Meet The Experts Who Do It All

With thirty percent of our lives spent working, where you work and who you work with have a huge impact on your quality of life.

For us at Versa-Drill, not only do we enjoy what we do, but we enjoy who we spend all this time with. Some of our employees on our drill rig team have worked with us for over two decades.

Many others plan to follow in their footsteps--creating All-American products with a team of Midwest craftsmen.

We took some time to sit down and talk to the drill rig team on the production floor, to get detailed answers about what makes Versa-Drill more than a job.

Because, ultimately, we care about what makes this place like home and what makes our co-workers feel like family.

WHO’S BEEN HERE THE LONGEST?

John Sutton: 25 years (since 1996)

Kevin Alvey: 23 years (since 1997)

Scott (Scotty) Whisnant: 20 years (since 2000)

Brandon Pickerel: 19 years (since 2002)

WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN THIS FIELD?

Dale Harper: I like building the equipment and the challenge of building something from the ground up. Taking something from the ground level all the way out the door--the total picture of it from start to finish.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST VERSA-DRILL MEMORY?

John Sutton: The first rig. [We] built that thing out of a little bit of everything and turned it into a Versa-Drill.

WHAT WAS THAT FIRST RIG LIKE?

John Sutton: We had a product that we were selling for Ingersoll Rand and everyone [at that time] wanted a 20 foot drill rod.

So we built a derrick for it and added a 20 ft drill rod, and we called it a Versa Drill. And you can see what we have now.

Dale Harper: It’s come a long way.

WHO DO YOU RELY ON MOST IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY WORK?

Unison: Engineering.

HOW SO?

Brandon Pickerel: Finding a solution to the problem. It’s where everything starts. They’re our go-to’s for just about everything.

Steve Compton: We build five models, but every one of them is custom built to the owner, so very seldom do you see two rigs the same.

WHY DO YOU THINK VERSA-DRILL RIGS STAND OUT IN COMPARISON TO THE COMPETITION?

John Sutton: Quality and technology, new technology, always trying to be better.

Dale Harper: Looks a hundred times better.

Brandon Pickerel: better faster, more efficient.

Gary Shinnamon: We’re the ferrari of the drill rigs.

Brandon Pickerel: The McLaren of the drill rigs. {Laughter and agreement among the team}

WHO’S THE MOST COMICAL MEMBER OF THE TEAM?

Unison: Scott/Scotty. He never has a bad day.

Scotty Whisnant: It’s just easier to work with a smile on your face, and if you can make the guy next to you happy too, why not?

John Sutton: [He] makes our day a lot of times.

WHAT MADE VERSA-DRILL THE COMPANY YOU CHOSE TO STICK WITH?

Gary Shinnamon: Good job, work for good people. They take care of us.

John Sutton: They care about their employees.

Gary Shinnamon: We get free lunch every Friday.

Dale Harper: That is nice. {all laugh and nod}

Gary Shinnamon: [They provide] fresh uniforms--

Kevin Alvey: --christmas parties, take us to the track.

Matt Patterson: There’s a lot of trust. You can trust anybody [here].

Scotty Whisnant: That’s why we’re family.

While photographing the team and learning more about each of them, it was clear to see why they think of themselves as a family.

The inside jokes, the camaraderie, the friendship--it’s all a part of what makes us more than a drilling rig company.

This is why so many of our employees have invested these hours and years with us, and why some have been here since the very beginning, since our first rig was built from its humble beginnings.

Buy From the Best in the Business

Our employees are more than employees. They’re finely skilled craftsmen. Our drill rig team are the drive and the backbone of our success in this industry.

Without them and their dedication to our All-American rigs, Versa-Drill wouldn’t be where it is today.

But with them, we will continue together on this path of innovation and growth in the world of drilling rigs.

Contact us to learn more about how our drill rig team can provide exceptional service for you today.