M. W. "Murf" Murphy
"Murf", as he is known in the construction equipment industry, earned his Bachelor of Science Degree from Oswego State University, and professionally has more than forty years of construction management and heavy equipment sales experience.
He initiated his construction management career in 1966. For the next sixteen years he worked for two major construction firms in Central New York. One, specializing in Underground Utility Installations, and the other in Earthmoving and Road Building. After rising rapidly through a number of management positions, Murf left the operations side of the construction business and joined the sales side in 1982 as part of the used equipment management team at Syracuse Supply Company, the Caterpillar Tractor Dealership covering central and western New York State.
During his stay at Syracuse Supply, he was part of the team that started the first CAT Used Equipment Managers Meeting in Niagara Falls, New York in 1984. This team was honored in 2004 at the 20th CAT Used Equipment Managers Meeting in Palm Springs.
In 1985 he left Syracuse Supply Company to join TSM North America Inc., as Vice President. TSM North America was a nationally recognized used equipment company which operated internationally marketing rebuilt and reconditioned Caterpillar equipment.
Because Murf had many years of experience as a User, Purchaser, and Marketer of Used Construction Machinery, it only seemed suitable that he would bring a special quality to owning and operating his own company. Thus in 1992 he formulated his own corporation, Best Tractor, Inc. His background gives him an understanding of the contractor’s requirements for reliable used equipment while at the same time he understands the supplier’s responsibility to service and support the construction contractor with both quality and integrity.
Since the inception of Best Tractor Inc. diversity has been one of its goals. Thus in 1994 Best Tractor Inc introduced the "Private Marketing Method," of appraising contractor or dealer access equipment and consigning the equipment under contract to sell. Because of the success of the program, Murf was inducted into the Equipment Appraisers Association of North America as an associate member in 1996.
To further the diversification of Best Tractor Inc. a web site was procured in 1997 and in the spring of 1998 Best Tractor pioneered in one of the first CYBER Construction Equipment Auctions.
Murf feels that, "keeping one eye on the future, and a firm grip on a diversified past, will bring enthusiastic resolutions to the challenges of today".