Roadworthy
Maintenance Manager Kevin Simpson grew up in a family of mechanics. His father retired from Caterpillar and both his brothers were mechanics. “That’s all I’ve done my entire life, actually,” he said. “I was mostly into heavy equipment.” Right after high school, Simpson joined the military, where he worked on vehicular tracks, like tanks and bulldozers.
That and other experiences prepared Simpson for the challenges of keeping MPW’s huge arsenal of heavy equipment on the road and on the jobsite.
Simpson said the toughest part of keeping MPW’s vehicles roadworthy and compliant is finding parts for an aging fleet and training newer mechanics on the company’s specialized equipment. “The most challenging part of my position is the ever-changing needs of the organization, which makes it challenging to stay on track,” he said. “And then there’s the hiring of new mechanics in an ever-changing workforce.”
Simpson’s career in management began in 1984 as a Fleet Manager for Rescoe Industries before becoming the East Coast Regional Manager. He joined MPW in 2010, where he schedules the repairs of vehicles and equipment based on the company’s needs. Simpson orchestrates the purchase of all parts and supplies for the department, organizes work schedules for the technicians, as well as entering payroll and approving all vacation and PTO.
Simpson enjoys the daily interaction with the mechanics and the ability to be a resource to the other branches for parts and repairs. For anyone else wanting to be a maintenance manager, “give respect and earn respect from the people you interact with every day,” he said, adding that managerial classes help.
Of course, the most important aspect of the job is safety, especially when you have technicians working around gigantic, powerful machines every day. It all begins with the morning toolbox/safety meeting. “It gets the employees involved so they understand the importance of identifying unsafe practices and procedures in their daily environment,” Simpson said.
In his spare time, Simpson enjoys camping and fishing at Cowan Lake just outside of Wilmington, Ohio and of course spending as much time as possible with Julie, his wife of 42 years, his son and his four grandchildren.