While working as a fireman in the Los Angeles area, Mike did what many firefighters have done for years, he worked a part-time job on his off duty days. In Deitrick's case he worked as a crane operator when he wasn't manning the fire-station. After doing this for a number of years, Mike finally made the decision to start his own crane company. From the first day of operation, King's Crane was booked up. “We have been very blessed to be as busy as we have been ever since we started the company,” Mike readily acknowledged.

In order to maintain a steady flow of work Deitrick had to be versatile. A long job usually means being set up for a week. Most projects are short term. At times Mike will have multiple set-ups in a single day. “We have worked on all kinds of different projects, from setting large fish aquariums to lifting iron,” said Mike. Approximately 75% of the projects are commercial jobs with private residential jobs accounting for 25% of the company's projects.

Among the varied commercial projects King's Crane has worked on include parking structures for H B Park Co and PCL. King's Crane has recently completed work lifting and installing girders and trusses for a brand new Circuit City in Carson. The company also recently handled the lifting and installing of 100 sixty-five foot trusses for a remodel job on a church in La Habra. King's Crane worked on the new LAPD Rampart Division station lifting roofing materials. The company also recently was lifting and hanging iron for a major home remodel in Pasadena. “There was only a single wall of the original structure standing at this site,” said Mike. “We were setting iron and columns for a complete new home construction. Another project the company worked on recently was setting light standards at the Port of Long Beach.

On any given day King's Crane might be called upon to lift anything from concrete to iron all in the same day. On the day of this interview, King's Crane began the day lifting rebar for a new parking structure at a Toyota dealership in West Covina. Once that project was completed, Mike loaded up and headed south for a private home in Laguna Niguel. This job entailed lifting and setting a number of olive trees and large boulders for a landscape project. “We lift and install swim spas, underground storage containers, concrete vaults, you name it,” said Mike. One of the areas King's Crane has specialized in is the lifting and installation of palm trees. The trees range from 10ft.-30ft. and can weigh anywhere from 10,000 - 50,000 lbs. King's Crane has installed literally dozens of palm trees throughout the city of Newport Beach.

One of the most unique projects King's Crane was involved with was the set-up of the stage, lighting and sound for the Rolling Stones concert in Petco Park for the band's Big Bang tour. “You couldn't believe the organization that works for the Stones,” said Mike. They had two cranes inside Petco stadium and two outside. “We worked outside the stadium unloading equipment from the moving vans. Because they couldn't get the large moving vans inside the stadium they had to be unloaded outside. Our job was to get the gear out of the larger trucks. We placed all of the staging, lighting and sound equipment on smaller trucks, which then drove the equipment into the stadium. Inside there were two cranes setting up the stage and sound gear.” To better understand the scope of this project, in addition to the four cranes that worked four nearly five days on the show, it required a crew of 100 riggers, gaffers and sound technicians to set-up the stage which was on hydraulics and stretched some 150 ft. long, 75 ft. wide and 80 ft. high. “The crew working that show worked like a well oiled machine,” said Mike. “I have never seen so many people working so quickly and so well.” In addition to the Stones concert, King's Crane has also worked on a number of projects at the Downey Studios. The studios are actually the site of the former hangers for Northrop which have now been converted for film production.

 

Although it was never planned, running cranes runs in the family. Mike's older brother, Shawn works for a large crane firm, Mr. Crane. King's Crane has frequently been called upon to assist on loading material for Mr. Crane's 300-ton conventional crane and their 500-ton hydro-crane. “These cranes are so large they need another crane to load and unload the counter-weights so they can operate,” Mike explained. “We never really set out for both my brother Shawn and I to be in the crane business, it's just the way things turned out. Shawn is one of the company's top operators and it's nice when I get the chance to work with him setting up the crane he's going to operate.”

King's Crane gets all their equipment needs met by Carde Pacific. “Dick Maxon is the man who sold me my first crane,” said Mike. “He bent over backwards and practically jumped through hoops in order for me to be able to purchase the crane. We have had nothing but great service from Carde Pacific ever since. They are one of the most honest and best companies, I've worked with. Not only did Dick make the deal happen, but their service department has always been right there to assist on any repairs and maintenance any of our equipment needed.”