The Patten family business was founded in 1933 when B.C. Patten Sr. purchased W.B. Louer Co., a Chicago construction equipment dealer. Patten Tractor started with just a single service shop and 13 skilled employees and subsequently opened more facilities and started Patten Rental Service. Patten's fourth generation, Garrett Patten became dealer principal in 2009, following in his father's footsteps, and served as the dealer principal and general manager of construction products at PattenCat until 2018.

Garrett and Crane Patten join me today to share the story of how Crane took over the business, became Dealer Principal, and bought his father out of the company. His son Garrett gives his point of view on experiencing the dealership as a family business, how he learned the ropes of the business from the sludge pit up, and how that impacted his leadership philosophies. Father and son also discuss what it's like to be on top of your game as a Caterpillar dealership and why understanding politics and trade unions is a huge part of managing the business's needs.

"Culture is everything - from a leadership perspective that's what a leader is there to do." - Garrett Patten

"When you find a culture that people are excited and engaged and they're coming up to the leaders with ideas that when you truly know you have a team that wants to win." - Garrett Patten

"You can't change a company unless you have the engagement from the employees to make that change." - Garret Patten

This week on The Wow Factor:

• How Brad and Garrett met at a backyard BBQ and realized that their lives intersected in so many ways
• Crane's experience growing up as one of four children, why he went to a Culver Military Academy, and what he learned there
• The history of PattenCat and from the Great Depression to the 21st century
• Why Crane left the company to move his family to the West Coast
• How Garrett's close working relationships with customers helped move the business forward despite obstacles
• What it was like leading the company together, and how Crane passed the baton to Garrett and his executive team seamlessly
• What Crane moved on to after handing over the reins of PattenCat
• Why it is so critical to foster a sense of community and open channels of communication in a business
• Why Garrett likens be a leader to being a talent scout

Crane Patten's Words of Wisdom:

Reinvest in your business, in your people, your facilities, your technology. Try to make life better for your employees wherever you can.

Garrett Patten's Words of Wisdom:

As a leader, you can create an environment with positive energy where people are engaged, and the key to doing that is having the courage to make changes.

Connect with Crane and Garrett Patten:

• Caterpillar Website
• Garrett Patten on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life by Brad Formsma
• Words of Wisdom Website
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter