OUR STORY
ABOUT WATKINS
We are a family owned, professionally managed, growth focused conglomerate that has been growing for over 90 years.
Generations of Success
Watkins Associated Industries, Inc. is a large, privately–held company focused on creating long term value by building and managing world-class businesses. The company began over 90 years ago as a produce transportation company with a single truck and grew to become one of the largest privately-owned businesses in the southeastern United States. Through innovation and commitment, we are dedicated to turning our strong history of growth into a successful future. We seek to leverage our operational expertise to grow new businesses into market leaders.
Our Leadership Team
John Maggard
President & CEO
Danielle Clark
Chief Accounting Officer
Daniel Groves
Vice President, Tax and Corporate Secretary
James Sewell
Vice President, Information Technology
Watkins Operational Companies
Bob Hughes
President, NOVA Engineering and Environmental
Michael Aide
President, Watkins Real Estate Group
Andy Kuchar
President, Centerline and Biltmore Insurance
Phil Odom
President, Tucker Door and Trim
Mike Dillon
President, Lexington Manufacturing
Shawn Meaney
President, Tampa Maid Foods
Charley Price
President, Cox's Wholesale Seafood
Watkins Christian Foundation
Mike Watkins
President
Rozita La Gorce
Executive Director
Company History
1933 - Watkins Produce is born
William Baker Watkins III, while still a teenager, forms the beginnings of the Watkins brand with a sign on the side of his truck declaring the company name as Watkins Produce.
1941 - Watkins Motor Lines Becomes a Giant
Watkins Motor Lines becomes a giant in the trucking industry by earning government contracts to move supplies among stateside army bases during World War II.
1948 - Highway Transport
Highway Transport is founded in Knoxville, Tennesee
1955 - Diversification
The diversification of Watkins Associated Industries sees the company enter the food industry
1960 - Watkins Associated Industries is incorporated
Watkins Associated Industries (WAI), the umbrella organization for all the Watkins companies, is incorporated. Today the entity is home to eight OpCo companies
1968 - WAI purchases Tucker Door & Trim
WAI purchases Tucker Door & Trim
1970 - Insurance
William Baker Watkins III decides to form an insurance company to insure all of his trucking lines. WACO Fire & Casualty becomes the in-house insurer
1972 - Welcome to Atlanta
The company enters the real estate market and relocates its operations to Atlanta, Georgia
1974 - Tampa Maid Sea Products & Cox's Wholesale Seafood
George Watkins purchases Tampa Maid Sea Products in Tampa, Florida. He added Cox’s Wholesale Seafood to the family’s portfolio in 2006.
1979 – Watkins Real Estate Group
Watkins Real Estate Group is formed in Atlanta, Georgia and Watkins Retail Group in 1980
1982 – Change to Watkins Motor Lines
Watkins Motor Lines undergoes significant change for the better by creating the entity Land Span and is now a total LTL carrier
1996 – Biltmore Insurance Services
Biltmore Insurance Services is founded as a family-owned, privately held independent insurance agency in Atlanta, Georgia
1997 – Watkins Refrigerated
The purchase of Sunco, which becomes Watkins Refrigerated, is the second-to-last acquisition of the trucking company by Watkins
2006 – Sale to FedEx Freight
Watkins Motor Lines sells assets to FedEx Freight, changing the makeup of Watkins Associated Industries from heavy on the trucking side to a more diverse company
2016 - Centerline Insurance Company
Watkins changes the name of WACO Fire & Casualty Insurance to Centerline Insurance Company
2019 - New Acquisitions
Watkins acquires the Minnesota-based Lexington Manufacturing which is the ideal complementary business to Tucker Door & Trim. Watkins also acquires NOVA Engineering and Environmental which is a provider of quality services in the Testing, Inspection, and Certification space.
2022 - 90th Anniversary
Watkins Associated Industries celebrates its 90th anniversary