Our Story
Lakeview Vineyard Equipment Inc. was founded as Lakeview Harvesters in 2003 by Niagara grape growers William Falk and Arnie Nickel. Through their own farming operations, they understood the growing importance of vineyard mechanization and began importing specialized vineyard equipment, much of which was manufactured in France, to growers across North America.
Gregoire grape harvesters were their first choice, offering premium harvest results without sacrificing productivity or reliability. William and Arnie recognized that greater adoption of mechanized vineyard equipment would require the support of growers across North America, so they took a grassroots, service-focused approach to growing the business.
Through a strong presence at trade shows, demo days, and direct outreach throughout their service area, they quickly established Lakeview Harvesters as a go-to supplier for new and used vineyard equipment and grape harvesters. By 2007, demand for vineyard mechanization had grown significantly, and it was time for the business to grow with it.
Keeping their family farms, William and Arnie passed the torch to Joe Pillitteri and his business partner Jesse Willms - and so Lakeview Vineyard Equipment Inc. was born.
Hear From Our Happy Clients
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Great staff and support for all the fine equipment our vineyard has purchased from Lakeview since 2018.
The People Behind the Work
Joe Pillitteri
Sales Manager
Joe Pillitteri grew up with his parents and two sisters on a peach farm in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Always the class clown, Joe had passion for very few things outside of comedy – tractors. He considered following in his father’s footsteps to be able to work the land and drive tractors. As he grew up, Joe pursued Business Marketing degree from McMaster University and following graduation joined John Deere Company as a Territory Manager and eventually Dealer Development Manager. Along the way, Joe married his wife Rebecca Hagman and they had three beautiful children. When news of a fourth child came, Joe decided to leave corporate life to pursue a livelihood that would allow him to spend more time with his family. He also began performing as a comedian for charitable causes and eventually became an in demand emcee and corporate comedian for large scale events. Giving back to the community is a pillar not only of Lakeview Vineyard Equipment but of Joe and his family as well. Using his comedic talents to help build a better Niagara is a huge privilege for Joe and one that he takes very seriously. He has been recognized with awards for his work with charity but ultimately he’s a firm believer that praise matters as much as criticism and that, in the words of his mom, “It’s best just to get up in the morning and try to do good work.”
Jesse Willms
Operations Manager
Jesse was born and raised in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Growing up on his parents’ 14-acre fruit farm inspired a love of farming and equipment. He and his brother were avid motocross racers and spent countless nights with their fathers’ tools working on their bikes. After high school, Jesse started working at Lakeview Vineyard Equipment doing routine oil changes, sweeping floors, and helping out senior mechanics. In 2009, with the sponsorship of Lakeview Vineyard Equipment, he started a 3-year Farm Equipment Technician Apprenticeship at Fanshawe College. It is here that he learned about all aspects of diagnosing, repairing, and properly setting up all types of farm equipment. Jesse made the transition into sales in 2013 and thoroughly enjoys working directly with customers from operations of all sizes and requiring all types of equipment. In his spare time, Jesse enjoys camping and playing baseball with his wife and their three kids.
