About Us — Rhino Specialty Services

Meet the Owners

Family owned. Family run. The two of us, every day.

Katrina Smith

Co-Owner

Katrina is the glue. Wife, mom, and ringleader — she's the one turning Pete's big ideas into real, running operations while cheering him on every step of the way.

She's got the same entrepreneurial spirit — always pushing for bigger and better — and a genuine love for people that shows in how Rhino runs. You're not just an employee here. You're family.

God, Family, and our people. Everyone comes into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.

Pete Smith

Co-Owner

Thirteen years ago, Pete built a rig moving division from the guest bedroom of their house in the Permian Basin — and grew it from $2 million a year to over $100 million. After more than a decade of building someone else's dream, he decided it was time to build his own.

He built Rhino because he believes in three things: Faith, Family, and the Friends who help you along the way.

The name? Pete grew up on an exotic animal ranch outside of Kerrville, Texas — where his dad kept two rhinos as pets. When it came time to name this one, there was never really a question.

Meet the Team

The people who keep the iron moving and the customers happy.

Mike Hasty

Director of Operations

Day-to-day operational backbone. Mike oversees dispatch, crews, safety, maintenance, and customer execution across every job Rhino runs.

Phillip Hull

Director of Logistics & Field Relations

The steady voice on dispatch. Phillip coordinates drivers, operators, and customers in real time — keeping every job on track from the first call to the last load.

Tanner Been

Director of Sales & Business Development

Tanner is the reason Rhino runs Jekko mini cranes — he built those relationships, landed the work, and was instrumental in Rhino becoming an authorized Jekko dealer. Today he leads all crane sales and business development, opening new markets across Texas.

Cherri Trahan

Director of Employees & Workplace Experiences

Backbone of the office. Cherri owns HR, payroll, invoicing, and accounts — the one who makes sure everything behind the scenes runs as tight as the field does.

Who We Are

Rhino Specialty Services is a family-owned-and-operated crane and heavy haul company based in Odessa, Texas. We were built in the Permian Basin to serve the people who actually do the work — and that's still who we work for today.

From wellsite rig-ups in West Texas to indoor lifts at a data center in Dallas, we run one of the most versatile fleets in the region — 30 cranes — 15 crawlers, 4 hydraulics, 11 Jekko Mini Crane mini cranes — plus a full trucking fleet — and we run it the way you'd run it: with your name on the door and your reputation on every job.

No subcontractors you didn't ask for. No finger-pointing. One team, one number, one invoice.

Our Story

Katrina and Pete Smith, founders of Rhino Specialty Services, in their Odessa yard with their Grove GMK4090 all-terrain crane at sunset

This is our first crane.

A red Grove GMK4090, parked at sunset in our Odessa yard — the same yard she still calls home today. Just the two of us, a single all-terrain crane, and a bet that the Permian Basin needed a crane company that actually picked up the phone.

A few years later that one crane has grown into 30 cranes, a full trucking fleet, and a crew of ~50 — but the way we work hasn't changed. Family owned. Family run. One call, everything handled.

Same number. Same answer. Same people.

The Name? That one's personal.

Pete didn't pick Rhino because it sounds tough. He grew up on an exotic animal ranch outside of Kerrville, Texas — and his dad kept two full-grown rhinos as pets. Pete grew up alongside them. When it came time to name his own company, there was never really a question.

Pete's dad at his Kerrville, TX exotic animal ranch with two rhinos — Pete's dad — Kerrville, TX ranch

A young Pete Smith at his family's Kerrville ranch with a full-grown rhino — Pete growing up on the ranch

The Rhino Difference

🛡️ Safety First

Every job starts and ends with safety. Trained crews, maintained equipment, strict protocols. Nothing moves until it is safe.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family Owned

We're not a corporate number. When you work with Rhino, you work with people who care. Our reputation is personal — and we protect it on every job.

🌎 Always Ready

24/7 dispatch with GPS-tracked fleet and real-time coordination. When you need a crane on location, we respond. Not tomorrow. Now.

🏜️ Permian Roots

Born and built in West Texas. We know the basin, we know the operators, and we know what it takes to keep your project on schedule.

Our Partners

Rhino builds long-term partnerships with best-in-class companies so we can give our customers complete coverage — from engineering to field execution to roustabout support.

Irwin Energy — A Rhino Company

Integrated EPCM and field execution. One relationship — complete coverage from engineering to heavy lift.

Visit Irwin Energy ↗

HK Specialty Services

Permian Basin roustabout services. Site support, rig washing, drift & tallie, and pipe cleaning — our trusted partner for crew-heavy field operations.

Website Coming Soon

Want to Work With Us?

Have a project? Need a crane on site? Or curious about joining the crew? We'd rather have a conversation than send another email.

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About Rhino