History: Founded in 1900 around the corner from its current downtown Seattle headquarters, the original Star Machinery was founded by Christian Rabel to sell supplies and machinery to the logging and mining industries. Over time the focus shifted towards industrial and construction equipment. In the late 1950s, Kyle Hesse proposed to the owners that he partner with them to develop a rental company. Already running a small back-shop rental operation, the Rabel family worked out a deal with Hesse to expand the rental division under their ownership with Hesse as manager. Hesse ran Star Rentals until 1997 when he retired, turning over the management reins to Bob Kendall. The three Rabel brothers who still own the company are great-grandsons of the original founder; Hesse still sits on the board of directors, and Kendall runs the company as CEO.
Revenue: Total 2001 revenue was $49.7 million, with $35.7 million from equipment rental, making Star No. 27 on the RER 100. About 60 percent of the revenue comes from aerial work platforms and telescopic forklifts. About 65 percent of the revenue is from construction; about 35 percent from the industrial market.
Branches: Auburn, Bellevue, Bremerton, Longview, Lynnwood, Pasco, Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Vancouver, Wenatchee and Yakima, Wash.; Eugene, Hillsboro, and Portland, Ore. Star plans to open a new branch in Olympia, Wash., next year.
Main Product Lines: Genie and Snorkel booms, Skyjack and Genie scissor lifts, National cranes, Sullair air compressors; Carelift and Gehl telescopic forklifts; Takeuchi excavators; Case and Deere earthmoving equipment; Sellick forklifts; Multiquip and Wacker products, Bomag compaction equipment and TCM industrial forklifts.
Philosophy: “The key to our success is our people. I'm sure every owner or CEO says this, but we believe we have the best and most experienced people and that allows us to offer consistent service in every branch. I may be driving the bus, but it's our outstanding people that make the bus run.”
