Maximum Outdoor Equipment & Service, Inc. is a family-owned Lawn and Garden equipment dealership that established as Maximum Tractor in April 1989 by Carl Witte and one partner. Through the years the name may have changed but the family and customer service has not changed over the years but has instead grown and improved. This is the history of Maximum Outdoor. Our story begins with Carl’s initial move to Wichita, from Missouri in April of 1977. Where he began to work for Molz Equipment in the summer of 1977 which is the current day location for Maximum Outdoor Equipment. Carl worked his way up through the company starting as an inventory picker and runner for the farm implement dealership. Carl and his business partner bought Molz equipment from the owner of Molz Equipment in April of 1989. When Maximum Tractor began as a partnership the main line was Hesston Farm Equipment. Along with the farm equipment the partnership brought on Grasshopper lawn mowers beginning the slow transition from farm to lawn and garden equipment. Carl continued to push for more lawn and garden focused dealership over the next decade adding multiple different lines including Snapper, Husqvarna, and Walker lawn mowers. In the fall of 1997 Carl approached his then partner with the proposal by year end one of the two would need to be bought out and one vision be in place to reach the company’s full potential. In December 1997, Carl officially bought out his parent and began operating as sole owner and president of Maximum Tractor Inc. In 2004 Maximum Tractor went through a name and branding change, Maximum Tractor became Maximum Outdoor Equipment & Service, Inc. and has since operated under this name. After the buyout Carl’s two oldest sons Paul and Alex moved into more prominent roles in each their departments. Both still in high school they were balancing school and work loads. Paul moved into managing the parts department which at this point was a two-man crew and was growing year over year. Paul went on to attend Wichita State University and majored in Entrepreneurship. Alex was working in the service department and still learning the trait with hand on experience. Alex continued to work as a hand on technician until moving into a shop foreman position after high school. Alex became the head technician and holds multiple master craft certificate from a large majority of the industry’s leading manufactures. In 2000 Carl’s wife, Melanie joined the company taking over the office work. Previously Melanie had been parts personnel at Poormans Automotive Supply, Formerly Allen Speedometer since the late 70s. Carl’s youngest son, Luke, joined the company in 2007 well attending high school he started in the parts department and later transitioned into the office to take over the accounting department. After graduating from Wichita State with an accounting degree Luke left the company for a year and half practicing public accounting. Luke returned the company in September 2016. Since then, all family members have been working at Maximum in day to day operations and as officers of the corporation. With the ever-changing industry, Carl began to add more major lines to the company, adding Ferris, Redmax, Echo, and Sno-Way over the next two decades. With the additions of multiple new lines and a growing reputation of the highest quality of customer service Maximum began growing at a steady but fast rate. The decade after the name change in 2004 Maximum’s sales doubled while still only operating at one location. In 2007 Maximum received a major face lift in partnership with Husqvarna, in 2009 Maximum was recognized by Green Industry Pros by receiving the Dealers in Excellence Award. The award was presented to family at the annual equipment GIE+EXPO in Louisville. With the growing reputation in customer service becoming more well-known throughout Wichita, Maximum has continued to grow and became a stronghold in the lawn and garden industry in Kansas. Melanie plans on retiring in the near future leaving the accounting department to Luke to run. Carl does not plan on fully retiring for at least another five to seven years but has begun to turn over more daily operations to all three sons. Paul has complete control of the parts department as the Inventory manager and Alex has complete control of the service department as the Service manager and head technician. The Witte family plans to continue to own and operate Maximum Outdoor and there are future plans for expansion either with more locations or a broader presence online with a bigger virtual store front.
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