With its 50th anniversary on the horizon, Jack Doheny Companies’ current marketing message neatly sums up the company’s long-time focus on serving its customers’ needs: “Jack’s Got Your Back.”

“Our customers face many challenges while providing for their communities, no matter what market they serve. Jack Doheny Companies prides itself on providing solutions and outfitting our customers’ capabilities so that they can be successful. This has never changed,” says Steve Shafer, president of Jack Doheny Companies (JDC), a leading sewer cleaning and maintenance equipment dealership in North America. “We dig in and never stop. We are first and foremost customer-focused, and that is seen in the breadth and depth of our people, equipment, service and support capabilities.”

Jack Doheny Companies was founded by Jack Doheny in 1973, outside of the Detroit, Michigan, area. As an early pioneer in the industry, Doheny believed in taking a chance and investing in his customers, which included being where they needed him to be. Now, the company has 15 locations. Shafer explains that JDC continually invests in its fleet, equipment and staff to provide solutions to customer challenges coast to coast.

JDC’s strong partnership with Vactor Manufacturing helps achieve this success. “We couldn’t be who we are without the relationships we have with our equipment providers, including Vactor Manufacturing,” he says. “We help them define new products. Because we invest in the markets that our customers serve, we are able to support their needs across a wide range of applications.”

Vactor roots run deep at JDC

“We became a Vactor dealer in the 1970s and have been with them ever since,” Shafer says. “Our Vactor roots run deep. Vactor is a part of our DNA, and JDC is an integral part of the Vactor story. It’s been a great, mutually beneficial relationship.”

When Vactor Manufacturing launched its redesign of the controls and functionality of one of its most recent sewer cleaner models, the 2100i, Shafer says JDC was the first to volunteer and one of Vactor’s first choices to operate some preproduction models with its customers to provide Vactor with real-time feedback. This feedback was represented in final design revisions. “As a part of our Doheny Commitment to our customers, we believe providing feedback on new product initiatives and solutions is of the upmost importance.”

Consistent customer experience is key

JDC aims to provide every customer with the same experience in every interaction with the company, and at all 15 branch locations. “Our employees are some of the top people in the industry and their expertise is unmatched. We call this our ‘Doheny Know-How.’ This is our experience in every aspect of our customers’ businesses, including applications, equipment, parts, service and training,” Shafer says.

JDC uses its “Doheny Know-How” to keep its contractor and municipal customers on the job without unnecessary downtime. Its parts and service operations are organized around the idea of keeping its customers’ equipment working productively, which includes responding quickly to any demands for emergency service. 

Because of its customer commitment, JDC maintains a very large inventory of parts, tools and accessories. According to Ryan Rozycki, director of parts and purchasing, “JDC continually invests in our parts inventory to make sure when our customers have an urgent need, they trust us to have it in stock.”

People power drives success

JDC puts a premium on training its team of sales, service and parts employees. “We sell and rent very specialized equipment, which requires expert knowledge and skills at every level of our company, as well as top-notch facilities and service equipment,” Shafer says.  

“The specialized demands of our business require an ongoing commitment to training for every employee. That training extends to our Doheny Technical Institute (DTI), where our network of expert instructors train our customers on a range of advanced topics including operation maintenance, confined-space entry, and pipeline assessment certification,” says Mike Renner, director of DTI.

In its devotion to both customers and employees, JDC continues fulfilling the values of its founder, Jack Doheny, who built the foundation of his business on continually investing in the industry and its people.

In late 2015, Jack’s daughter, Kay, took over the company and built upon Jack’s legacy of providing customers with solutions and expertise like no one else in the industry. Jack Doheny passed away on New Year’s Day, 2018, at the age of 87, leaving behind a company poised to meet the challenges of the future. Today, JDC continues its commitment to the marketplace by continually updating its rental flee and demonstration equipment, and adding more support personal, including a team of parts and service field representatives. 

“We’ll be celebrating our 50th anniversary in a few years,” Shafer says. “And our commitment to providing solutions, strengthening businesses, and investing in our customers will continue into the future.”

For more information on Vactor combination sewer cleaners, please visit www.vactor.com. For more information on Jack Doheny Companies, please visit www.dohenycompanies.com.