FACES OF KIRBY-SMITH MACHINERY Jose Rodriguez always does his best to fulfill customers’ parts needs
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ose Rodriguez grew up helping around his dad’s auto shop, and that sparked his interest in parts. As one might expect, he first gravitated toward the automobile industry.
“In the end, it’s about what’s best for the customer,” he said. “It’s my job to help them find the right items as quickly as possible, so their downtime is minimal. We do what we need to, whether that’s staying late, coming in early, or taking care of something on the weekends. Sometimes it involves meeting a customer somewhere.”
“I spent about 10 to 12 years dealing with auto Jose Rodriguez, Parts Counter parts before moving into Sales Associate, heavy equipment,” said KSM Rodriguez, who is a parts Enjoyable work environment counter sales associate at Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc.’s (KSM) Rodriguez has been helping heavy Dallas branch. “There really isn’t equipment customers at the Dallas location for 20 years. He started with much difference in the industries, the previous Komatsu dealer in 2003 other than with heavy equipment and stayed on board when KSM took you’re dealing with bigger items.” over the territory about 15 years ago. Rodriguez emphasized that no “I liked dealing with heavy matter what industry you’re in, the equipment right from the start, customer comes first.
and when Kirby-Smith took over, things only got better,” said Rodriguez. “Kirby-Smith provides ongoing support and training to ensure we are always up to date on the newest equipment and manufacturer programs. There are great opportunities here, and the most enjoyable parts of my job are the people I get to work with every day.” Even though he switched industries, Rodriguez still likes to work on cars and is currently rebuilding a 1992 Chevy truck. When he’s not doing that, Rodriguez enjoys fishing for catfish and crappie in freshwater lakes. ■
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Branding & Communications Associate Julia Branum is excited to join the Kirby-Smith Machinery family
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“I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience with Kirby-Smith,” said Branum. “I appreciate the learning experiences they’ve offered me, from traveling to jumping into large-scale projects. Things I’m sure not every business intern Julia Branum, gets to experience. Also, Branding & Kirby-Smith’s incredibly Communications talented leaders and mentors Associate, Branum, a recent have pushed me to grow KSM marketing graduate of professionally. Overall, I really Oklahoma Christian appreciate the culture of the University, had participated company and the emphasis it in a summer internship program puts on personal endeavors as well with the heavy equipment as career successes. I anticipate great distributor prior to joining as a progress within the company and full-time employee. She credits the myself in the coming years.” company’s leadership and culture Branding & Communications in making the decision to officially Manager Andrew Clouse believes join the KSM family.
irby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM) has hired Julia Branum as its new branding & communications associate in Oklahoma City. Branum will be responsible for the execution of KSM’s strategic marketing initiatives related to content, video production, social media, and communication.
Branum’s talent, drive to learn, and natural leadership skills will be vital to KSM’s current and long-term branding goals. “It was early in the interview process where it became clear that Julia had remarkable potential,” said Clouse. “Knowing this, we set high expectations going into the internship, and she absolutely crushed them. Adding her abilities to the department full time is a huge win for Kirby-Smith Machinery. The sky is the limit with Julia on the team.” Branum graduated from Oklahoma Christian University, where she was named Business Student of the Year for 2023. She also participated on the school’s ethics debate team and served as the vice president and the social media director for OC Women Who Lead. ■
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