Team
General Equipment Rental
Meet the General Equipment Rental Team
At General Equipment Rental our team is the backbone of everything we do. From knowledgeable counter staff to experienced service technicians, each member of our crew is committed to helping customers get the right equipment for the job—quickly, safely, and with confidence. We take pride in providing straightforward guidance, dependable support, and a hands‑on approach that makes equipment rental easier. Our team understands the demands of the jobsite and works closely with customers to deliver reliable solutions, honest recommendations, and responsive service every step of the way. When you work with General Equipment Rental, you’re not just renting equipment—you’re partnering with a team that’s dedicated to your success.
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Craig Franzi
President and General Manager
Craig Franzi is our President and fearless General Manager. Only the owners have been with General Equipment Rental longer than Craig. After more than 25 years of service, he brings an incredible depth of knowledge to the equipment rental and sales business, including the ins and outs of every tool in the building and every machine on our lot.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Craig has called Western North Carolina home since 1998. When he’s not working, Craig enjoys watching movies with his kids, playing games with family and friends, and mowing perfectly straight lines in his yard.
Dennis Keever
Customer Service Manager
Dennis Keever is our Customer Service Manager—and much more besides. Dennis joined General Equipment Rental in 2001 and has been creating positive customer experiences ever since. He excels at helping customers problem-solve any issue and genuinely enjoys hearing about the projects they’re working on. Dennis takes great pride in helping customers achieve successful outcomes.
Outside of work, Dennis enjoys hiking and spending time with his son, Paxton.
Forrest Edwards
Equipment Services Manager
Forrest Edwards is our Equipment Services Manager and a veteran Army Engineer who has been with General Equipment for over 15 years. Fun-loving by nature, Forrest keeps spirits high and considers GER an extension of his family. He enjoys working alongside his coworkers to keep everything running smoothly.
In his free time, Forrest enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, and football. Roll Tide!!
John Wess
IT Manager
John Wess is our IT Manager and all-around technology guru. He came to General Equipment Rental after a long career in the telecommunications industry and now wears many hats at GER.
When he’s not at work, John enjoys cooking, classic movies, record collecting, and—above all—learning new things. He and his wife, Erika, live in Weaverville with their three dogs and three cats.
Erika Conrad
Owner
Erika Conrad is the Owner of General Equipment Rental and a native of Weaverville. After graduating from NC State University, she moved back home to get married and start a family—and has remained in Weaverville ever since.
Erika is proud of General Equipment Rental's long history of serving the community. That service ranges from joyful moments, such as sponsoring youth sports leagues, to challenging times—like “selling” chainsaws on the honor system after Hurricane Helene toppled thousands of trees and knocked out all internet-based payment systems. That trust was rewarded when every single customer returned to pay once service was restored. #WeavervilleStrong
Erika and John have a combined total of nine adult children and six grandchildren. In her free time, she does her best to keep up with all of them.
Grace and Bernie Conrad
Founders
Grace is a lifelong resident of Weaverville and the daughter of L. L. and Pearl Jones, who were the proprietors of the Stoney Knob Supermarket and the Stoney Knob Diner.
In 1963, Bernie—then just 22 years old—moved south from Union City, New Jersey, to Weaverville with his father and built A-B Emblem, an embroidered patch factory. The location was just a stone’s throw from the Stoney Knob Diner, where Grace was waitressing for the summer. She served Bernie coffee each morning, and he quickly became a regular.
That August marked the beginning of a very brief courtship, and by November, the two were married. Nearly 60 years later, Grace is still pouring Bernie’s coffee. (And perhaps touched by a bit of luck, Stoney Knob Cafe and A-B Emblem are still going strong as well.)
