About Us
BE THE BEST
Empire Southwest is a family-owned business founded in 1950 as Empire Machinery. Throughout our three generations of private ownership, we have increased community involvement, established our corporate values, formed new technology alliances, and expanded our territory to include Arizona, Nevada, and parts of Eastern and Southeastern California.
Today, over 3,700 employee work together to BE THE BEST and continue the Empire legacy.
Through The Years
Our history is rich with milestones and celebrations - including our 70th anniversary in 2020!
"When I was a little kid, my grandfather told me the secret to success was to 'take care of the farm and the farm will take care of you.' When I asked him what that meant, he said, 'I'm not going to tell you, but never forget it and you will figure it out.' And I never forgot. It simply means, take care of your people and your clients and they will take care of you. It was clearly the best advice I ever received. Our goal is simple, help others to be more successful and strive to be the best in whatever we are doing."
- Jeff Whiteman, President & CEO
THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR BUSINESS
Empire is committed to treating clients, employees, and everyone we come into contact with in a fair and ethical manner. That commitment is reflected in the Empire Values, the cornerstone for every decision we make on behalf of the company.
OUR CORPORATE VALUES
BE THE BEST
Empire is committed to treating clients, employees, and everyone we come into contact with in a fair and ethical manner. That commitment is reflected in the Empire Values, the cornerstone for every decision made on behalf of the company.
SAFETY
SAFETY
"Safety First" is more than a slogan. It is a personal commitment to preventing unsafe conditions of any kind, and a pledge to get everyone safely home every day.
RESPECT
RESPECT
We believe in enhancing and building self-esteem and self-worth, in showing care and consideration for others.
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
We maintain honesty — honesty in our word, in our message and in our deeds. The strong relationships we've developed and value are based on our long-standing integrity as a company.
TEAMWORK
TEAMWORK
We work as a team, not as a collection of individuals. We see ourselves as "stakeholders" involved in achieving a common goal.
EXCELLENCE
EXCELLENCE
We have a reputation for excellence — in the services we provide, the products we sell and in the way we do things. We are never satisfied with "good enough."
STEWARDSHIP
STEWARDSHIP
We take care of our people, protect the environment and give something of value back to the communities in which we live and work.
ASTONISHMENT
ASTONISHMENT
We go the extra mile to satisfy a client, to do the unexpected, and continually exceed expectations.
SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES
Our founder, Jack Whiteman, believed that businesses have a fundamental responsibility to support and enhance the communities they serve. In 1961, the Whiteman Foundation was established to invest in the arts, higher education and a variety of community organizations.
Each year, Empire commits at least 2% pre-tax profits to charity. Beneficiaries include the East Valley Child Crisis Center, the Children’s Action Alliance, youth foundations, early education initiatives, medical research and select school programs.
SHOP FOR EMPIRE GEAR
Hats, shirts, toys, coolers and more.
Now you can shop online for all your favorite Caterpillar gifts and Empire custom apparel at buyempirecatgear.com. We offer premium products from brands like Yeti, Travis Matthew, Ogio and more.
Plus, we make it easy to choose delivery or pick-up at an Empire location nearest you.
Start shopping today!
JOIN OUR TEAM
We're a diverse group of people with a passion for excellence. We come from all different backgrounds, but we share an inspiring vision to BE THE BEST. That vision is achieved by our individual commitment to live the core values every day.
When you work at Empire, you are more than an employee number - you are part of our family. Our culture is based on the spirit of hard work, loyalty and fun.
We're always looking for people who share our drive and values.
