Jessica Shingleton: 2022 40 Under 40 Award-Winner
Our 2022 40 Under 40 Awards featured young OPE leaders from across the country. In the next couple of weeks, we’ll highlight several of our 2022 award-winners here. Our winners were chosen not only for their numerous accomplishments and individual strengths, but also for their passion for their dealerships and outdoor power equipment – and the promise they bring for the future of our industry. Of course, you can check out the entire 40 Under 40 roster in our May/June issue.
JESSICA SHINGLETON
Office Manager & Master Tech, Cardinal Outdoor Power Equipment – Kenly, North Carolina
Cardinal Outdoor Power Equipment services the entire Johnston County, North Carolina area – repairing and servicing all types of lawn equipment, generators, chainsaws and tillers, as well as other small engines used in residential and commercial applications. With nearly 74,000 households in the county, that’s a lot of potential work orders in any one season. Luckily, the dealership has Jessica Shingleton to keep things in synch.
“With all the back-ordered parts we were seeing, Jessica found a way to keep the workflow going by tracking down the necessary parts and making sure customers stayed updated,” says a nominator. “She makes sure the rest of the shop knows what’s going on, and she keeps everything running smoothly.”
In addition to putting a new system in place to help keep the work orders and parts in order, Jessica has also redesigned the dealership’s website to increase traffic. Plus, she has become a master tech for Briggs & Stratton, Kohler and Honda.
“I put my best foot forward and work just as hard as the men,” says Jessica, “keeping a happy sprint, and the others follow along. If something isn’t going like it should, I’m the one that has to step in and get the employee working on it to take a break – in order to get their mind back on the job and not what happened.”
When it comes to customer service, she’ll go the extra mile: “I always have a smile on my face no matter what’s going on with the customers,” Jessica says. “I’m always willing to go the extra step to help a customer find the parts or equipment they are looking for, even if that means not buying it from us.”
Readers might recall that her husband, Bobby Shingleton, was awarded an OPE Business 40 Under 40 award last year. “My husband and I have been in business for ourselves for 13 years together, and it’s been a blessing to be able to work beside my husband and best friend every day,” says Jessica.
Primary equipment lines at Cardinal Outdoor Power Equipment are Worldlawn and Troy-Bilt. The shop is also an authorized service dealer for Ryobi Tools, Ridgid Power Tools and Hart Tools.
CARDINAL OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT
www.facebook.com/CardinalOPE1
