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James A. Robertson |
In early 1986 he left Campbell and joined Falcon Crane, based in West Palm Beach, to serve as their operations coordinator. Robertson stayed at Falcon for only six weeks before leaving to join General Crane, Inc. in July 1986. Robertson joined General Crane as an operations coordinator (or dispatcher). He served in this position for three years before earning a promotion to general manager in 1989-1990, which included wider office, management and business liaison responsibilities. A half-decade later, his title was elevated to “vice president/general manager.” However, during this time period, Robertson had no ownership interest in General Crane, Inc. Steven Retterath retained sole ownership and control over General Crane. According to his company-issued biography, Robertson has been actively involved in both construction trade associations and in construction-related legislation at the state level. He served in multiple positions for various Associated Building and Contractors (ABC) organizations; was elected president of the Construction Association of South Florida (CASF); and was a co-founder the of the Florida Crane Owners’ Council. Robertson also claims credit as the “driving force" behind the 2003 Workers’ Comp Reform bill. In 2006 he served on the Miami-Dade Crane and Heavy Equipment Workgroup, which was established in response to a series of high-profile crane accidents in south Florida. Most recently, Robertson served on the Florida Public Task Force on Workplace Safety. In 2002 Robertson and his business partner, Jason Retterath, established their own crane company, Gulfstream Crane, LLC (aka General Crane USA) which purchased most of the assets of Steven Retterath’s company, General Crane, Inc. Robertson also acquired ownership interests in two other entities, Palm Beach Trucking, LLC (aka Merchant Transport) and Royal Crane, LLC (aka Hunter Crane). Robertson and Jason Retterath also set up a company called Republic Enterprises, LLC, which owns the General Crane USA yard in Fairburn, GA as well as a mobile home lot in Pompano Beach, FL. In November 2009 Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, Inc. sued General Crane USA for allegedly defaulting on loans payments worth nearly $12 million. Wells Fargo named James Robertson personally responsible for nearly $12 million. Just one month later, General Crane USA filed for bankruptcy protection in US District Court, Southern Florida District. As of April 5, 2010 companies have made claims totaling $132,259,887.13. This case is still pending. Cranewatchdog has reported extensively on the General Crane bankruptcy proceeding, go to the General Crane USA Bankruptcy page for more. Cranewatchdog.com recently reported that it is rumored James Robertson is attempting to split off from the Retteraths, possibly securing financing from a private equity firm based in Dallas, TX. Another company in which Robertson has a controlling interest, Republic Tower & Hoist, is also in financial and legal trouble. Both De Lage Landen Financial Services and Comerica Leasing claim Republic has not made debt payments since November 2009 and April 2009, respectively. Combined both companies are seeking approximately $5.3 million. Get to Know Jim Robertson through Court Depositions 12-18-2001 (184 pgs.), Lauro Freitas et al v. General Crane, Inc. et al
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James “Jim” Robertson was born in Salina, Kansas. After graduating from high school in Illinois he relocated to Coral Springs in 1983 and began his career in construction at Campbell Crane and Concrete Pumping.