Roger Beitel This is Me

Education

 Web References

1. 1. Star-Herald - Minatare company will expand to Gering

   www.starherald.com/site/tab2.c - [Cached]

   Published on: 2/15/2007   Last Visited: 2/16/2007

   "We contract with Electromotive Diesel to repair any components coming off the locomotives," said ATR president Roger Beitel. "We'll be doing total engine repair, battery repair and other work. If it comes off a locomotive; we'll repair it." The opening of the Gering facility is the latest step for a business that came to Minatare because of severe weather. "I started out doing small appliance repairs and welding for clients like Sears, General Motors, and the railroad," Beitel said. "The business grew rather quickly and easily because I had the knowledge and connections. That helped a lot." Beitel is a graduate of Bridgeport High School and spent 15 years in Sidney working for a private rail car repair company. "After that I decided to start my own company," he said. "If you're going to work like a dog, you may as well own the doghouse." While living in Sidney, Beitel invested in a trailer court in Minatare. Soon after, a hail storm did a large amount of damage to his property. "I moved to Minatare just to be able to take care of all the needed repairs," he said. "The trailer court suffered close to $325,000 in damage." It took two years to work out all the details with the insurance company, and in that time, Beitel repaired all the homes. "We'd just bought the trailer park and needed to get all the homes into shape so they could be rented." In addition to making repairs on the trailer park, Beitel was holding down his job in Sidney and was starting Advanced Technology Repairs after he bought a former welding shop in Minatare. "It wasn't easy be any means, but I was young enough to do it," Beitel said. After he purchased the welding shop, the old Ford garage became available as well as a former saddle shop and two other buildings. "We tried to accumulate as many lots near us as possible to give us room to expand," he said. "We've pretty much outgrown all our space, so we decided to expand to Gering." ATR has 38 employees working and Minatare and the company will add another 14 once the Gering operation opens. With all the success Beitel has had with ATR, he realized the importance of investing back into the community. He has become a strong supporter of the Minatare schools and its athletic programs. "We support the schools, the Minatare Chamber, and all the local businesses as much as possible," he said. "In turn, the community has been very supportive of us as well." ATR is currently doing work on the old Powerhorse galvanizing plant, south of the Lockwood building in Gering. That should be completed by the first of April. Another 80 feet will also be added to the building to accommodate loading docks. Beitel said he hopes to have the facility up and running by the first of June. "My main concern is that we're taking care of our employees and their families," he said.

2. 2. Star-Herald - Gering eyes 2nd train repair firm

   www.starherald.com/site/news.c - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/24/2007   Last Visited: 1/24/2007

   Stockwell told the council that once the needed improvements were completed, ATR owner Roger Beitel would relocate some employees as well as part of his Minatare operation to the site in Gering.
   ...
   "The building (Beitel) is looking at remodeling can be seen from the expressway and is unsightly now. So remodeling it would definitely be beneficial and would add more industry and jobs to that industrial park and another step to economic development in our community," she said.