From Curiosity to Mastery: Brandon Kennedy’s Path Through Sunstate’s Technician Program
Brandon Kennedy has always been a gearhead.
He grew up on a small farm in Norwood, Colorado—a town of about 400 people, where fixing things wasn’t a hobby; it was just what you did. By high school, he was already pulling equipment apart and putting it back together, spending his junior and senior years in a work-release program at a local auto shop. That curiosity led him to WyoTech in Laramie, Wyoming, where he specialized in advanced diesel technology.
But even with strong technical training, Brandon didn’t check every box when he first applied to Sunstate.
“I didn’t have the five or six years of experience they were asking for,” he says. “But I was willing to learn and work for it.”
That willingness mattered.
After applying for a field service role, Brandon was interviewed by his local District Service Manager. Not long after, Sunstate’s leadership drove to WyoTech to offer him a job in person. In June 2013, Brandon started as a Line Technician in the shop.
Within two weeks, he knew he wasn’t leaving.
From Curious to Capable
After school, Brandon knew one thing for sure: he didn’t want a career limited to one machine. Trained on Class 8 trucks at WyoTech, he was drawn to construction equipment for the range and complexity—working across 30 to 40 manufacturers rather than mastering just one.
One of his first major repairs, an IR reach fork’s crowd cylinders with damaged hoses in the boom, made that clear fast.
“The service manual didn’t tell you much,” he says. “You only really learn by getting your hands dirty, having good mentors, and figuring it out.”
That environment clicked for him. The shop culture mattered. Everyone had a voice. Ideas were shared. Critical thinking was a must, and he couldn’t just follow predefined steps.
Sunstate didn’t hand him an easy button—but it did give him something better: opportunity, support, and trust.
Brandon spent eight years in the shop, became a shop lead, and when Sunstate rolled out its formal Technician Progression program, Brandon was the first in line.
Raising the Bar
Eventually, Brandon had an opportunity to move into field service. It was a risk.
“In the shop, you’ve got people and resources around you,” he says. “In the field, you’re on your own. You’re on the jobsite, in the weather, with a customer waiting.”
That pressure is exactly what he wanted.
Field service gave Brandon something new every day: new jobsites, new equipment, new problems to solve. It also gave him direct ownership of outcomes.
“Some customers call me directly,” he says. “We’re all about resolution, not just response, and I think they really appreciate that.”
Earning Master Technician
Brandon’s confidence wasn’t built in a single moment. It was earned by taking on one new challenge after another.
Advanced hydraulics training. Technical advisor coursework that taught him how to coach others. OSHA 30 certification. Multiple ASE certifications. And finally, the AED exam—the last step to Master Technician.
“It was tough,” he admits. “A lot of the material wasn’t equipment we even carry. I had to study what I didn’t know.”
He passed.
Today, being a Master Technician and a three-time Fort Collins Employee of the Year means more to Brandon than a title.
“I’m someone people can go to,” Brandon says. “I can show them the ropes.”
It also means trust—from teammates, from leaders, and from customers who rely on him to stand behind the equipment and the work.
A Career That Shows Up at Home, Too
Brandon has been married for eight years. He and his wife Danielle have two young boys, Sawyer and Cooper.
“At home, I’m still grabbing my toolbox and fixing things,” he laughs, “and so are my boys. They’re probably going to be just like me.”
Sunstate has been part of that journey, too.
“They care,” he says. “They empower you to do the right thing for the customer. And they back you when it matters.”
For Anyone Considering Starting Here
Brandon is clear about what it takes to succeed.
“Don’t take ‘no’ or ‘I don’t know’ as an answer,” he says. “Expect it to be a challenge.”
But he’s just as clear about the payoff.
“If you want a career where you can set your own pace, grow in different directions, and build real confidence and capability, this is a great place. You can be anything you want to be here if you show up and keep getting better.”
Built for People Who Want More
Sunstate’s Technician Progression program isn’t designed for shortcuts. It’s a structured, merit-based path—from Apprentice Technician through Master Technician—built on hands-on experience, continuous learning, and high standards.
Brandon’s journey is proof of what’s possible when curiosity meets opportunity—and when a company truly invests in its people.
For those willing to challenge themselves, Sunstate doesn’t just offer a job.
It offers a career worth building.
Interested in joining our team? To learn more about career opportunities at Sunstate Equipment, visit sunstateequip.com/careers.
©2026 Sunstate Equipment Co., LLC