Answers by Charles Weston.
WHY DID YOU START THE BUSINESS?
I started Westpac Heavy Duty to purchase the assets of the former headquarters and main distribution site of the Charles W. Carter Company, located in Placentia, Calif.
C.W. Carter Company was founded in California in 1929 and was instrumental in the growth and evolution of the heavy-duty truck parts business as we know it today. The Phoenix branch of C.W. Carter Company opened in 1959. Today this location houses the corporate headquarters and main distribution center of Westpac Heavy Duty.
I began my career in an entry-level warehouse position in 1969 with C.W. Carter and worked my way up to vice president and general manager by the mid 1970s. By that time the industry was in my blood and I was hooked.
Over the years, I often thought about going out on my own and decided to do so after the unsuccessful industry roll-up of Carter Company into TransCom/USA. I knew that I owed it to myself and to the loyal and long-time former Carter Company employees to assume ownership and invest in all of our futures.
Carter Company benefited for many years from the efforts of its employees and the relationships built with both customers and suppliers.
My goal was to build upon that legacy and leverage past performance and relationships into future growth and prosperity for all the members of the Westpac team.
