Rod Lano

On March 31 Rod Lano retired from family-owned-and-operated-business, Lano Equipment Inc. Hauser Lano, Rod's dad and one of the first generation owners, was on the Bobcat dealer council in the 1970s. The council consisted of the top 10 dealers in the United States to help grow the Bobcat brand.

“I loved wearing the [red] jacket and remembering the past,” said Rod Lano.

Lano grew up with the business in the 1960s and remembers the flood in Chaska, Minn., that filled the shop with mud, and the time he drove a tractor to school to show his classmates and try and close the sale (the nuns were not happy).

In the late 1970s, Lano went to work for Melroe Equipment in California, which was owned and operated by one of the founders of the Bobcat skid steer, Roger Melroe. The Bobcat brand was booming. “People didn't have a skid steer loader and had no idea what it could do for their business. We would demonstrate to them and soon they would all say 'how did I ever live without that Bobcat?'” said Lano.

The mid-80s rolled around and Hauser Lano and his brothers wanted the next generation to take over the business. Lano and his family came back to Minnesota to join his brothers, Brad and Gary and cousins, Roger, Joe Jr. and Kurt, to carry on the family-owned business.

“I will miss all of it, but will cherish what a family business is all about,” said Lano.

Lano has fond memories of Hauser Lano's wisdom, and while Lano didn't always agree with his dad, he always respected his wishes and cherishes the red coat.

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