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When hurricanes strike the South Carolina coast, most people are focused on getting their families to safety – likewise the technicians at Blanchard Machinery Company( Blanchard Machinery), who then head straight for local hospitals and remain there for the duration of the storm. In a place where babies are born, patients are on life support, and surgeries cannot be delayed, the company’ s job is to make sure the hospital generators keep running – without fail.“ At Blanchard Machinery, you’ re not just a technician,” says Brad Fultz, COO.“ You’ re also saving people’ s lives.”
That sense of responsibility runs through the company’ s history as a family business, initially founded as a Caterpillar dealership in central Florida in 1952 by Joseph Rozier. His son-in-law, Robert Blanchard, ran the Central Florida operation next, expanding the company into South Carolina in 1982 alongside his own son, Joe Blanchard. They ran both dealerships concurrently until 1987 when they decided to focus solely on South Carolina. Following Joe’ s passing four years ago, his son Boyd Blanchard now serves as President and CEO, working alongside brother Rozier and sister Katherine. With five members of the fifth generation already born, succession is a daily mindset at the firm.
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