Wayne Carlisle 
Maxim Crane Works 
 

Wayne Carlisle grew up with the construction equipment business, working after school and summers in the family business learning everything there was to know about heavy machinery.

Born July 29, 1941 in Newport, Kentucky, he attended Newport Catholic High School. His work at the family business suited Wayne so much that he took it over just one year out of high school in 1959. He also married his high school sweetheart, Fran Hardin, that same year.

Eighteen year-old Wayne had learned early on the business skills that his father had built the business upon: a strong work ethic, a commitment to quality service and doing “whatever it takes for the customer.” He also treated his employees as his most important customer. Wayne and his approach to business soon forged a team of dedicated employees who made it all work.

Wayne was observant and creative and saw opportunities for other ventures, By 1980, Carlisle Construction, Inc. was the parent of a group of operating companies: Carlisle Construction, Carlisle Excavating, Carlisle Equipment, Greater Cincinnati Marine, Morehead Marine, and Dobie Corporation, generating $20 million in revenue annually.

All of Wayne’s businesses have always been dedicated to finding cost, time and manpower efficiencies as well as ways to improve work in the field. When the construction industry hit a downturn in the early 1980’s, Wayne used that philosophy to look for new markets, ultimately establishing a nationwide crane rental operation.

By 1996, his entire business had grown to 375 employees and nearly $90 million in business with crane operations in Canada, Central America, the Bahamas and the Philippine Islands.

In 1999, Wayne sold Carlisle Construction and its operating entities to Maxim Crane, making Maxim one of the largest crane rental operations in the world. His children continue to fill key roles in Maxim.

Even semi-retired, Wayne still has business interests that get him going by 6 AM most mornings. Carlisle Enterprises continues to be the holding company for an array of marine, property and industrial businesses. Wayne also directly has interests in other companies that reflect his varied outlooks including Chairman of the Board of the EGC Construction, a residential, commercial and industrial contractor.

He is a member of the Ohio Contractors Association, American Subcontractors Association, the National Association of Home Builders, the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati Chambers of Commerce, the Heavy Specialized Carriers Association, Allied Construction Industries, National Association of Demolition Contractors, Associated Equipment Distributors and Inland Rivers, Ports and Terminals Association.

Mr Carlisle has served on a number of boards of directors of corporate and charitable organizations, including the Board of Directors of PNC Bank, the H.C. Nutting Company, the Northern Kentucky Convention Center Board, the Tri-County Economic Development Board, Cincinnati Zoo Board, the Westchester Marketing Board, the Advisory Council for the Kentucky Department of Labor and Management, the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce , Kentuckians for Better Transportation, Campbell County Airport Board, Commonwealth Venture Fund, the Better Business Bureau board, the Motor Carrier Advisory Council and the Kentucky Racing Commission.

He was also the Honorary Chairman of the Northern Kentucky Association for the Retarded first capital campaign and has received numerous awards, including Northern Kentuckian of the Year, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Boy Scouts of America Daniel Boone and Gunpowder Creek District Distinguished Citizen Award. Close to his heart was the campaign to finance and place the World Peace Bell in his hometown of Newport, Kentucky.

Today, Wayne and wife Fran enjoy their extended family of five children: sons Robert, Bryan and Bert, and daughters Tamara and Candice along with their 17 grandchildren, spending time in homes in Kentucky, Colorado and Florida.