computer technology have been mostly positive, however, customer service and the human factor has, in my opinion, diminished greatly in the process.” Brian believes that one of his company’s advantages is that although they too have become a larger corporation, they continue to run it with the same family values that were instilled in them many years ago. “There is a long list of rental companies that have lost their way and perhaps forgotten that this is a people business,” says Brian.
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“Growth and consolidation can many times stifle the relationship side of this business. Some of our competitors just don’t get it, but I think this is where we truly shine.” Brian reflects back on several occasions when he has been approached at an event and thanked or complimented on the service Lalonde provides. “I often get the credit, but it is the people that work here at Lalonde Equipment Rental that make the difference,” says Brian. “Sometimes it is not a person they are praising, but how we handled a stressful situation, but again that just goes back to the people behind the machine, a dispatcher, delivery driver, operator, or a mechanic, it all comes back to a person that is doing more than just their job.” Janelle (Lalonde) Reusch also has something to say on this subject. “We currently have 50 employees and it is these people that I enjoy interacting with every day. We have built a community here at Lalonde that goes way beyond just putting in a day’s work,” says Janelle. On average, Lalonde Equipment Rental employees have been with the company for 15 years with three now in their 30th year.
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
Left; One of Lalonde's three new Peterbilt lowbeds. Below: Breaking the runway at LAX (2015).
Beyond co-owners, Brian Lalonde, and Janelle Reusch, the management is made up of Roxandra Grosser (Controller), a 27-year team member that oversees the company’s accounting and administrative operations; Jason Groom (VP Sales & Field Operations), a 16-year team member overseeing key accounts, as well as managing the company’s operated rental division; Ryan Beam (Operations Manager), who has been with the company 5-years managing the company’s rental dispatch operations, inventory management and logistics; Mike Martinez (Equipment Manager), with 30-year industry experience, a veteran at Lalonde who manages the entire equipment fleet and supervises all repairs and maintenance; Joseph Malacara (Inland Empire Branch Manager), who has been with the company 16-years and today oversees customer service and maintenance duties at the Inland Empire branch in Menifee; Lisa Ramey (Central California Manager), who oversees the Bakersfield branch, while also handling special contracts and major accounts throughout California. Brian and Janelle also wanted to recognize, Alan Gottfried, Mark Barton and Michael Rosas who have all been with the company for over 30 years. 2016 marks a major milestone for Lalonde Equipment Rental, who has been a notable fixture in the Southern California construction scene since 1966. Through the past 50 years, Lalonde Equipment Rental has amassed a plethora of experience, working across a diverse range of industries. Their vast equipment offerings do not only apply to general engineering or building construction but also disaster response,
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emergency restoration, trenching, material handling, compaction, drilling and a long list of other applications. Their job resumes are extensive, to say the least, and include assisting in the construction of college campuses, medical buildings, and highway construction. Lalonde also provided equipment to repair the I-10 freeway when flash floods caused a 50-mile stretch to be closed back in 2015. Their equipment can also be seen throughout the 91-Freeway expansion in Corona, as well as at several military facilities, airports, shipping ports, parks, and for numerous counties, municipalities, and other government agencies throughout southern and central California. They offer union hourly-operated equipment rental with the industries most experiences operators and bare equipment rental services for both short term and longterm projects. Lalonde Equipment Rental remains active and up-to-date on construction industry news with memberships to the AGC, the ECA, and The Beavers. They are also all-in when it comes to supporting a worthy cause, whether it be a local sports program for one of their employees or “Operation Jump Start,” which pairs local Long Beach “at risk” teenagers with adult mentors. Their mother, Mary Lou, sits on the board of directors of this charity that focuses on helping students complete high school and then assist them in getting accepted to college. Lalonde Equipment Rental is also very happy to announce that they have officially made the RER100!
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
Bakersfield Bakersfield, CA 661.387.6090 Corona Corona, CA 951.277.7620 Fresno Fresno, CA 559.834.4420 Sacramento Sacramento, CA 916.388.2244 San Diego Lakeside, CA 619.441.3690 San Leandro San Leandro, CA 510.357.9131 Turlock Turlock, CA 209.410.6710
Congratulations on your 50th anniversary Lalonde, from your friends at Volvo Construction Equipment & Services.
For 50 years, VCES has provided California with the industry’s best quality equipment, all while backing it with integrity, commitment and trust. The Volvo Articulated Hauler, like VCES, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Five decades ago, Volvo introduced “Gravel Charlie,” the world’s first articulated hauler. Known for dependability, the hauler quickly became a construction industry icon and an operator favorite. Today, Volvo continues to stand for quality, dependability and first-in-class construction equipment. We congratulate you on your 50 years of business and wish you continued success in the years ahead.
www.vcesvolvo.com
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on your 50th Anniversary!
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LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
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Proud partner of Lalonde Equipment Rental.
Above: Three of Lalonde's 65 excavators being utilized for cleanup, demo and excavation.
Congratulations on celebrating 50 years of outstanding service. Rush Truck Center – Pico Rivera
8830 East Slauson Avenue | Pico Rivera, CA 90660 562-566-1800 direct | 800-776-3647 toll free
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The Rental Equipment Register magazine publishes the RER100 each year, recognizing the top 100 rental companies in North America and Lalonde is now a proud member of this exclusive group. “We are very excited about the future of Lalonde Equipment Rental,” says Janelle. “Our parents began their life together as a married couple and partners in business 50 years ago. We are happy to have this opportunity to honor them, as well as to thank everyone that has been a part of our success over the years. Here’s to another wonderfully fun and successful 50 years!"
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
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CONGRATULATIONS TO LALONDE EQUIPMENT RENTAL ON THEIR COMPANY MILESTONE OF BEING IN BUSINESS FOR 50 YEARS!
F&M congratulates Lalonde Equipment Rental on its 50th anniversary.
Alan Hart
Heavy Equipment Specialist Cell: (714) 747-7887 holidayjet35@gmail.com After Hours Service Available! Serving Southern California for over 25 years.
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Congrats to LaLonde for 50 Years of Great Service! • Service & Supply Centers • Hydraulic & Industrial Hoses • Mobile Service
ETA 1 Hour On Site 24/7 PIRTEK LONG BEACH
3299 Walnut Ave. • Signal Hill, CA 90755
562-426-9219
LaLonde Equipment Rental • 50th Anniversary
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EXPERIENCE THE LALONDE ADVANTAGE Top Notch Equipment: Lalonde offers customers a wide assortment of the highest quality, late model, and low-hour equipment from Caterpillar, John Deere, Hitachi, Komatsu, and other top-quality brands. Dependable Team: Our philosophy is that PEOPLE are our biggest asset. From expert field support to skilled mechanics & efficient dispatchers, we understand that our people make the all of the difference. The Lalonde team stands at the ready to enable your success. Depth of Experience: We have extensive experience working across a wide range of industries. You can count on us to have the right machines & expertise to help support construction, site preparation, disaster response, emergency restoration, trenching, material handling, compaction, drilling & other operations. Superior Reliability: Lalonde makes sure that all equipment meets our highest quality standards before it arrives at your job site. Our factorytrained technicians regularly perform routine service and comprehensive preventative maintenance and every piece of equipment that leaves our branches for your job site receives a rigorous multi-point inspection. Unmatched Customer Service: Customers rely on Lalonde because they get what they need, when they need it throughout the heavy equipment rental lifecycle. From up front planning and estimating through on-time delivery and field support, we are there for you at every step of the way. In the unlikely event that you experience any issues with our equipment onsite, our experienced field support team will resolve the problem quickly and efficiently. Operated Rentals: For projects that require an equipment operator, Lalonde offers hourly operated equipment rental services. Our equipment operators are the best in the industry and have a level of experience and that is highly desired by customers. Equipment Pickup and Delivery: Lalonde provides convenient equipment delivery and pickup services. Our fleet of low bed trucks will transport your rental equipment directly to the job site so that you can immediately get to work.
562.595.6655
FAX: 562.595.8833 Corporate Office 2508 N. Palm Drive, Suite 200, Signal Hill, CA 90755 Bakersfield 9631 Enos Lane, Bakersfield, CA 933314 | Menifee 26095 Hull Street, Menifee, CA 92585 661.746.6762 | 562.595.6655