4 decades at AEC
Scott Abernathy has spent nearly his entire professional career in material handling. Since joining Advanced Equipment Company (AEC) in 1986, he has worked in almost every aspect of the business. That hard-earned experience gives him an unmatched edge in turning a customer’s unique application into a rock-solid, long-term solution.
Today, Scott serves as AEC’s Vice President while remaining actively involved in system sales, marketing, new business development, and supplier relations. He still collaborates directly with customers, drawing on decades of experience to help them understand their options and make good decisions about their operations.
Scott has a straightforward way of measuring whether AEC is doing its job well, and it always comes down to one thing – relationships that last:
“Once we do a job for someone, they come back.”
For Scott, repeat business speaks volumes louder than any sales pitch. It’s undeniable proof that the solution delivered, the client was fully supported, and AEC has secured another opportunity to add value.
Learning the business from the inside.
Scott’s connection to AEC began long before his own career with the company. His father, Larry Abernathy, was part of AEC from its earliest days. Larry began working with the company in 1960, moved into sales, and purchased AEC from Herman Pfeifer in 1976. Over the decades that followed, Larry helped shape AEC into the company it is today, building a culture centered on long-term relationships and doing the right thing for the customer.
Scott grew up in the business, from sweeping floors at the age of 12 to present day. When he officially joined AEC in 1986, he learned the business firsthand by starting in the warehouse before expanding into other areas of the company. From inside sales and mechanical installation to project management and engineering, his hands-on path covered it all. Over time, he moved into marketing and new business development while building an end-to-end command in system design and sales.
When Scott talks to customers, that extensive background cuts straight to the point. He knows material handling isn’t a catalog order; it requires a practical approach where every piece fits the application, works with the system, and makes sense for the people who use it every day.
Having worked on projects from so many different sides, Scott has enough experience to recognize where problems can develop and what questions need to be answered early. He can look at an application from the customer’s perspective while also understanding what will be required to make the solution work in the real world.
Finding the right material handling solution.
Over the years, Scott has worked with a broad range of material handling equipment and systems, spanning everything from conveyor systems and integrated automation to storage equipment, lifts, and ergonomic solutions.
That experience gives Scott a lot of options when he approaches an application. A customer may come to AEC with a specific piece of equipment in mind, but the objective is to understand the problem behind the request. Sometimes that initial concept hits the mark; other times, a cleaner or more efficient path gets the job done better.
That approach drives AEC’s core commitment to providing The Right Solution. The goal isn’t to push the most complex system or the newest technology, but to deploy whatever genuinely fits the customer’s unique operation.
Decades of strategic vendor relationships are also central to Scott’s process. Because of that long-standing history, he knows equipment capabilities inside and out, allowing him to match the right products to the application rather than forcing a single product into every job.
Relationships that last.
Material handling has changed considerably since Scott joined AEC in 1986, but the importance of relationships has not.
Scott has worked with customers and suppliers long enough to see projects turn into solid partnerships that last. A small equipment need can lead to another project later, and over time AEC becomes a resource the customer knows they can count on when a new challenge arises.
That philosophy drives Scott’s core belief: customers return because trust is forged through successful execution. Every completed project simply lays the groundwork for the next partnership.
Scott brings that same standard to AEC’s equipment manufacturers and suppliers. Years of strategic collaboration mean AEC always has a reliable, wide-ranging inventory of solutions ready for any operational challenge.
Experience that still matters.
After 40 years at AEC, Scott has watched the material handling industry change dramatically. Equipment has become more automated, and customers have new expectations for how quickly products move through their facilities. The tools available to solve those problems continue to evolve.
The fundamentals, however, have not changed nearly as much. A successful material handling solution still begins with understanding the application and asking the right questions before recommending equipment. At the end of the day, everything still comes down to a straightforward rule – doing right by the customer, every single time.
Scott’s career at AEC has been built around those fundamentals. His experience allows him to recognize what has changed in the industry without losing sight of what has always mattered.
Why AEC clients rely on Scott.
Scott Abernathy brings a perspective to customer conversations that only 4 decades of hands-on experience can deliver. Having lived every side of the business – from the warehouse floor and installation to system design and sales – he knows how operations actually run.
That vantage point helps him cut through complexity and focus squarely on what the customer needs to accomplish. He knows the equipment inside and out, but he never loses sight of the fact that the equipment is only valuable if it actually solves the problem.
For Scott, the best measure of a successful project happens down the road, when that same customer calls AEC again.
Partnering with AEC
Since 1960, AEC has remained the leading conveyor integrator in North and South Carolina, and delivering elite material handling expertise to the entire US.
AEC’s premier status is built on a “boots on the ground” approach that transforms complex material handling challenges into streamlined, high-performance realities. By combining local expertise in the Carolinas with a robust nationwide reach, we provide the scalability of a national firm with the dedicated, responsive service of a regional partner.
Written by AEC Director of Customer Engagement, Josh Hamrick