August 7th, 2026, Cambridge, Ohio— Southeastern Equipment has announced a strategic reorganization of its executive leadership structure, reinforcing the company's continued investment in Product Support excellence and its commitment to delivering industry-leading customer support across its growing footprint.
Recognizing that equipment uptime and responsive service are the foundation of customer success, Southeastern has created the role of Chief Operations Officer, appointing Vaughan Staros to lead the company's operational execution with a primary focus on Product Support performance, branch operations, operational consistency, and continuous improvement throughout the organization.
The move reflects Southeastern's long-term belief that exceptional Product Support is the company's greatest opportunity to create value for customers. While the dealership has built a strong reputation for responsive service and technical expertise, company leadership views continued improvement as essential to helping customers maximize machine uptime, productivity, and profitability.
"In our business, selling equipment is only the beginning of the relationship," said Thor Hess, President and CEO of Southeastern Equipment Company. "The real value we deliver comes from helping our customers keep their machines running and responding with urgency when they need us most. We've built a strong Product Support organization, but we believe there is always an opportunity to improve. Creating this role reinforces our commitment to continually investing in our people, our branches, and the customer experience."
As Chief Operations Officer, Staros will oversee Southeastern Equipment's Regional Operations Managers, partnering closely with branch leadership to improve operational execution, elevate customer service, and drive consistency across every location.
Over the past several years, Staros has helped lead initiatives that have enhanced customer engagement, expanded digital capabilities, streamlined internal processes, and strengthened organizational performance. His expanded responsibilities position the company to accelerate improvements across every customer touchpoint while maintaining the agility and responsiveness that have long defined Southeastern Equipment.
"Product Support is the heartbeat of our business," said Staros. "Our customers depend on us to keep their equipment working, minimize downtime, and help them stay productive. We already have an exceptional team serving our customers every day, and this leadership structure allows us to invest even more heavily in supporting our branches, developing our people, improving execution, and continuously raising the standard for the service experience we provide."
The leadership enhancement is part of Southeastern Equipment's broader strategy to strengthen its operational capabilities while preserving the personalized service and local relationships that have distinguished the company for decades. As the organization continues to grow, the company remains committed to investing in the people, processes, and leadership necessary to help customers succeed.
Southeastern Equipment Company has been selling, servicing, and renting heavy equipment since 1957, with 16 locations across Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and Indiana. Customers can get equipment quotes, request service, and shop parts online through southeasternequip.com. Featuring over 30 lines of top-performing new, used, and rental equipment across many industries, Southeastern Equipment Company stands behind the equipment it carries and provides every customer with quality, trusted support for superior equipment purchases and experiences. Manufacturers represented by Southeastern Equipment Company include CASE Construction, Kobelco, BOMAG, Trimble, Gradall, Mauldin Paving Products, Etnyre, Vacall, and many others.
For more information, contact us at marketing@southeasternequip.com, call 1-800-798-5438, or visit www.southeasternequip.com.