Our Story
Leon’s Heavy Equipment was built on hard work, honest service, and a hands-on understanding of the machines our customers rely on.
How we got here
A growing business rarely follows a straight line. Here’s how we found our way—from our first machine to where we are today.
Where it all started
Lino Leon founded Leon's Heavy Equipment in June 2023 to provide quality equipment to builders and contractors. A broke college student at UCSD, he used his student loans to get started. He had no idea how quickly the business would grow or how many people would join him along the way.
Our first machine
We got our start selling attachments, and in March 2024, we brought in our first machine. It was the next major step for LHE, taking us from attachment sales into selling machines too. That first addition was a big part of getting us here.
We became a team
That same month, Lino’s younger cousin Yahir joined as our first employee and salesman. With Yahir handling sales, Lino had more time to focus on running the business. Yahir played a key role in the company’s success, working alongside his cousin to help build LHE into what it is today.
Closing the first shop
We closed our original shop in September 2024, just six months after our first machine arrived. It was a tough setback for a business that was still finding its feet. A few months would pass before we opened our doors again.
Back at it in Chino
We reopened in Chino in January 2025, with a new yard and a chance to get back to work. After a few months away, having a place for the business again meant a lot. There was still work to do to get everything running, but LHE was back.
The crew was back
By March 2025, our mechanics and sales team were back at work in Chino. We were selling equipment and taking on repairs again, with both sides of the business running from the new shop. Getting the crew back together was a big part of making the place feel like LHE again.
Hello, Baldwin Park
We moved from Chino to Baldwin Park in September 2025. Moving a shop full of machines took a little more than packing a few boxes, but we brought the business we’d worked to rebuild with us. We’ve called Baldwin Park home ever since.
Working with the manufacturers
In March 2026, we became a Rippa dealership, marking our first direct partnership with a machine manufacturer. We’re also in talks with SDLanch and SDLG about future partnerships. It’s a big step for LHE, and we’re excited to keep building relationships with the people behind the equipment.
- Present
Growing together
Today, we’re just a bunch of college kids who’ve put a lot into this business. We’re still growing, and we’re proud of what we’re building together. If you’ve bought a machine, brought us a repair, or told a friend about us, thank you. You’ve helped make LHE what it is today.
Meet the Team
We help customers find the right equipment, answer questions, and keep machines working after the sale.
Lino Leon
CEO / Founder
Lino grew up around heavy machinery and founded LHE after Norco College while continuing his education at UCSD. He runs day-to-day operations, manages manufacturer relationships, and personally oversees equipment sourcing to get customers the best machines at the best prices
Yahir Ruben Castro Muniz
President of Sales
Yahir lives in the Inland Empire and studies Business Administration at Riverside Community College. A fluent Spanish speaker and Leon’s Heavy Equipment’s first and longest-serving employee, he has been the companys top salesman two years in a row.
Aleš Charvat
President of Services
Aleš is known for quick diagnostics, he can “make anything start.” Aleš specializes in drivetrain and transmission work and keeps a set of Milwaukee tools close by. He is our smartest team member. He loves Chevy trucks and fears only stuck bolts.
Austin Cavanagh
Software & Operations
Austin is a Georgia Tech student studying computer science who helps oversee day-to-day operations. He manages the company’s website, online presence, accounting and bookkeeping, inventory systems, and supports sales.
Ethan
Mechanic
Ethan is a Cal Poly Pomona student with a goal of becoming a federal agent. At Leon’s Heavy Equipment, he works as a mechanic and brings a hands-on attitude to the service team, with a strong interest in trucks, repairs, and keeping equipment running the right way.
Gus
Sales
Gus was the second member of the sales team. He is studying graphic design and helps create branding material for the company, bringing a creative eye shaped by his groundbreaking work in the music industry, including a music video for "lil peep".
Alex
Mechanic
Alex is a mechanic at Leon’s Heavy Equipment and the team’s only forklift-certified employee. He supports the service department with repairs, equipment handling, and shop work, bringing a strong hands-on mindset and a personal love for old manual classic cars.
Ramon
Sales
Ramon started in car sales before joining LHE, bringing customer service experience and a practical sales approach to the team. He helps customers compare machines, understand their options, and find equipment that makes sense for their job and budget.
Stone
Sales
Stone is studying criminology at Cal Poly Pomona and work on the sales team at LHE. He has become the company’s go-to person for market research, helping the team understand pricing, customer demand, and equipment trends.
Noemi
Marketing
Noemi attends Cal Poly Pomona and is studying Industial Engineering. She manages social media and content creation for the company.
Trevor Millett
Sales Lead
Trevor is our most experienced salesperson, with six years in sales, including top-producer recognition at Honda Pasadena and experience as Sales Manager at Honda Hollywood. He also helped build the company’s in-house CRM.