MOUNT PLEASANT — Friends, family, customers, and community leaders gathered this afternoon to celebrate Quality Equipment and owner Matt Schimmelpfenning for their nomination as one of Mount Pleasant’s five Small Business of the Year finalists.
Standing proudly among his fleet of equipment, Matt shared the story behind Quality Equipment’s success, a journey that started in 1994 and continues to grow with grit, creativity, and a love for the business.
“I kind of do a little bit of everything,” he told the crowd. “We rent equipment, sell equipment, do warehousing, and we’ve been moving trailers for Continental for about 10 years now. If it makes a buck, I’ll sell it. If not, I’ll store it — I’ve got things stored since 1994!” he joked, drawing laughter from the group.
The business recently expanded to a new facility to accommodate their growing inventory and warehousing needs. Quality Equipment also rents tables, chairs, tents, and yard equipment, serving customers across southeast Iowa. “I’ll try anything — it’s fun,” he said. “And if you’ve got equipment, you’ve got a lot of friends who want to borrow it!”
As guests enjoyed sandwiches, drinks, Matt expressed gratitude for the Mount Pleasant community. “I’m from here, and it’s been good to me. I don’t have any plans to slow down because I love what I do. I come to work, and I can’t wait to get out there.”
The event wrapped up with a group photo, capturing the pride and excitement of a small business that’s built on hard work, relationships, and a deep connection to its hometown.
The winner of Small Business of the Year will be announced tomorrow morning during small business breakfast to wrap up small business week.