ATTACHMENT NEWS –
December 2025
Volume 2, Issue 6
December 2025
DirtTech 2025 Recap
It’s a wrap! DirtTech 2025 was an incredible outdoor event, showcasing machines and attachments exactly where they belong—in their real element. With 15 vendors and 200+ attendees, including a large group of CT Tech Ed students who braved the cold, the day truly highlighted the trades in action. From live machine demos to warm, delicious pizza and meaningful conversations, it was a day filled with learning, energy, and connection. Nothing beats the relationships built at a hands-on Demo Day!
Employee Bio: Donna LaFata; the Captain that steers the ship
The dirt world was never on the bingo card for Donna. She was happy being a High school Science teacher & a white water rafting guide. Anthony LaFata entered the chat and nothing was ever the same since. Donna & Anthony married in 2005 and have raised their family in CT. Donna left teaching to join the family business LaFata & Son Inc. Her strong foundation in business management was built over 15 years as office manager at LaFata & Son Inc. (2005–2020), where she developed the organizational and leadership skills that she applies to her work today.
Since becoming President of A&D Equipment in 2021, Donna LaFata has played a pivotal role in guiding the company’s continued growth and success.
At A&D Equipment, Donna oversees a broad range of essential operations, always with the core goal of building strong, trusting relationships with both colleagues and customers. Her academic background includes a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a master’s degree in Environmental Education, along with certification as a Grade 7–12 teacher. This combination of scientific training and educational expertise brings a thoughtful, people-centered approach to her leadership.
As part of a husband-and-wife team, Donna helps drive a company mission rooted in dependability, customer service, and firsthand industry experience—values that continue to shape A&D Equipment’s reputation and direction.
Donna’s favorite part of her job: Hands down the people. People she works with, partners with, & serves. Getting to know them and be a part of their lives!
In her spare time, Donna loves to travel, garden, & hang with friends.
Partner Spotlight: Potted Luck Landscape, Innovation in the beautiful Pennsylvania mountains
Elmer Fisher on the job and with his beautiful family on vacation.
Elmer Fisher built his business the hard way—through grit, vision, and relentless attention to detail. He started landscaping at 15, launched his own company by 20, and today leads a skilled crew of eight focused on full-property landscape design and execution.
At the heart of Elmer’s operation is Unreasonable Hospitality: delivering thoughtful, often unspoken details that elevate the client experience. Alongside teamwork, efficiency, and purpose-driven work, these values guide his five-year goal—completing 10 full-property designs annually through portfolio growth, referrals, and consistent marketing.
Smart equipment choices have accelerated that vision. An Avant machine doubled sales in 2018 and reshaped how Elmer thinks about investing in tools. In 2025, he added a tiltrotator and quickly realized its impact. His most recent addition, a Rotastar screening bucket, allowed him to recycle 40 tons of dirty riprap on one job—eliminating off-site hauling and saving both time and money. Next on his list: a crusher bucket to push on-site recycling even further.
Outside the jobsite, Elmer is a proud father of four, with a fifth child arriving any day. When he finds spare time, you’ll find him studying landscape design books and exploring the latest innovations in the industry.
