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Some might call it luck and others good planning, but whatever you call it, the winner of the Award of Excellence for Manufacturing, Peabody Engineering & Supply, Inc. has managed to tap into two business lines--Telecommunications Infrastructure and Waste Water Management--that might just be recession proof.
Peabody Engineering & Supply, Inc. was founded in 1962 by Dick Peabody, whose sons, Mark and Larry, are now CEO and president, respectively. Mark and Larry purchased the company from Dick in 1982, when he retired at the age of 55, and are equal partners in the day-to-day operation of the business.
Originally, Peabody sold agricultural fertilizer equipment, but when the 1970s found the country in a recession, the agriculture industry was hit hard and the family business had to look beyond its original product line to survive. They took a hard look at one of the products being produced for their agriculture customers, a plastic tank, and found applications for it in other industries.
The agricultural community is no longer one of their largest markets, but the innovative ideas born out of that original plastic tank have evolved into two major divisions of the company: rotationally molded tanks that are customized to uses in the waste water treatment industry and conform to environmental and regulatory specs; and tanks made according to FDA standards and used for storing raw materials used in the manufacture of food products.
Interestingly enough, the company’s product line has completely evolved from what was being produced when Mark and Larry’s father sold them the business … and it continues to expand, says Mark. “But, Dad’s OK with that and is a very proud parent.”
Peabody’s newest product line serves the telecommunications field. Today they are known for “antenna stealthing,” which is building architecturally-pleasing antenna concealment products to camouflage cell sites. They now work with all of the major carriers, and that portion of their business is growing by 25 percent a year. You have seen some of their work in Corona, but probably wouldn’t have noticed it – that’s the plan. The large white cross located on top of the church behind L.A. Fitness on Ontario Avenue was one of their first attempts at antennae concealment and is certainly a landmark in Corona.
Mark and Larry consider the success of their business a blessing and strive to incorporate the tenets of their Christian faith into their business relationships. Mark stresses, “Every customer is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve and our business is run by the Golden Rule.” For the past six years, Corona has been home to both the Peabody business and the Peabodys themselves and they love living and working here. Peabody Engineering & Supply, Inc. is located at 13435 Estelle St. in Corona.