Honoree Industry and Size: Construction & Manufacturing, Mid-size

Company Overview:
HOLT CAT is the authorized Caterpillar® heavy equipment and engine dealer for 118 counties in South, Central, North and East Texas. Established in 1933, HOLT sells, services and rents Cat equipment, engines, generators and trucks for construction, mining, industrial, petroleum and agricultural applications. HOLT sells Caterpillar used equipment worldwide and fabricates its own line of custom engineered products including land management products and water tankers. Additionally, HOLT is a dealer for Link-Belt® Cranes, Trimble® Heavy and Highway construction products and AccuGrade® grade-control systems.

The Holt name has been associated with heavy equipment and Caterpillar for over 100 years. HOLT CAT owners, Peter J. Holt and Corinna Holt Richter are direct descendants of Benjamin Holt, who in 1904 developed the first successful track-type tractor which he named the “Caterpillar.” HOLT CAT has come to be synonymous with quality, integrity, and commitment to customer service.

What is HOLT CAT’s conservation and sustainability mission and why is it important to your culture?
At HOLT, our core values are the foundation of our culture and form what we call Values-based Leadership. Our values are more than statements on a wall, but rather the filter by which we frame our purpose and corresponding business strategies. Conservation is embedded in our first value, “Ethical: by doing the right thing.”  As a “people first” organization, the conservation of our natural resources is a strong parallel. Over the years, we’ve found that conservation efforts have become increasingly important to our customers, our employees, and to the people who live in our communities. So, whether we are building a new store; delivering a fleet of equipment or continuing to operate the 60+ HOLT locations across the state, we look for ways we can improve to further meet the needs of our customers and grow as a business.

It’s more than that, though––it’s about being a good neighbor, a reliable business partner, and a responsible, ethical member of our community.

How is conservation and sustainability a part of HOLT CAT’s business strategy?
Our overall business strategy is to continuously improve–whether it’s meeting our customers’ specific needs, partnering with businesses that HOLT has a natural synergy with, or looking for new business ventures to further our conservation and sustainability mission. We do that by focusing on three, specific areas: recycling, repurposing, and renewable energy. Here’s how:

Recycling We prioritize recycling as a core aspect of our operations, covering a wide range of materials. We recycle paper, plastic, metal, cardboard, water, batteries, oils, solvents, and other fluids. To minimize landfill waste, our newer construction projects incorporate centralized plant trash collection.

Repurposing In addition to recycling, many of our facilities have begun to repurpose water through closed-loop systems, as well as cisterns for catching rainwater that we use for irrigation. 

Renewable Energy Roughly 10 years ago, we decided to begin adding solar panels to some of our facilities to help offset energy costs and resources. Today, 11 of our facilities are equipped with solar panels and produce about 2 million kW/hours of electricity per year, which equates to about 30 percent of those facilities’ needs. 

Commercial Efforts In 2020, we acquired the business that installed our solar panels and now operates it as HOLT Renewables, a turn-key EPC (engineering, procurement, construction). With HOLT Renewables, we’re able to focus on providing solar solutions for commercial and industrial customers all throughout the nation.

In 2021, we entered the wind industry space with the purchase of Kardie Equipment/TGM Wind Services. Through Kardie Equipment, we’re able to offer the largest fleet of self-propelled, aerial work platforms to customers, while TGM Wind Services offers the most environmentally friendly, high-reaching cleaning services to customers across the US.

We’ve also incorporated our conservation and sustainability efforts into our CATERPILLAR products––namely, our Renewable Hydrogen and Hydrogen Blend Generators. These newer, more sustainable power solutions are backed by 35 years of expertise in hydrogen technologies, across multiple markets, and provide our customers with a higher-level of performance, with minimal impact to overall costs, maintenance, schedules, availability, and operations.

What are HOLT CAT’s short and long-term goals as they relate to conservation and sustainability?
In general, we’re always on the lookout for new methods to enhance our existing conservation efforts. In the short term, we’re focused on our “reduce, reuse, recycle” policy — repurposing oil and water, recycling all eligible materials, generating renewable energy via solar panels, and even conserving energy by incorporating automatic-timed lighting systems. And while 11 of our facilities are currently equipped with solar panels, we plan to add solar to as many of our buildings as possible.

Our long-term goals are to continue to be a dynamic and efficient partner for our customers by providing solutions that protect people, preserve our planet, and enable economic growth. We do that by providing work environments, products, and services that make efficient use of the world’s natural and sustainable resources and reduce unnecessary effects on people and the environment. And a big part of this effort involves leveraging the resources we have to optimize the use of renewable resources, reduce waste, minimize emissions, and maximize the use of our materials, water and land.

Who at HOLT CAT is leading your conservation and sustainability efforts and what are some examples of employee engagement in conservation and sustainability at your company?
Leading the charge in HOLT’s conservation mission are HOLT’s owners, Peter J. Holt, CEO, and Corinna Holt Richter, President and Chief Administrative Officer. Additionally, Jeff Stewart, Vice President of Environmental Health and Safety; David Wilhite, Director of Facilities Management; Jennifer McNew, regional environmental compliance specialist; Neal Carmichael, senior director, facilities; and Nathan Ballard, ranch manager. Thanks to the combined efforts of our leadership team and our employees, we’ve been able to significantly advance our conservation efforts. 

We have multiple LEED-certified facilities, generating around 2 million kW-hours of renewable energy. Additionally, we repurpose many of the materials used in our facilities on a daily basis. 

That said, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish half of these things without buy-in from our employees. Luckily, all HOLT team members, regardless of their role or location, have become conservation champions. In fact, our service managers are always coming up with new ways to properly and safely dispose of or reuse waste. We take the preservation of our planet seriously, and we realize that it’s much bigger than what we do on our campuses. That’s why, at HOLT, we try to implement our conservation goals even when we’re outside of the office.

“Being recognized by TxN 20 for a second year in a row is a remarkable privilege. This accolade recognizes the positive impact of our conservation efforts to curtail emissions and foster renewable energy within our communities.At HOLT, we also aim to become a strategic collaborator for our customers by seamlessly integrating our Corporate Sustainability Mission throughout our entire operation, creating sustainable value. Our Corporate Sustainability Mission is a priority and way of life that we, as leaders, along with our entire workforce, wholeheartedly embrace and are dedicated to. We recognize the benefits to our communities, people and the future.”

 – Corinna Holt Richter, President and Chief Administrative Officer. 

What conservation and sustainability programs and projects does HOLT CAT lead and participate in?
At HOLT, we participate in multiple conservation and sustainability projects, such as our water repurposing initiatives, rainwater collection, recycling programs, and renewable energy investments.

The San Antonio headquarters campus is approximately 140 acres. One of the things we do to help be sustainable within our campuses is use newer wash racks that are closed-loop systems, which allow us to repurpose that water so we’re not continually going back to a water source for freshwater. Some of our campuses, such as Edinburgh, Laredo and Little Elm have cisterns that capture rainwater and repurpose that for irrigation. Probably one of the most important things that we do as a company is recycling. We recycle paper, plastic, metal, cardboard, water, batteries, oils, solvents, and other fluids.

In our newer construction projects, as we roll those out, we put recycling cans at everyone’s desks and we participate in centralized, plant trash collection to help reduce the amount of waste that goes into the landfill. We also have solar panels on 11 of our facilities across the enterprise that we started about 10 years ago. Our 11 systems produce about 2 million kWh per year — that equates to about 30 percent of those facilities’ needs. Anywhere, and anytime, it makes sense to put solar on a building, we’ll do that.” – David Wilhite, Director of Facilities Management

How do you see the future of conservation and sustainability evolving, and what role will HOLT CAT play in that progress?
Based on customer needs, feedback, and research, we believe we’ll continue to see a rise in concern for environmentally conscious businesses–especially as we progress and evolve on the power and conservation front. And because HOLT is heavily involved in the construction of our schools, roads, and businesses, we believe we’ll play a major role in the conservation of our communities. As technology advances, we’ll be able to continue to provide the best, most sustainable emissions solutions and products to our customers and to our communities. That’s why we’ve focused so much of our business on renewable energy, such as solar power and wind turbines, and battery-operated vehicle distribution and service. Because, at the end of the day, what’s good for the planet is good for our people, and that’s good for all of us.

How does HOLT CAT quantify investment and return on conservation and sustainability?

Solar Panels & Wind Turbines: We review the amount of electricity generated, along with total costs offset.

Closed-Loop Water Systems, Cisterns & Wash Racks: We measure (by volume) the amount of rainwater we’re able to obtain and water we’re able to repurpose, along with estimated costs saved.

Customer Research: We’re also able to quantify RoC based on our ability to meet our customer’s needs, in relation to conservation, as well as feedback we’ve received from both new and old customers who want to enlist companies that are conscious of emissions and sustainability.

Sales: The bottom line. In reviewing our sales numbers, we’re able to better understand our customers’ interests, needs and requirements in order to provide services and products that align with their values.

What is the one lesson that HOLT CAT has learned from your conservation and sustainability efforts that others can take back and think about applying within their own space?
The biggest lesson we’ve learned through our conservation efforts has been to continue down the path of being dynamic, which is one of our core values. Our world, our society and the regulations associated with our work are constantly changing. As a result, we, too, must change and adapt in order to meet the needs of our customers while supporting our communities. We work tirelessly to stay up to date on all the latest advancements in technology that may be beneficial to our existing conservation efforts while never losing focus of our current practices.

Why is Texas an important home or base of operations for HOLT CAT?
HOLT was originally founded in Corpus Christi and then moved to San Antonio, where we have been actively involved in our community for 90 years. We’re incredibly proud to be a part of such a rich, vibrant community here in San Antonio and truly believe that it’s our people who make us the company we are today. Texas is our home and the home of the people who make up the HOLT family. We believe in standing by our employees, standing by our communities, and giving our all in everything we do, every day. It’s a tall order for sure, but you know what they say about Texas? Everything’s bigger here–and our respect and appreciation for our home is no exception.

Learn more about HOLT CAT’s conservation and sustainability efforts here.