Kelly Tractor Hosts Cat Operator Challenge in Ft. Pierce

Kelly Tractor hosted a Cat Operator Challenge in Ft. Pierce, Fla., attracting skilled operators competing for a chance to advance to global finals. The event featured machine displays, family activities and sold equipment. Winners included Christopher Dial, Carmen Costa Jr. and Carmen Costa Sr.

Wed April 09, 2025 - Southeast Edition #8
CEG

Kelly Tractor held a Cat Operator Challenge March 28 and 29, 2025, adjacent to the construction of its new Ft. Pierce branch next to I-95 in South Florida.

The challenge drew a great turnout of contestants who brought their families to enjoy a catered event, view machine displays and to see some of the best operators in the area compete for an opportunity to move on to the Caterpillar regional finals with the potential to advance to the Global Operator Challenge Finals at ConExpo-Con/Agg 2026 in Las Vegas where Caterpillar will crown one operator as World Champion.

At the event's conclusion and the score sheets were tabulated, the winners were:

• First place — Christopher Dial, Capling Leveling, Vero Beach, Fla.

• Second place — Carmen Costa Jr., Tomahawk Construction, Labelle, Fla.

• Third place — Carmen Costa Sr., Kater Company of Estero Inc., Estero, Fla.

Overall, 47 contestants competed. Company representatives also said they sold a Cat 255 compact track loader and a 302 mini-excavator because of the exposure and the various contractors in the area stopping by to visit. Lunch consisted of a fantastic BBQ lunch with all the sides.

Jamie Hoffman and the Kelly Tractor Certified Dealer Instructors team put together a course that expanded on the difficulty from the previous challenge competitions and proved to be quite a test for even the most experienced operators. It was a total team effort from marketing to demo instructors to company ownership. CEG

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(L-R): Most of the contestants turned out on Saturday of the event schedule and were greeted with ownership and top management of Kelly Tractor including John Socol, Barbie Diaz, David Erkelens, Luisa Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Jim Keegan and Mabel Beltran. (CEG photo)

Kelly Tractor’s Jamie Hoffman (L) congratulates the first-place winner, Christopher Dial, Capling Leveling, Vero Beach, Fla., and presents him with Cat swag and an invitation/sponsorship to regionals in North Carolina later in the year. (CEG photo)

Adjacent to where the competition was taking place, construction of the new Kelly Tractor, Ft. Pierce, Fla., branch facility is well under way and taking shape for a summer opening. (CEG photo)

A compact track loader prospect wanted to compare and contrast the new 255, 265 and 275 models on display, including the overall lift height of each. (CEG photo)

(L-R): James Marshall Smith of Phillips & Jordan Inc., San Antonio, Fla., speaks with his SITECH South representatives Jordan Sampson and Jeremey Laughridge. (CEG photo)

On Saturday, the excavator arch was up, the weather was cool and breezy and the competition was fast-paced all day long. (CEG photo)

The competition included precision drop event operating a Cat 313 GC excavator and dropping a PVC pipe into a slightly larger PVC pipe during a fairly stout South Florida breeze. (CEG photo)

Kids of all ages could try their hand at the Cat 301.7 mini excavator, under the close supervision of a family member operator or Kelly Tractor representative. (CEG photo)

As the event was starting to wind down on day two, contestants and Kelly Tractor staffers enjoyed some great conversation and fellowship as the final scores were being tabulated. (CEG photo)

(L-R): A big group from ATC Engineering, based in Miami, Fla., came out to watch their expert operator compete and included Luis Romero, Lidis Burgos, Ildelys Alvarez, Elizabeth Alvarez, Yerandi Legra and Alvaro Martinez. (CEG photo)

Under the watchful eye of one of Kelly Tractor’s Certified Dealer Instructors, Chad Thompson (L), Alexander Bryan of Stewart Materials, Ft. Pierce, Fla., made his way through the “Stay on Track” compact track loader course. (CEG photo)

(L-R): Jim Holman, Joseph Holman, and two-year-old Wyatt Holman, all of Precision Site Contracting, Jensen Beach, Fla., enjoy some great conversation with their Kelly Tractor representative, Bill Colosi. (CEG photo)

Kyle Godoy of Summit Builders, Lighthouse Point, Fla., slaloms a Cat 950 wheel loader through the “Load & Go” competition event. (CEG photo)

Kelly Tractor’s Bill Colosi (L) and David Erkelens (R) welcome customer-friend Jim Heimer of Dickerson Infrastructure, Ft. Pierce, Fla., to the event. (CEG photo)

(L-R): Jamie Hoffman, Kelly Tractor Certified Dealer Instructor (CDI) talks with Hunter Curtis and his dad, Allen Curtis, subcontractors working in Ft. Myers, Fla., but based in Winchester, Ky. At the event’s conclusion, they drove two trucks pulling two trailers more than 1,000 miles back to Kentucky. (CEG photo)

Checking grade accuracy of a contestant’s trenching work in the “Big Dig” excavator event are Archie Justiniano (L) of SITECH South and William Bishop of Kelly Tractor. (CEG photo)

Kelly Tractor sales representative Jason Slinker (C) and Yaisbel Cruz, sales manager of utility equipment sales for Miami-Dade and Broward counties, speak with customers about some of the compact machines on display. (CEG photo)

Another contestant makes a go at the “Big Dig” competition operating a Cat 323 excavator. (CEG photo)

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