Bardonaro named CEO

Frank Bardonaro

Prior to joining the Yak Access team as CEO, Bardonaro was the president and COO of Maxim Crane, the largest specialty lifting company in North America for over nine years.  He began working with Platinum Equity in 2012, when he joined Maxim. His primary responsibility was to lead the growth, acquisition strategy and margin improvements for the business during Platinum’s ownership of Maxim. Bardonaro has held a variety of executive leadership positions across the industry, working for AmQuip Crane, Terex Corporation and most recently, ArborWorks.  

“For me, to get back into this specialty services/industrial space, while still working with the same customers and companies and footprint that I’ve worked in for 40 years, I just thought it was a great, great fit,” said Bardonaro. “The culture and leadership in place at Yak is incredible and being around a private equity firm that I have a lot of confidence in is extremely important to me. Most importantly, I have been familiar with the Yak team since 2018 and this team has put the company in a position to continue and increase as the number one provider of access matting in the country.”

In addition to Yak’s focus on power, pipeline, renewables and industrial customers, Bardonaro will also be focused on expanding Yak Access into the crane and rigging space. At the time of print, the company is in the process of hiring a vice president of the crane & rigging division. Yak Access is going to focus on that sector for heavy lift equipment and ground stability inside refineries and other projects. 

“Joel Weaver, our COO and our entire team is focused on expanding our geographical footprint and customer diversification,” said Bardonaro. “We know there’s a big market there, and Yak has the leadership, fleet and footprint to become the leader in the space.”