Testimonials
Roger Gerhart, who started and still operates a heavy-equipment company, calls himself ‘a poor mechanic that the Lord has blessed.’
When Roger Gerhart graduated from high school in 1957, his dad gave him two options. He could take the $11,000 his father had saved for him and use it to go to college or he could start his own business.
Roger opted to start a business. He used the money to buy his first loader and dump truck.
Now, 65 years later, Roger is still going strong at the Gerhart Machinery Co. in Lititz. Today he focuses mainly on heavy-equipment sales, repair, and rentals.
“I like to be around big machines, big jobs, and people,” he says.
Being able to pivot and keep moving forward when things have become difficult has helped Roger thrive through a long and robust career as a business owner.
“You learn more from your mistakes than you ever do your successes,” he says. “Failures can be a good learning experience.”
Building a Unique Relationship
About a year ago, Roger began working with PeoplesBank to help keep his business running smoothly through the ups and downs of the construction and contracting industries. He had worked with many banks over the years but found something unique in his relationship with PeoplesBank.
“One,” he says, “they’ve been competitive with other banking institutions that I’ve dealt with. Second, they’re one of the few banks that I’ve experienced that really took an effort to know your business and what it’s about.
“And the third thing that I’ve never experienced with another bank is the follow-up. I get a contact from PeoplesBank if not once a week at least every two weeks. ‘Is there anything I can do to help you?’”
While the equipment has become more automated and the tools more sophisticated, Roger’s love of working with heavy machinery has never changed. Since age 13, when his dad let him use the family bulldozer, moving earth remains one of his favorite activities.
Now in his 80s, Roger says, “I still love what I do.”